I wrote this up so folks don't have to search through the entire big thread to find out what happened
Multiple updates
Short version of events, a gunman drove to a small church and opened fire. An armed citizen with an
AR-15 rifle engaged him to end his violence, hitting him causing him to drop his
rifle. The gunmen fled in his vehicle and was chased by the armed citizen and another citizen. The gunman went off the road and was found dead in car. The armed citizen stopped the attack and prevented the gunman from killing or injuring any others.
Detailed version of events.
According to initial reports the gunman,Devin Patrick Kelley, drove to the store across from the church and exited his vehicle. He was dressed in all black, with a black face mask with a skull on it and wearing a
ballistic vest. He was armed with a Ruger 5.56x45mm AR rifle equipped with an inexpensive red dot sight, white light, sling and a vertical grip. He began shooting walking towards the church, moved to the right of the church and continued firing and then entered the church shooting. He fired as he walked to the front of the church, stopped, turned and continued shooting as he walked back out. It is believed his rifle was loaded with Hornady TAP or VMAX ammunition based upon a loaded cartridge left at the scene. 23 people were killed in the church, two outside the church and one died at a hospital. 20 more were wounded. Ages of the victims range from 18 months to 72 years old.
A neighbor, 55 year old Stephen Willeford, heard the gunfire and responded by grabbing an AR-15 rifle and taking up a shooting position. Stephen Willeford fired on the gunman as he exited the church hitting him which caused the gunman to drop his rifle, a Ruger AR, and run to his vehicle. Stephen Willeford continued to engage the gunman attempting to stop him and prevent him from fleeing. He fired at least one shot which blew out the back window of the gunman's vehicle. The shooter drove away at a high rate of speed and called his father telling him he'd been shot and he didn't think he was going to live due to the gunshot wound he'd received. In order to prevent the gunman from escaping and causing further harm, Stephen Willeford flagged down a vehicle. Stephen Willeford quickly informed the driver of the pick-up truck, Johnnie Langendorff, of the situation and entered the vehicle. Johnnie Langendorff set out in pursuit of the fleeing gunman while contacting the police via his cell phone. During the pursuit Johnnie Langendorff closed the distance with the fleeing gunman while reaching speeds of 95 mph. He was able to get within a few feet of the fleeing gunman's vehicle, which then slowed, before the gunman lost control of his vehicle and went off the road at an intersection.
Stephen Willeford exited the pick-up and covered the gunman's vehicle with his
rifle to prevent the gunman's escape. Johnnie Langendorff stated the gunman made no movements inside his vehicle. Johnnie Langendorff placed his vehicle in park and informed the police of the gunman's location. The police arrived on location approximately 5 to 7 minutes later. The gunman died at the scene, and Johnnie Langendorff stated the gunman made no movements and there were no shots fired for the 5 to 7 minutes before police arrived. Evidence indicates, especially with his
call to his father that he had been shot and "didn't think he was going to make it" that the gunman bled out and died from a gunshot wound or wounds inflicted by the armed citizen. Police stated the gunman's vehicle contained multiple firearms and he may have been headed to another location to continue his shooting spree, but was killed instead.
The shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, was 26 years old, father of two. High School classmates of his are quoted as saying he was an outcast who preached "atheism" and said "anyone who believes in God is stupid". He served in the US Air Force from 2009 to 2013 and was Court-Martialed and discharged in 2014 after assaulting his wife and child and serving 12 months in the brig. Under Federal Law a Domestic Violence conviction would prohibit him from legally owning a firearm but evidently was not disqualified as he purchased his rifle at an Academy store. His mother-in-law sometimes attended the church he attacked, and he was having family problems. While she was not there during the shooting, it could be a domestic issue.
Without a doubt the armed citizen, Stephen Willeford, is a hero who likely saved many more lives by his quick thinking and willingness to step in and take action. His ability to properly employ a long gunagainst an armed and moving gunman while under great stress saved lives and put an end to the shooting spree. His actions demonstrate how a legally owned firearm can be used to save lives if the person behind the gun has the mettle and ability to properly put it to use. Johnnie Langendorff is also a hero for putting his life at risk, while unarmed, and pursuing the gunman to ensure he did not escape.
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The above information is from LE accounts, statements made by the driver of the pick-up and armed citizen, the gunman's father and the gunman's high school class mates.
It has been updated as more information has come in.
