A man walked into a church in a small Texas church on Sunday and opened fire as the congregation were involved in weekly service - leaving at least 26 dead and a number of others injured.
The mass shooting occurred at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, about 30 miles from San Antonio, with witness saying that the gunman - who has not yet been identified - started shooting about 11.30am local time.
The gunman was later “taken down” by authorities, according to Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that 26 "innocents had been gunned down".
To read updates as they came in, check our liveblog below:
One law enforcement official said the gunman fled in a vehicle after the attack and was killed, either by a self-inflicted wound or during a confrontation with police. The official was not authorised to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
Federal law enforcement swarmed the area, including Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) investigators and members of the FBI's evidence collection team.
Friends and family gathered near the church waiting for words of what had happened to loved ones, tears flowed with many incredibly anxious.
“We're shocked. Shocked and dismayed,” said state Senator Judith Zaffirini, a Laredo Democrat whose district includes Sutherland Springs. “It's especially shocking when it's such a small, serine area. These rural areas, they are so beautiful and so loving.”
