Texas mass shooting: 27 dead after firing at church, gunman identified

Gunman responsible for the tragedy shot down; heavy police personnel reported at crime scene

At least 27 people were killed and nearly two dozen wounded in a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday when an unidentified gunman opened fire, the local media reported.

Local police told Channel KSAT12 that the shooter was dead but did not specify the cause of death or the exact number of victims inside the First Baptist Church, Efe news reported.

The shooter was later identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, according to two law enforcement officers briefed on the situation, CNN reported.

Sutherland Springs is located 45 km southeast of San Antonio. A heavy police presence, including Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel, was reported at the crime scene after the incident.

Although local police have not released figures on the number of dead, County Commissioner Wilson Albert Gamez Jr told MSNBC that 27 people were dead and at least 24 wounded, the report said.

The church was celebrating Mass at the time of the shootings.

"Our prayers are with all who were harmed by this evil act. Our thanks to law enforcement for their response. More details from DPS soon," Texas Governor Greg Abbott said on Twitter shortly after the incident.

United States President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as an "act of evil" and called it "horrific" in his first public remarks after the incident took place.

"This act of evil occurred as the victims and their families were in their place of sacred worship. We cannot put into words the pain and grief we all feel and we cannot begin to imagine the suffering of those who lost the ones they love," Trump said.

Trump said his "thoughts and prayers" were with the victims and their families and added that it was in "times such as these" that "Americans do what they do best."

"We pull together. We join hands, we lock arms and through the tears and through the sadness we stand strong, oh so strong," Trump said.

Trump pledged his administration's "full support to the great state of Texas and all local authorities investigating this horrible crime."