Multiple people were killed after a gunman opened fire in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday, officials said.
A single shooter walked into the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs and opened fire, Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr. told NBC News.
Gamez said he had spoken to the sheriff and other officials who said there were multiple fatalities and multiple wounded, but it was not immediately clear how many were dead or injured.
Several other law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation also said “multiple” people had been killed, with as many as 15 injured. The FBI and ATF were headed to the scene.
A spokesperson for the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office had described it as an “active shooter” incident.
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Later, from the scene of the shooting, Gamez said on MSNBC that he had heard from officials there that up to 24 people may have died.
He added that he had been told that deputies were in pursuit of the suspect after the gunman fled the scene of the church.
But the shooter was now “deceased,” Gamez said, adding that it was not clear if the gunman shot himself or was taken down by authorities.
Carrie Matula, who works at a gas station about 150 yards away from the church, told MSNBC that she heard “semiautomatic gunfire” and looked to see what was going on.
“It’s a small Baptist church. It’s an older building. I don’t know that they would have security cameras or anything high tech like that. And I know they didn’t have security in the parking lot,” she said.
“I never thought it would happen here,” Matula added. “This is something that happens in a big city. I would never have thought this would have taken place here. It’s just too tight a community. It doesn’t make sense.”
“While the details of this horrific act are still under investigation, Cecilia and I want to send our sincerest thoughts and prayers to all those who have been affected by this evil act,”Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. “I want to thank law enforcement for their response and ask that all Texans pray for the Sutherland Springs community during this time of mourning and loss.”
President Donald Trump, travelling in Asia, tweeted, “May God be w/ the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI & law enforcement are on the scene. I am monitoring the situation from Japan.”
Sherri Pomeroy, the wife of church pastor Frank Pomeroy, told NBC News that her husband was out of town at the time of the reported shooting but that her daughter was inside the church.
