2017 First Baptist Church

On November 5, 2017, a mass shooting occurred at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, resulting in the deaths of 26 individuals, including an unborn child, and injuring 22 others. This tragedy stands as the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history and the most lethal attack on a place of worship in the United States

The assailant, 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley, was a former U.S. Air Force airman from New Braunfels, Texas. In 2012, he was court-martialed for assaulting his wife and stepson, leading to a conviction for domestic violence. Despite this, the Air Force failed to report his conviction to the FBI, allowing him to legally purchase firearms.

On the day of the attack, Kelley, dressed in black tactical gear and a ballistic vest, entered the church during a Sunday service and opened fire with a Ruger AR-556 semi-automatic rifle. He fired approximately 450 rounds over 11 minutes, methodically targeting congregants, including children. The shooting was captured on the church's video recording system.

After exiting the church, Kelley was confronted and shot by Stephen Willeford, a local resident and former firearms instructor. Kelley fled the scene in his vehicle, pursued by Willeford and another local, Johnnie Langendorff. During the chase, Kelley called his father, stating he had been shot and didn't believe he would survive. He subsequently lost control of his vehicle and was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.​

Victims

Robert Scott Marshall, age 56

Karen Sue Marshall, age 56

Keith Allen Braden, age 62

Tara E. McNulty, age 33

Annabelle Renae Pomeroy, age 14

Peggy Lynn Warden, age 56

Dennis Neil Johnson, Sr., age 77

Sara Johns Johnson, age 68

Lula Woicinski White, age 71

Joann Lookingbill Ward, age 30

Brooke Bryanne Ward, age 5

Robert Michael Corrigan, age 51

Shani Louise Corrigan, age 51

Therese Sagan Rodriguez, age 66

Ricardo Cardona Rodriguez, age 64

Haley Krueger, age 16

Emily Garcia (died at the hospital), age 7

Emily Rose Hill, age 11

Gregory Lynn Hill, age 13

Megan Gail Hill, age 9

Marc Daniel Holcombe, age 36

Noah Holcombe, age 1

Karla Plain Holcombe, age 58

John Bryan Holcombe, age 60

Crystal Marie Holcombe, age 36, pregnant

Carlin Brite "Billy Bob" Holcombe, an unborn baby