Update: 7:20 (Jazz) The shooter, who has still not been officially identified, killed 24 people inside the church and two more on the outside, along with wounding many others. After the attack began, a local citizen engaged the shooter and wounded him with his own firearm. The chase by law enforcement ended when the suspect’s vehicle left the road in the next county and crashed. He was dead on the scene (or shortly thereafter) when officers reached the vehicle. While still not officially confirmed, the shooter has been identified by multiple sources as Devin Patrick Kelley, age 26. He had relatives in Sutherland Springs. Much more research will be required before we can pin down a motive.

Update: 6:30 (Jazz) It’s unofficial at this point, but the shooter is tentatively being identified as a resident of a suburb of San Antonio whose mother-in-law listed her address as a P.O. Box in Sutherland Springs. More investigation is required, but it lends credence to early speculation that this was a domestic issue gone horribly wrong.

Pastor Frank Pomero of the First Baptist Church reportedly lost his own daughter in the attack but was not at the church at the time of the attack. Additional confirmation of all these details will still be required.

Update: 5:20 (Jazz) While we wait for official confirmation on the mass shooting, take a look at the end of the video I posted below. It’s the sermon at the church from last Sunday. At the end (fast forward to the 1:04:23 mark), the Pastor introduces their evening Bible study program for that evening. It features Revelations Chapter 3, Verse 1, “To the Angel of the Church in Sardis.” It’s also referred to as “The Dead Church.” Watch his reading and refer to this passage. I’ll leave it to you to find some meaning.

1 And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead. 2 Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Update: 4:45 (Jazz)The First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs has a YouTube channel and they broadcast their services after the fact. Here is the video of last week’s service. There’s a musical group which parks a motorcycle in front of the pews.

Update: 4:30 (Jazz) We’re hearing from both national news services and a couple of folks who are in the area that the shooter is a local resident. Still, confirmation of his identity being held close to the vest. No doubt officials are searching the residence and talking to all possible witnesses.

Update: 3:05 (Jazz) You can always count on Chelsea Handler for a calm, sympathetic response during a tragedy.

Innocent people go to church on Sunday to honor their God, and while doing so, get shot in killed. What country? America. Why? Republicans.

— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) November 5, 2017

Update: 3:01 (Jazz) – Still waiting for an update from officials. As of the 2000 census, the population of Sutherland Springs, Texas was 362. The last unofficial count of victims (not confirmed) is 27 dead and 24 wounded. If true, more than 10% of the population of Sutherland Springs was shot today during the 11:30 services at the First Baptist Church.

Update: 2:35 (Jazz) – Deputies confirm that the suspect fled in a vehicle but was immediately pursued by law enforcement. They caught up with him and he is now dead. It’s not specified whether the deputies killed him or if he took his own life. Still no confirmation on the casualties. Expecting an update from the local authorities soon.

Original article follows:

Just the news you didn’t want on Sunday. The congregation at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas was attacked this afternoon by an armed assailant. Multiple injuries are being reported and the local police are saying the shooter is dead. (KSAT 12)

A man who opened fire in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, is dead, police say.

A witness reported seeing a man walk into First Baptist Church and began shooting around 11:30 a.m.

Police said there are “multiple victims” at the church, but have not said how many.

The church is located in the 500 block of 4th Street in the small, south Texas town about 40 miles east of San Antonio.

Far too soon to come to any conclusions about this, so just pray for those affected for the time being. No official word on casualties initially, but an unconfirmed report from one of the media folks on the scene (via a tweet) claims that 15 are dead. If so, this would be one of the largest church shootings in the modern era.