Texas Church Victims Include Children, Pastor's Daughter

Relative says pregnant cousin, 3 kids died
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 6, 2017 2:30 AM CST
Texas Church Victims Include Children, Pastor's Daughter
Law enforcement officials allow a vehicle to pass as they work at the scene of a shooting at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas.   (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

There are 26 people confirmed dead in America's latest horrific mass shooting—including the 14-year-old daughter of Frank Pomeroy, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas. Pomeroy tells ABC that Annabelle, his youngest daughter, was a "very beautiful, special child." Pomeroy says he was in Oklahoma Sunday in a rare absence from the church. He says all the people killed were good friends. At least three other children were killed in the attack and others are among the wounded. Sutherland Springs resident Nick Uhlig tells the Houston Chronicle that his cousin, Crystal Holcombe, was eight months pregnant and died along with three of her five children. The two others were badly injured.

Uhliq says the church provides community services, including free meals, for the tiny town, where the shooting is believed to have killed or injured close to 10% of the population. "Everybody can come, it doesn’t matter what religion you are," he says. Local business owner Dana Fletcher tells CNN that the community about 30 miles east of San Antonio is very small and very tight-knit. "There's two gas stations, the church, a community center, post office, a Dollar General, a tire shop," she says. Amanda Mosel tells the San Antonio Express-News that the congregation numbers around 50. She says her 13-year-old goddaughter was among those killed. The gunman, identified as Devin Kelley, was found dead in his vehicle after the mass shooting. His motive is still unclear. (More Texas mass shooting stories.)

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