Texas church shooting update: Killer's motive stems from domestic dispute

REUTERS/Rick Wilking
Pastor Oscar Dean prays with the others near the site of the shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, U.S.November 6, 2017.

America has suffered a tragic shooting in the state of Texas, at a church in Sutherland Springs. Now being called the Texas Church Shooting, the tragedy saw the demise of 26 people from young to old individuals, as the shooter, 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, indiscriminately fired at church goers. As the investigation moves along, the authorities have uncovered more information about the motive behind the mass killing.

In a report by CNN, the authorities have speculated that the shooting could be related to a domestic issue that Kelley had with his in-laws. Months before the shooting had taken place, Kelley posted numerous rants and grievances on his Facebook page, alluding towards his disagreements with his mother-in-law, as well as anti-God and pro-gun statements. Kelley's former classmates and acquaintances have also confirmed these facts.

On top of that, the church's pastor, Frank Pomeroy, had previously requested the authorities to ask Kelley to stop attending the church since Kelley was "not good to be around." Kelley has an extensive record of violence, and has even escaped from Peak Behavioral Health Systems in New Mexico in 2012, where he was admitted due to threatening commanders at an unnamed U.S. Air Force base.

These speculation shed some light as to the nature of the killings, which was initially believed to be about religious causes or racially motivated. In fact, Kelley has been described to be someone who was fascinated by mass shootings in general. According to CBS News, Kelley brought three guns and 15 magazines to the church at Sutherland Springs. The incident ended with Kelley shooting himself in the head, and was found dead in his vehicle.

In a report by The Blaze, Texas Department of Public Safety regional director, Freeman Martin, stated in a press conference that based on the texts that they were able to retrieve during the investigation, the shooting can be dismissed as a "senseless crime." He went on further to say that Kelley sent text messages of an angry nature to his mother-in-law, adding more evidence to this specific motive.