US Air Force error 'allowed Texas gunman Devin Kelley to buy deadly weapon'

Suspected gunman: Devin Kelly
Tom Powell7 November 2017

The US Air Force has admitted it failed to log information about Texas gunman Devin Kelley’s criminal history that could have blocked him from purchasing guns.

Ex-airman Kelley killed 26 people and injured another 20 when he attacked a small church outside San Antonio.

It has since been revealed he was court-martialled for domestic violence in 2012 and barred from owning or buying guns.

However, last year he was able to purchase the rifle he used in Sunday’s attack, which was reportedly motivated by a row with his in-laws.

Investigators work at the scene of the mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs
AP

He was found dead in his car after being chased from the church by armed bystanders. Police said he died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound.

The Air Force said in a statement: "Initial information indicates that [Devin] Kelley's domestic violence offense was not entered into the National Criminal Information Center database by the Holloman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations."

It said an investigation had been launched into the failure, in conjunction with the Department of Defense.

Kelley is believed to have been dishonourably discharged from the Air Force for allegedly assaulting his spouse and child, and was sentenced to 12 months' confinement after a 2012 court-martial.

On his Facebook page, he appeared to have a fascination with guns, recently sharing a photo of an AR-15 style gun with the caption: "She's a bad b****."

An FBI official said that there was no terrorism investigation open at this time relating to the church massacre and that the Texas rangers were leading the probe.

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