THE Texas church shooter had family connections to the church where he killed at least 26 on Sunday in what is now the worst mass shooting in the state’s history.

At an afternoon press conference, police revealed that shooter Devin Patrick Kelley was in a domestic dispute with his mother-in-law, Michelle Shields, who attended the church.

Officials said he sent “threatening texts” to his mother-in-law, but wouldn’t go into further detail about their “domestic situation”.

The Shields family was not present during worship on Sunday when the massacre unfolded, but spoke to investigators after.

Earlier in the day, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackett told reporters that Kelley and his wife Danielle were estranged.

Marriage records show the couple tied the knot in Comal County, Texas on April 4, 2014, when Kelley was 23 and his bride was 19.

As of Monday, Danielle’s Facebook profile still listed her relationship status as “married” and photos on the account show her with two young kids — a baby girl and an older boy.

Neighbour Mark Moravitz told ABC News that Kelley lived at his parents’ home in New Braunfels with his wife. Mr Moravitz said that he would sometimes hear gunshots coming from near the house late at night, reports the Daily Mail.

Divorce records show he was also married once before to a Tessa K Kelley. Kelley and his other wife divorced in 2012 — the same year that he was court-martialed for domestic violence.

air force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said Kelley was court-martialed on one count of assault on his spouse and another count of assault on their child.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ confinement, a reduction in rank and was discharged for bad conduct two years later.

Stefanek said Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman air force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge, reports Mail Online.

SHOOTER COMMITTED SUICIDE AFTER MASSACRE

Kelley fatally shot himself after crashing his vehicle with two local residents in hot pursuit, the local sheriff said.

Mr Tackitt said gunfire was exchanged between Kelley, who was clad in black tactical gear, and two armed citizens during the chase after the shootings.

“There was some gunfire exchanged, I believe, on the roadway also, and then (the shooter’s vehicle) wrecked out,” Mr Tackitt said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott told CBS News that the attack on the church in Sutherland Springs, a community of fewer than 400 people east of San Antonio, did not appear to be a “random act”.

Mr Abbott also said Kelley tried to get a license to carry a gun in Texas, but the state denied him.

SHOOTER ‘PREACHED HIS ATHEISM’ ONLINE

Former classmates said Kelley was militant atheist who ranted on Facebook about “stupid” religious people.

Classmate Nina Rosa Nava write on Facebook that the mass murderer used to rant on the social network about his atheist beliefs.

She said: “He was always talking about how people who believe in God were stupid and trying to preach his atheism,” reports The Sun.

Fellow user Christopher Leo Longoria replied: “I removed him off FB for those same reasons! He was being super nagtive (sic) all the time (sic).”

TRUMP RESPONDS TO TEXAS TRAGEDY

Responding to the Texas tragedy while in Japan, the US President insisted guns are not the problem and attempted to hose down any legislative hopes.

Kelley was “deranged”, Mr Trump said.

“We have a lot of mental health problems in our country, but this isn’t a gun situation,” he said.

Rather than an example of the need for gun control in the US, Mr Trump insisted it was a “mental health problem at the highest level” instead.

Among the dozens murdered and injured, ranging in age from five to 72, was Annabelle Pomeroy, the 14-year-old daughter of the church’s pastor Frank Pomeroy.

“She was one beautiful, special child,” Pomeroy said.

PREGNANT MUM KILLED IN SHOOTING

Some of the victims from the church massacre are beginning to be identified, including a pregnant woman.

Smiling at the camera, with a butterfly painted on her face, pregnant Crystal Holcombe is pictured standing outside a Texas church alongside two little girls believed to be her daughters, reports the Mirror.

The haunting final image was taken on Halloween — just days before a gunman opened fire at the church.

Holcombe, who was eight months pregnant, died in the massacre, along with three of her five kids and her in-laws, Karla and Bryan Holcombe.

A devoted mum who “didn’t even drink or smoke”, took care of her children, raised goats and made homemade cheese, a relative said.

They were attending the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs’s annual Fall Festival, alongside other excited families and churchgoers.

The free event featured food, drinks, a bouncy house, games, a maze and a hayride among other things, with attendees invited to “bring their kids”.

HERO COWBOY GAVE CHASE

A pick up-driving, heavily tattooed cowboy is being hailed a hero for his role in bringing down the Texas church massacre gunman.

Johnnie Langendorff was driving past the church just moments after Kelley opened fire on parishioners inside during morning service.

As the gunman fled, another bystander — a local man believed to live next to the church — fired on him with his own rifle.

Mr Langendorff saw this exchange of gunfire and stopped to assist, he told TV news outlet KSAT 12.

“The shooter had taken off, fled in his vehicle,” the good Samaritan recalled.

“I just acted and got (the bystander) off the road. He explained very quickly what happened and he got in the truck. I knew it was time to go.”

They chased Kelley for some time at high speed, reaching 150 kilometres per hour, before the killer crashed.

“He lost control. I put the vehicle in park, the other gentleman got out. He had his rifle drawn but (the shooter) didn’t move after that.”

Mr Langendorff said he didn’t know who the other hero was.

“I was strictly just acting on what’s the right thing to do,” he said.

MASSACRE CAUGHT ON CAMERA

It’s not yet known what prompted Kelley, to carry out his killing spree at the small town church, armed with a Ruger assault rifle.

However authorities revealed a video camera was rolling inside and will now become a key part of the investigation.

Freeman Martin from the Texas Department of Public Safety said Kelley parked at a service station across the road from the church about 11.20am, crossed to the church and started firing outside the building.

He then walked into the church and continued spraying bullets.

The death toll included 23 parishioners inside the church, two outside the building and another who died after being taken to hospital.

RELATED: Shooting at First Baptist Church puts lax Texas gun laws under the spotlight

CHURCH WAS HARD TO FLEE

A teenager says the layout of the church would have made it difficult for congregants to flee a shooter who came in the front door.

Hunter Green, 16, described the building as having only small exits on the side and in the back. If a gunman came in the front door, Green said “they wouldn’t have had anywhere to go”.

He says he attends the church with his girlfriend but they skipped the morning service after a late date night.

Texas church shooting hero chases suspect down Texas church shooting hero chases suspect down

WITNESSES REVEAL HORROR: “THIS WAS RAPID FIRE”

Locals in the small town said the shock of the church service attack was “indescribable”.

“This was semiautomatic fire, this was rapid fire. It was very disturbing,” said local resident Carrie Matula, who lives near the church.

“This is a very small town. Everybody knows everybody, this is just devastating. It’s going to change the whole dynamic of this area.”

TEXAS MASSACRE: What we know so far

More than 100 locals were gathered in a community centre, some waiting to hear if they had lost loved ones.

She described the mood inside the centre as: “Just shock and dismay and mourning and lots of people praying together and praying for their neighbours and their loved ones.”

An eyewitness, who works at a petrol station across the road, told ABC News: “We heard several shots and we all started running inside the store.

“It lasted about 15 seconds. I yelled, ‘Get down! Get inside’ and we all went into hiding.”

She said the gas station locked its doors. “We have not reopened.

“There were officers that were checking the wounded in here were asking them questions.”

KSAT showed video of several fire and police vehicles at the church and a photo of a helicopter arriving to transport victims to hospitals.

The area is known for its annual peanut festival in nearby Floresville, which was most recently held last month.

“We’re shocked. Shocked and dismayed,” said state Senator Judith Zaffirini, a Democrat whose district includes Sutherland Springs.

“It’s especially shocking when it’s such a small, serine area.”

First responders converged on the small town and helicopters have been taking victims to hospitals, with the FBI also on the scene.

A spokeswoman for Connally Memorial Medical Center in nearby Floresville said the hospital received eight patients with gunshot wounds.

Four had been transferred to San Antonio.

Texan Governor Greg Abbott tweeted his shock in the wake of the tragedy.

“Our prayers are with all who were harmed by this evil act. Our thanks to law enforcement for their response.”

At a later press conference, Governor Abbott said it was “the largest mass shooting in our state’s history”.

“There are so many families who have lost family members. Fathers, mothers, sons and daughters,” he said.

His voice broke as he said: “The tragedy is so much worse that this took place in a place of worship.”

“There are 26 lives that have been lost,” he said.

“We don’t know if that number will rise or not. All we know is that’s too many and this will be a long suffering and mourning for those in pain.”

GUN CONTROL ANGER RESURFACES

In the immediate wake of the tragedy attention turned once again to America’s ongoing gun control debate.



Senator Chris Murphy, who represents Connecticut — the state of the Sandy Hook shooting — issued a powerful statement that has since gone viral.

In it, Senator Murphy said “none of this is inevitable” and that “no other country endures this pace of mass carnage”.

Shannon Watts, founder of the Mums Demand anti-gun movement, took to Twitter to point out that since the start of 2009, Texas has seen more mass shootings than any other state.

“In addition, (Texas Governor Greg Abbott) is a staunch advocate of the NRA, which endorsed him in return,” Ms Watts wrote.

Comedian and television host Chelsea Handler pointed blame directly at Republicans.

“Innocent people go to church on Sunday to honour their God, and while doing so, get shot in killed. What country? America. Why? Republicans,” she wrote.

Author Stephen King echoed the sentiment. “How many more have to die before we enact sane gun control laws?”

Former President Barack Obama, who fought for stricter gun controls in the wake of several mass shootings during his time in office, took to Twitter in the wake of today’s tragedy.

While issuing his condolences to the families of victims, he also called for action.

“May God also grant all of us the wisdom to ask what concrete steps we can take to reduce the violence and weaponry in our midst,” he wrote.