A lone gunman opened fire with an assault rifle on a church congregation,killing at least 26 people and wounding as many in a small town in San Antonio, Texas.
The incident is the latest in a string of mass shootings that bring into focus liberal gun rules in United States, which was last rattled a month ago when a man fired into a concert in Las Vegas using heavy weapons.
Sunday’s victims ranged in age from five to 72. Authorities said 23 people died inside the church, two outside and one in the hospital. Some of the 20 people injured were in serious condition.
Though authorities described the shooter as only a “young white male in his early-20s”, news reports identified him as Devin P Kelley, a 26-year-old from Houston. He once served with the US air force, in logistics and taught toddlers in an elementary school.
Dressed in all-black tactical gear and a ballistic vest, on Sunday, he was seen leaving his vehicle at a gas station at about 11:20 am. He began shooting at the church as he approached it, and continued as he circled to its right and entered, still shooting, as the Sunday service was under way inside.
As he exited the church, an armed local resident fired at him. Freeman Martin, an official of department of public safety, told reporters that at this point, the shooter dropped his weapon, got into his car and fled. But his car ran off the road a short distance later and crashed. He was found dead inside. Martin said it was not clear yet if the assailant died of wounds from the shot fired at him by the resident.