OPINION
Church gunman was court-martialed, discharged from Air Force
NOMAAN MERCHANT and PAUL J. WEBER, Associated Press 3 hours ago
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas (AP) — The man officials have identified to The Associated Press as the gunman in a mass shooting at a Texas church was discharged from the Air Force for allegedly assaulting his spouse and child, according to an Air Force spokeswoman.
The spokeswoman, Ann Stefanek, said Sunday that Devin Kelley served 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 in 2014. His job responsible for moving passengers, cargo and personal property in military transportation.
Authorities did not announce his name at a news conference on the shooting, saying only that the suspect was a white male in his 20s.
But a U.S. official and a law enforcement official identified Kelley as the person who opened fire Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people and wounding about 20 others.
The U.S. official told the AP that Kelley lived in a San Antonio suburb and that he doesn't appear to be linked to organized terrorist groups. The official said investigators are looking at social media posts Kelley may have made in the days before Sunday's attack, including one that appeared to show an AR-15 style semi-automatic weapon. The official requested anonymity because the person did not have authorization to speak publicly.
An address listed in online records as belonging to Kelley is located in New Braunfels, Texas, just outside San Antonio and about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Sutherland Springs.
Local records of an August traffic ticket issued in New Braunfels, Texas, for an expired registration and not having auto insurance give a birthdate that would make him 26 years old.
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.
Neighbors said that they heard intense gunfire coming from the direction of the address listed for Kelley in recent days.
"It's really loud. At first I thought someone was blasting," said Ryan Albers, 16, who lives across the road. "It had to be coming from somewhere pretty close. It was definitely not just a shotgun or someone hunting. It was someone using automatic weapon fire."
A person matching Kelley's name and date of birth also registered in 2014 to vote in Colorado, with an address listed in Colorado Springs, home of the U.S. Air Force Academy. The Colorado Secretary of State's office lists his registration now as inactive.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety regional director Freeman Martin, the gunman arrived at a Valero gas station near the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs at around 11:20 a.m. Sunday. He was dressed in black, wearing tactical gear and a ballistic vest.
He crossed the street to the church, left his vehicle and started firing a Ruger AR assault-type rifle at the church. Then he entered the church and fired.
As he left the church, the shooter met an unidentified area resident with his own rifle who pursued him. The suspect was found dead in his vehicle near the border between Wilson and Guadalupe counties.
Martin said it's unclear if he died of a self-inflected wound or was shot by the resident.
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Who Is Devin Kelley, the Texas Church Shooter?
by Tim Stelloh
He arrived at church ready for war, wearing black tactical gear and a ballistics vest and toting what authorities described as an "assault-type rifle."
Devin P. Kelley while a freshman at New Braunfels High School in New Braunfels, Texas, in 2006. Poppel Yearbook Library
Then Devin Patrick Kelley, 26, opened fire on a small Texas church on Sunday morning, killing 26 people, wounding at least 10 others and providing the two-gas station community of Sutherland Springs with a grim distinction, authorities said.
"We are dealing with the largest mass shooting in our state's history," Gov. Greg Abbott said at a news conference.
What was behind this act of carnage in a place of sanctuary?
Ann Stefanek, a spokeswoman for the Air Force, confirmed that Kelley was court-martialed in 2012 on two charges of assaulting his spouse and their child. He was confined for a year, given a bad conduct discharge and reduced in rank to E-1, or airman basic, Stefanek said.
A search of criminal records in Comal County, where Kelley lived, yielded only minor violations — driving with an expired registration, speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign, driving without insurance.
A New Braunfels Independent School District spokeswoman confirmed that Kelley graduated from New Braunfels High School in 2009, but declined to offer additional details about him.
Texas church shooter had no apparent ties to terrorism 1:17
"This senseless act of violence is something that is hard to understand and has definitely shaken our community," the spokeswoman, Rebecca M. Villarreal, said in a statement.
Dave Ivey, Kelley's uncle, said in a Facebook message that he "never in a million years could of believed Devin could be capable of this kind of thing."
"I am numb," Ivey said. "My family will suffer because of his coward actions. ... I am so sorry for the victims in Texas."
Federal officials said they'd found no obvious link to an organized terrorist group. Abbott said it wasn't clear whether Kelley had relatives inside the church when he opened fire, and Freeman Martin regional director of the state Department of Public Safety, said authorities were investigating whether Kelley belonged to a militia. But Freeman added: "We can't say one way or another."
Martin told reporters that Kelley was wearing the tactical gear and the ballistics vest when he pulled into a gas station in Sutherland Springs at 11:20 a.m. (12:20 p.m. ET) Sunday. He had multiple weapons in his car, Martin said. Martin didn't provide additional details, but he said Texas Ranger bomb specialists were processing the car.
Texas Shooting Victims' Grandmother: 'My Whole Body's Just Numb 9:33
After leaving the gas station, the gunman crossed the street, got out of his car and sprayed First Baptist Church's right side with his rifle, Martin said. He then entered the church and continued to fire until a local resident grabbed Kelley's rifle, forcing him to drop it and flee. The resident pursued Kelley, who drove off the road and crashed, Martin said.
Kelley was later found dead, Martin said, although it was unclear how he died.
"We don't know if it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound or if he was shot by our local resident who engaged him in gunfire," he said.
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Monday, July 10, 2017
THE KILLERS AMONG US: 32-year-old infantryman Justin Walters killed his wife, 27-year-old Nichole Walters, then killed New York State Police Trooper Joel R. Davis, 36, who was responding to reports of shots fired at the couple's rural upstate property
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| Nichole Walters, 27, killed by her husband. Goodbye beautiful girl, sorry that you picked a monster for your husband |
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| 32-year-old infantryman Justin Walters, killed wife Nichole and State Trooper Joel Davis, 36 |
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| Trooper Joel Davis, 36, dead |
THERESA, New York -- A U.S. Army soldier killed his wife then fatally shot a New York State Police trooper who was responding to reports of shots fired at the couple's rural upstate property, authorities said Monday.
The suspect, identified as 32-year-old infantryman Justin Walters, surrendered without incident after the Sunday night slayings, New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said.
Trooper Joel Davis, 36, was responding to the report about 8 p.m. Sunday and was approaching the home in the town of Theresa, near the Canadian border, when he was shot, Beach said. Walters' wife, 27-year-old Nichole Walters, was found dead at the scene. Police haven't said how she was killed.
State police said Walters is stationed at nearby Fort Drum, home of the 10th Mountain Division. Information on Walters' military service was expected to be released later Monday.
WWNY-TV in Watertown reported Justin Walters was clad only in shorts when he was brought to a town court around 4 a.m. Monday to be charged with first-degree murder in Davis' slaying and second-degree murder in Nichole Walters' death.
He was ordered held in the Jefferson County Jail without bail. Walters didn't have a lawyer at the arraignment.
The station reported that when the judge asked Walters if he knew why he was in court, Walters responded that he didn't know.
Police said a second woman living on the couple's property was also shot, but her injuries were not life threatening.
State police said Davis, of Evans Mills, graduated from the Basic School of the New York State Police Academy on May 29, 2013. He originally was assigned to the Troop D Watertown barracks before receiving his current assignment at the state police barracks in Philadelphia, New York, just outside Fort Drum.
Davis previously worked for the county sheriff's office as a road patrol deputy. WWNY reported that his brother, Josh Davis, is a police officer in Watertown.
Joel Davis is survived by his wife and three children.
In a statement Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said "the entire New York family grieves" for Davis.
"Trooper Davis served as a member of the New York State Police for four years and his death is yet another sad reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face each day in order to protect our communities and serve the residents of this great state," the Democratic governor said while urging New Yorkers to keep Davis' family, friends and colleagues in their thoughts and prayers.
Cuomo later ordered that flags on all state government buildings be flown at half-staff in the slain trooper's honor.
New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II is saddened to announce the death of Trooper Joel R. Davis.
At approximately 8:09 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, Trooper Davis responded to a call of shots fired during a domestic dispute at 34371 County Route 46 in the town of Theresa, Jefferson County. While approaching the residence, Trooper Davis was shot once and killed.
The suspect, 32-year old Justin D. Walters, surrendered to other State Troopers without incident. Walters is an active duty Army infantryman who is stationed at Fort Drum.
Walters' wife, 27-year old Nichole V. Walters, was also found deceased at the scene.
Trooper Davis, of Evans Mills, NY, was 36 years old. He graduated from the 199th session of the Basic School on May 29, 2013, and was originally assigned to Troop D, SP Watertown, before receiving his current assignment at SP Philadelphia. He is survived by his wife and three children.
New York State has the best state troopers around. Professional, vigilant, caring, protecting the public. So sad to see Trooper Davis getting killed by the hands of a guy who also was supposed to protect our country. Then of course these are trained killers, many of them coming from the bottom of the society, uneducated, violent, bullies, emotionally unstable, etc. Thousands of people die each year at the hands of our "service" men.
We would not be surprised if this killer, Justin Walters, was jealous of his beautiful wife for going out with friends, cheating on him, etc. Burdened by the army service and emotionally deficient, he eventually snapped and killed this beautiful woman and the NY State Trooper.
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Justin Walters: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
By Jessica McBride
Updated Jul 10, 2017 at 11:36am
Facebook Justin and Nichole Walters.
Justin Walters, an active duty Army infantryman, is accused of shooting his wife and a state trooper to death.
The double murder occurred on July 9, and Walters, 32, surrendered at the scene in Theresa, New York.
The slain trooper was identified as Joel R. Davis, a married father of three and youth baseball coach. Walters is also accused of killing his wife Nichole V. Walters, 27, the state police announced. Her Facebook page is filled with comments about loving her husband. The couple had a small child.
Nichole Walters.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Walters Was Stationed at Fort Drum & Served in Afghanistan
FacebookA photo from Justin Walters’ Facebook page.
In a news release, the state police revealed that Walters is an active duty soldier in the U.S. Army.
“Walters is an active duty Army infantryman who is stationed at Fort Drum,” the news release said.
Fort Drum is an Army base located in northern New York near the Canadian border.
Walters’ Facebook page contains only photos of him and other soldiers in Army uniforms overseas. In 2016, he wrote, next to a photo of himself in a military vehicle, “Can’t believe it’s been 7 years.” He also wrote that he had served in Kandahar in 2011.
Here’s one of the pictures on Walters’ page, which he wrote was in Kandahar:
A photo on Justin Walters’ Facebook page.
Nichole posted this photo and wrote that it was of Justin’s graduation.
Justin Walters.
In contrast, his wife’s page is filled with photos of family.
2. The Trooper Died While Responding to a Domestic Call
Nichole and Justin Walters.
According to The Watertown Daily Times, Walters is accused of shooting his wife in the driveway of their home around 8:09 p.m. The couple lived at 34371 County Route 46.
That’s when Trooper Davis was called to the scene.
“We have numerous calls hearing gun shots prior to the trooper arriving,” a police spokesman told the newspaper. Davis was shot once and killed at the scene.
In a statement, the New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach III, said that Davis had “responded to a call of shots fired during a domestic dispute…while approaching the residence, Trooper Davis was shot once and killed.”
According to CBS News, “a second woman was shot, in the upper torso, police said. She was home alone but lives in a shed on the property with a man and child.”
“A woman whose family lived near the Walters’ white double-wide trailer went outside after the first shots, and suffered a gunshot wound in the upper torso,” The Watertown Daily Times reported.
3. Nichole Wrote About Her Love for Justin On Facebook & the Couple Had a Young Child
Nichole and Justin Walters.
Nichole Walters’ Facebook page is filled with photos of herself with Justin and their young child. “I love him so much!” Nichole wrote in 2010, with this photo:
Justin Walters with his wife, Nichole.
In 2014, she wrote, “My little monkey turned one month today along with justin and mines six year aniversery (sic) wow where does the time go very special day for my little family i love both of them so much.”
In 2015, Justin wrote under a photo of a small boy, “I miss my little dude!” He wrote alongside one photo of Nichole: “Sexy!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Justin Walters.
Online property records show the home where the murders occurred was purchased by Justin and Nichole Walters in 2015.
4. The Trooper Left Behind a Wife & Children & New York’s Governor Said His Death Is a ‘Sad Reminder’ of the Risks Law Enforcement Officers Face
Trooper Davis was married and had three children, according to The Watertown Daily Times. He was only 36-years-old.
According to TWC News, Davis was “stationed at the Philadelphia barracks in Jefferson County.”
Davis graduated from the 199thsession of the Basic School on May 29, 2013 and was originally assigned to Troop D, SP Watertown, before receiving his current assignment at SP Philadelphia, said the police statement. According to posts from friends and family members on Facebook, Davis was a youth baseball coach who mentored children both on and off the field and was remembered as a “great father” with a sweet disposition.
“The Evans Mills Youth Baseball would not be where it is now without the push and support of Joel Davis. Both on the field as a coach to many kids and behind the scenes . Rip Joel,” wrote the team on Facebook.
“The state police [are] doing a phenomenal job of holding it together. They are really doing a great job of holding it together. This is really going to be tough for all involved in the coming weeks,” said Jefferson County District Attorney Kristyna Mills to TWC News.
5. Walters Surrendered at the Scene
Justin Walters in Afghanistan.
According to the police statement, authorities took Walters into custody without further incident. Walters appeared in court on July 10, where is was accused of first and second degree murder.
This post will be updated as more information is learned about Walters and Davis.