Investigators believe the massive shooting at a Texas church was a domestic dispute between a man and his mother-in-law.
While the investigation continues, local elected officials say now is not the time to make this massacre a political issue, even as millions of Americans call for additional regulation on gun ownership.
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TRACK
One of the first things Americans wanted to know
after 26 were killed at a Texas church is why
Was this terrorism?
as defined by the U-S Federal law as quote
"premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents."
or, as Freeman Martin of the Texas Department of Public Safety explained
a tragedy initiated by a very personal dispute.
TAKE CLIP
"We can tell you that there was a domestic situation going on within this family. ... The suspect's mother in law attended this church. We know that he had, he had, she'd received threatening texts from him."
The suspect,
Devin Patrick Kelly,
was discharged from the U-S Air Force three years ago.
after being convicted of assaulting and abusing his wife and child,
The U.S. Air Force has confirmed,
the that his conviction of a felony and bad conduct discharge should have been passed on the National Criminal Information Center
and that information would have blocked him from buying weapons and a protective vest.
Except it wasn't passed on.
Freeman Martin told reporters the initial investigation finds Devin Patrick Kelley, while fleeing the scene
called his father to say good bye.
TAKE CLIP 3
"The cause and manner of death in the shooter will be determined by the pathologist, during the autopsy. However, investigators did find evidence at the scene that indicates the subject may have died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound."
TRACK
Millions of Americans are not happy with U.S. President Donald Trump
who initially described the tragedy as one caused by mental illness.
TAKE CLIP
"This was a, very, based on preliminary reports, a very deranged individual, a lot of problems over a long period of time."
TRACK
Texas Senator Ted Cruz blamed the reporters for not focussing on the reality
nearly everyone in Sutherland Springs knew a victim.
TAKE CLIP
"It is an unfortunate thing that the immediate place the media goes, after any tragedy, after any murder is to politicize. We don't need politics right now. (reporter says senator) Y'know, I would note in New York we saw a terror attack just this week with a truck. Evil is evil is evil."
TRACK
The youngest victim was just a toddler, 18 months old. The oldest was 77.
As is traditional after these mass shootings, America's largest lobbying group for gun rights
the National Rifle Association, is not commenting.
While U-S President Donald Trump says, this isn't actually about guns,
Democrats counter,
When will there be the political will to actually to something?
to no longer accept massacres in public places, schools, movie theaters and churches?
to change the law...
I'm Priscilla Huff in Washington."
***ENDS***