At least 26 killed in mass shooting at Texas church

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- At least 26 killed, at least 20 others injured
- Gunman identified as 26-year-old white Devin Patrick Kelley
- Victims aged between 5 and 72
- Trump calls shooting "act of evil"

At least 26 people were killed and at least 20 others injured in a mass shooting at a church in Texas during Sunday services, Governor Greg Abbott confirmed at a press briefing.

What happened?

The incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. local time on Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, a rural community of around 400 people, 300 km west of Houston, Texas.

A man walked into the church and opened fire at the congregation with a rifle before fleeing the scene.

Medical personnel and law enforcement set up along a street near the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, US, November 5, 2017./Reuters Photo

Who are the victims?

Sunday's tragedy has claimed the lives of 26 people including children.

"There are 26 lives that have been lost. We don't know if that number will rise or not, all we know is that's too many, and this will be a long, suffering mourning for those in pain," Abbott said.

Police officers are at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, US, November 5, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The victims ranged in age from five to 72 as families from the local community gathered for Sunday services.

Sherri Pomeroy, wife of Pastor Frank Pomeroy, said she and her husband were out of town when the incident happened but their 14-year-old daughter and many friends are among the dead, local media reported.

Who carried out the shooting?

The shooter has been identified as 26-year-old white veteran Devin Patrick Kelly, CNN reported, citing a law enforcement officer.

A man living next to the church took his own rifle and engaged Kelly, Freeman Martin from the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN.

"The suspect dropped his rifle, which was a Ruger AR assault-type rifle, and fled from the church. Our local citizen pursued the suspect at that time," Martin said.

The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt told CBS News in an interview.

CBS News releases the photo of the suspect Devin Patrick Kelly. /CBS Photo

Local media reported that Kelly served in the US Air Force from 2010 to 2014 before being dishonorably discharged.

The motive for the shooting has not been confirmed.

Trump: Shooting an 'act of evil'

President Donald Trump, who is currently in Japan on a tour of Asia, called the shooting an "act of evil" during an address to business leaders at the US embassy in Tokyo.

"We pull together. We join hands, we lock arms and through the tears and through the sadness we stand strong, oh so strong," Trump said.

Trump also ordered national flags to be flown half-staff - including those at the White House, at all public buildings and grounds and at US facilities abroad - until Thursday, according to a White House statement.

Worst mass shootings in recent US history

The shooting, the deadliest in Texas' modern history, comes only a month after a massive shooting incident in Las Vegas which left at least 59 people dead and over 500 others injured.

Here’s a look at some of the nation’s deadliest rampages since 2012:

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