Updates To The Texas Church Shooting Reveal More Details About The Devastating Attack

On Sunday, multiple people were reportedly shot and killed at a Baptist church near San Antonio, Texas. According to local CBS affiliate KENS, the incident occurred at First Baptist Church in the community of Sutherland Springs. It was not immediately clear how many people were affected or why the attack occurred, but updates to the Texas church shooting unfolded quickly after local reports began spreading.

Sutherland Springs is a small, unincorporated community that sits roughly 30 miles southeast of San Antonio. Although the community may be small, the church seems to have a sizable presence. A Facebook page for First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, has more than 13,000 followers.

Local media reported Sunday afternoon that a man began shooting inside the church at 11:30 a.m. local time, according to witnesses. Meanwhile, police reportedly confirmed that there were multiple victims. It was also reported that the man who opened fire had been killed. Other local reports included accounts of emergency vehicles racing toward the church and victims being airlifted out by helicopters. While most details weren't immediately known, it was clear that something scary and violent took place at a popular place of worship in the small Texas community. Updates will undoubtedly reveal more details throughout the afternoon and coming days.

More Than 20 People Were Killed

According to a local police commissioner, at least 27 people were killed in the attack, the BBC reported. More than 20 others were reportedly injured. It's not clear if that total included the shooter. According to KENS, one of the victims may have been a young child.

The FBI Is Responding

According to CNN, the FBI responded to the scene of the shooting. A team from the bureau's San Antonio field office had reportedly been sent to the church. The FBI will reportedly be helping to recover evidence and searching databases to learn more about the gunman and the attack. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) was also responding, according to CBS News. The FBI and ATF joined local police and emergency crews.

The Shooting Occurred During A Church Service

CNN also reported that the shooting took place during a church service. A witness working across the street from the church reportedly told CNN that she heard about 20 shots ring out from inside the church during a Sunday-morning service.

The Shooter Is Dead

Local news station KSAT reported that the shooter was "dead," according to police. It was not clear how he died, but CNN reported that he was killed after being chased by police into a neighboring county.

President Trump Offered His Condolences

President Trump was on an official visit to Japan when news of the Texas shooting broke. He quickly sent out a tweet in support of the Sutherland Springs community. "May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas," he wrote. Trump is not expected to return to the U.S. for almost two weeks, as he completes a five-country tour of Asia. Trump's response to Sunday's shooting in Texas was starkly different from his response to last week's New York City attack.

In the days to come, the public may learn more about the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs. Ultimately, Sunday's church shooting comes less than a week after the previously most-recent act of violence to rock the country. On Halloween, a man drove a vehicle down a crowded New York City street and bike path, killing eight people and injuring 12 others. Last month, more than 50 people were killed and over 200 others injured in a mass shooting in Las Vegas, the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Now, the Sunday-morning violence at a place of worship has the country remaining on its toes.