Another mass shooting was just reported at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas
Earlier today, another mass shooting took place at a Southern Baptist Church Sutherland Springs, Texas, just outside San Antonio. According to the Wilson County News, multiple fatalities have already been reported. Wilson County Commissioner Albert Gamez, Jr. told NBC News that a single shooter opened fire on the church congregation.
It is not yet clear how many fatalities there are or how many people are wounded, though estimates right now say at least 15 people are hurt. However, reports indicate that the shooter is “down,” though the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office describes this still as an “active shooter” incident. Reports from the scene have been filtering in over Twitter, indicating that the church’s service is typically attended by about 50 people, and that the town’s population is only 1,000. There may be church-goers as young as two years old in attendance. According to a producer at MSNBC, Gamez said on the air that there may be as many as 24 dead.
The Daily Beast reports that the shooter has been identified as Devin Patrick Kelley. The 26-year-old died in the aftermath of the shooting, though it’s not clear whether he was shot by a citizen who confronted him as he was leaving the church or by a self-inflicted wound.
Live on @MSNBC right now, Wilson Co., TX commissioner Albert Gamez, Jr reports up to 24 dead in the church shooting in Sutherland Springs
— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) November 5, 2017
Sutherland Springs has a population of less than 1,000. Imagine the impact a mass shooting is going to have on that community.
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) November 5, 2017
Neighbors say they heard shooter may have reloaded multiple times, around 50 people usually at service pic.twitter.com/tkAYMp2Y8A
— KSAT Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) November 5, 2017
A 2-year-old is reportedly among the injured. https://t.co/GchB8zEViF
— Krista M. Torralva (@KMTorralva) November 5, 2017
President Trump has already made a statement about the mass shooting.
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/927265906086031363
So has the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott.
Statement on shooting in Sutherland Springs, TX. pic.twitter.com/ffUbQgYdWD
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) November 5, 2017
This is far from the first mass shooting this year, and it comes only a month after the Las Vegas shooting, the largest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. At the time, many, including celebrities, pleaded for gun reform, though others dismissed those please as politicizing a tragedy and said it was too soon to talk about. However, now that a month has past and another shooting has taken place, we have to wonder whether there will ever be an appropriate time to discuss gun violence.
Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with the victims and the families and communities of those affected by this tragedy. But we’re ready to talk about gun reform, too.
