REVEALED: Texas shooter sent ‘threatening texts’ to his mother-in-law, who attended church where he massacred 26 people before calling his father to say goodbye before committing suicide
Officials say Devin Patrick Kelley was in a domestic dispute with his mother-in-law Michelle Shields, who attended First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas
At an afternoon press conference, it was revealed that Kelley sent ‘threatening texts’ to his mother-in-law
Officials wouldn’t go into further details about the family fight
Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackett said that Kelley and his wife Danielle were estranged
Danielle used to work as a teacher at the church, her mother is friends with the pastor’s wife on social media
Records show they were married in April 2014, when Kelley was 23 and his bride was 19
He was also married at least once before, to a Tessa K Kelley
The couple divorced in 2012, the same year he was court-martialed for domestic violence
After killing 26 in the church on Sunday, Kelley fled in his car and was found dead behind the wheel
The official cause of death is pending, but officials believe he committed suicide by gun
Before killing himself, he called his father and said he didn’t think he was going to make it, officials said
By ASHLEY COLLMAN
DAILYMAIL.COM
6 November 2017
The Texas church shooter had family connections to the church where he killed at least 26 on Sunday in what is now the worst mass shooting in the state’s history.
At an afternoon press conference, police revealed that shooter Devin Patrick Kelley had ‘expressed anger towards his mother-in-law’ Michelle Shields, who attended the church.
Michelle wasn’t present for worship on Sunday when the massacre unfolded, but spoke to investigators after.
Officials said he sent ‘threatening texts’ to Shields, but wouldn’t go into further detail about their ‘domestic situation’. However, Freeman Martin of the Texas Rangers says that what they know so far indicates that the attack was domestic and not ‘racially’ or religiously motivated. An agent from the FBI said they are not investigating the shooting as an act of terror.
It was previously reported that Kelley’s wife Danielle was a former teacher at the school, and that her mother was a parishioner who is friends with the pastor and his wife.
Earlier in the day, Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackett told reporters that Kelley and his wife were estranged, but wouldn’t explain why. Marriage records show the couple tied the knot in Comal County, Texas on April 4, 2014, when Kelley was 23 and his bride was 19. As of Monday, Danielle’s Facebook profile still listed her relationship status as ‘married’ and photos on the account show pictures of two young kids – a baby girl and an older boy.
Neighbor Mark Moravitz told ABC News that Kelley lived at his parents’ home in New Braunfels with his wife and that he would sometimes hear gunshots coming from near the residence at night.
Records show Kelley was also married once before to a Tessa K Kelley, who he married in April 2011. Kelley and his other wife divorced a year later – the same year that he was court-martialed for domestic violence.
Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said Kelley was court-martialed on one count of assault on his spouse and another count of assault on their child. He was sentenced to 12 months’ confinement, a reduction in rank and was discharged for bad conduct two years later.
Stefanek said Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge.
The Rest…HERE
