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Texas church shooting suspect identified as Devin Patrick Kelley: reports

Click to play video: 'Texas pastor of nearby church says people ‘went into action’ after hearing of shooting'
Texas pastor of nearby church says people ‘went into action’ after hearing of shooting
WATCH: Texas pastor of nearby church says people ‘went into action’ after hearing of shooting – Nov 5, 2017

The gunman suspected of killing 26 people at a southeast Texas church has been identified as Devin Patrick Kelley, according to U.S. media reports.

ABC News reported that the shooter was identified as Kelley, a 26-year-old white male from the city of New Braunfels in Comal County, Texas, less than an hour’s drive from Sutherland Springs, where the shooting occurred. The news outlet cited unnamed federal and state law enforcement sources.

The Associated Press reported that an official who wasn’t authorized to speak about the investigation revealed the suspect’s name.

READ MORE: First Baptist Church was a fixture in small Texas community of Sutherland Springs

Police earlier confirmed that the shooter was killed on the scene, but haven’t publicly named the suspect.

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NBC Philadelphia also identified Kelley by name, and reported that police were working to search his home.

WATCH: Aerial video of Texas church shooting

Click to play video: 'Aerial video of Texas church shooting'
Aerial video of Texas church shooting

A LinkedIn profile believed to be the suspect’s suggested that he may have had a military background, according to ABC News. A U.S. Air Force spokesperson said Kelley was discharged from the Air Force for allegedly assaulting his wife and child.

The spokeswoman, Ann Stefanek, said Sunday that Devin Kelley was sentenced to 12 months’ confinement after a 2012 court-martial. He ultimately received a bad conduct discharge and reduction in rank. She said Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge

At the address listed for Kelley in New Braunfels, two sheriff’s vans were parked outside and police officers stood at the gate of a cattle fence surrounding the property. Law enforcement officials gathered at the property declined to comment on why they were there. Several messages left for his relatives went unreturned.

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Authorities haven’t shared details about how the shooting unfolded, or the suspect’s motivations.

— With files from The Associated Press

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