DHAKA: At least 27 people were killed and 20 others were injured in Texas after a gunman dressed in tactical gear opened fire at a church outside San Antonio.

The mass shooting occurred at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, about 30 miles from San Antonio on Sunday (November 05).

At least 23 died inside the church, two outside, another died on the way to the hospital, while another succumbed to injuries later. The death toll could increase given the number of injured.

The gunman dressed all in black, and wearing a tactical gear including a bullet-proof vest, walked into the church and opened fire as the congregation were involved in weekly service.

One of those killed was 14-year-old Annabelle, the daughter of the church's Pastor Frank Pomeroy. Pastor Pomeroy and his wife Sherri were not in town as the gunman stuck, arriving at a petrol station across the street from the church at around 11.20am local time.

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The weekly service started at 11am, with the congregation waiting to hear a sermon around the time the shooter arrived. The man, who police have not yet confirmed the identity of, has been named in US media as Devin Patrick Kelley, 26.

Police said the gunman crossed the street in his vehicle, got out and began firing using a Ruger AR assault-type rifle. He then moved to the right side of the church, continuing to fire and then into the building - still shooting bullets.

As he left, he was confronted by a resident who grabbed his rifle and then began to fire at him as he fled. The neighbour of the church then chased the shooter who left the scene in his vehicle before leaving the road at the border with Guadalupe County. He was found dead inside the vehicle, although authorities are not sure if the shooter died from a self-inflicted wound, or whether it was from the resident.

Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas, who said he was briefed by law enforcement authorities, said the gunman came from Comal County, which is northeast of San Antonio.

“The tragedy of course is worsened by the fact that it occurred in a church, a place of worship where these people were innocently gunned down,” he said

BDST: 0920 HRS, NOV 06, 2017
EHJ