Church gunman shot kids in head in video

Video footage from inside the church in a small Texas town where a gunman shot 26 people dead shows him shooting some of them in the head.

A US official says authorities have reviewed a Texas congregation's video from inside the church showing a man shooting some victims - including children - in the head during morning worship.

Devin Patrick Kelley killed 26 people including an unborn baby at the Baptist church in the small Texas town of Sutherland Springs on Sunday.

The official's account of the video on Wednesday is consistent with what witnesses attending the service said about Kelley's actions during the attack.

The same official confirmed the mobile phone that belonged to the attacker was an iPhone but that the FBI had not yet asked Apple for help obtaining data from the device.

On Tuesday, Christopher Combs, the special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio division, said agents haven't been able to access the data on Kelley's mobile phone.

Authorities also released an official list of those killed in the shooting rampage at a Texas church.

Eight male victims and 17 female victims ranging in age from 1 to 77 are on the Texas Department of Public Safety list released on Wednesday. The list also includes the unborn baby of Crystal Holcombe, identified on the list as Carlin Brite "Billy Bob" Holcombe, age 0 and gender unknown.

Eight of the victims were children and teenagers ranging in age from 1 to 16 years old.

Police reports previously revealed Kelley briefly escaped from a mental health centre in New Mexico in 2012.

The Air Force confirmed on Tuesday that Kelley had been treated in a facility after he was placed under pretrial confinement stemming from a court-martial on charges that he assaulted his then-wife and hit her child.

Also, a police report from El Paso says Kelley was caught trying to bring guns on to Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico when he was stationed there.

Meanwhile, US Vice President Mike Pence headlined a prayer vigil for victims and first responders.

"We gather tonight to offer our deepest condolences, and I offer the condolences of the American people to all those affected by the horrific attack that took place just three days ago," Pence told the crowd.

Pence was called upon to fill the role in the absence of President Donald Trump, who has been out of the country on a state visit to Asia.

"President Trump wanted to come to Texas tonight to tell all of you, 'We are with you, the American people are with you,' and as the president said Sunday from halfway around the world, 'we will never leave your side,'" Pence said to rousing applause.


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world