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Image: Carrie Matula embraces a woman after a fatal shooting

U.S. news

Two Dozen Parishioners Killed in Texas Church Shooting

A gunman opened fire inside a rural Texas church on Sunday, killing about 25 people and injuring at least another 10, officials said.

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Image: Law enforcement officials works at the scene of a fatal shooting

Law enforcement officials work at the scene of a shooting at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on Nov. 5, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

— Nick Wagner / Austin American-Statesman via AP
Image: Law enforcement officials work the scene of a fatal shooting

Law enforcement officials talk at the scene.

— Nick Wagner / Austin American-Statesman via AP
Image: Investigators work at the scene of a mass shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs

Investigators work at the scene.

— Jay Janner / Austin American-Statesman via AP
Image:

A man wipes his eyes.

— Nick Wagner / Austin American-Statesman via AP
Image: Texas church shooting scene

Law enforcement officers gather in front of First Baptist Church.

— Darren Abate / AP
Image: Carrie Matula embraces a woman after a fatal shooting

Carrie Matula, left, embraces a former co-worker who knew someone killed in the shooting. 

Matula, who works at a gas station about a block and a half away from the church, told MSNBC that she heard "semiautomatic gunfire" and looked to see what was going on.

"It's a small Baptist church. It’s an older building. I don’t know that they would have security cameras or anything high tech like that. And I know they didn’t have security in the parking lot," she said.

"I never thought it would happen here," Matula added. "This is something that happens in a big city. I would never have thought this would have taken place here. It's just too tight a community. It doesn’t make sense."

— Nick Wagner / Austin American-Statesman via AP
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Members of the FBI walk behind the First Baptist Church after the fatal shooting.

— Darren Abate / AP
Image: People gather near First Baptist Church following a shooting

People gather near First Baptist Church following the shooting.

— Erich Schlegel / Getty Images
Image: A woman prays with a man after a fatal shooting

A woman prays with a man after the shooting.

— Nick Wagner / Austin American-Statesman via AP
Image: Law enforcement officials stand next to a covered body at the scene of a fatal shooting

Law enforcement officials stand next to a covered body.

— Nick Wagner / Austin American-Statesman via AP
Image: Mass Shooting At Texas Church

An evidence marker sits on the road in front of a Texas Department of Public Safety vehicle.

— R. TOMAS GONZALEZ / EPA
Image: Mass Shooting At Texas Church

Men comfort each other at a community center.

— Reuters
Image: Mass Shooting At Texas Church

A law enforcement official stands watch outside the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs.

— Eric Gay / AP
Image: Mona Rodriguez holds her 12-year-old son, J Anthony Hernandez, during a candlelight vigil held for the victims

Mona Rodriguez, left, holds her 12-year-old son, J Anthony Hernandez, during a candlelight vigil held for the victims of the shooting.

— Nick Wagner / Austin American-Statesman via AP
Image: Mass Shooting At Texas Church

Local residents attend a vigil for the victims

— Larry W. Smith / EPA
Image: Mass Shooting At Texas Church

Local residents take part in a candle light vigil for victims.

— Mohammad Khursheed / Reuters
Image: Mass Shooting At Texas Church

Local residents embrace during a candlelight vigil for victims.

— Mohammed Khurseed / Reuters
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