TEXAS SHOOTING: ‘Depressed gun obsessed killer’ turned back on faith claims former friend

Kelley carried out the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history after opening fire on a church service with a Ruger AR-556 semi-automatic rifle.

Now a grim picture of the mass murderer has been painted by those who knew him, with a former friend describing him as a normal child who “seemed to really change” after graduating from school.

Taylor Tribbey, who knew the killer as he grew up, revealed Kelley developed an obsession with guns and had been complaining of “depression” before he claimed the lives of 26 innocent people in the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Speaking to the Sun, Mr Tribbey said: “After he graduated he seemed to really change.

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A grim picture of the mass murderer has been painted by those who knew him

“He started getting into guns and he committed to joining the Air Force.

“He got into hunting and would post pictures of all the deer he shot.

“That was during the time he was married and had a baby so he would post pictures of the baby too.

“He would also post about being depressed.

“I think he had depression – I forget exactly what he used to say he was upset or sad about – I just remember lots of negative posts.

“I never saw these posts but other friends say he used to post anti-Christian and anti-religious posts too. They’ve all been taken down now.

“I remember one time a Christian person was commenting to me about my beliefs – as I was atheist at the time – and Devin posted to stick up for me telling the person -‘Taylor is an atheist it’s like you’re speaking a different language to him'”.

It was later revealed Kelley was dishonourably discharged from the US Air Force after allegedly fracturing his step-son’s skull and beating his wife in a furious rage.

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It was later revealed Kelley was dishonourably discharged from the US Air Force

He was also a former bible studies teacher, and is believed to have begun his killing spree after a “domestic dispute”, officials have claimed.

Mr Tribbey said: ”I remember him and his dad – he liked skateboarding, he was also in the school football team – I think in middle school and for one year in high school.

“I also knew him from karate school – back then he was just a normal, regular kid.

“He used to go to karate with his dad – who was a really nice and funny guy.

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He posted pictures to facebook of the gun he would later use to unleash chaos on Sutherlands Springs

“He had a girlfriend – they had a happy relationship from what I saw, even when they broke up they stayed friends.

“Sometimes he would complain about his family but it was stuff like when they made him cut his hair for school and he wanted to keep it long – that kind of thing. Nothing major.

“In the early days he would talk about God and say things like whatever job he gets, he’ll let God give him but then, later on, I know he became an atheist so he must have lost his faith.

“I never remember him talking about any political views but his dad did – his dad was a conservative Republican – I remember him once saying he only knew one member of his family who was a liberal but of course it wasn’t Devin – it was another girl in their family.”

At least 26 people died from the attack and dozens more were injured, including a five-year-old boy who has undergone surgery after being shot twice in the stomach, once in his scrotum and once in his arm.

The 14-year-old daughter of the church’s pastor Frank Pomeroy was among those who died.

Mr Pomeroy described his daughter as “very beautiful, special child”.

After being confronted by an armed civilian inside the church Kelley fled the scene in his SUV.

The police found the murderer dead in his car along with multiple weapons and possible explosives.