Cameron Miranda
Devin Patrick Kelley was a 26-year-old resident of New Braunfels, Texas, who shot and killed 26 people and wounded 20 more at a church service in Sutherland Springs, near San Antonio, in 2017. Kelley had a history of mental illness, and had been court-martialled for assaulting his wife and stepson, for whom he was sentenced to a year's confinement and demoted in rank. He was also convicted of animal cruelty in 2014.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Assaulted his child and then-wife | Court-martialled in 2012 |
| Assaulted his wife and infant stepson | Court-martialled in 2012 |
| Animal cruelty | Arrested in 2014 |
| Driving with an expired registration | Minor violation |
| Speeding | Minor violation |
| Failure to stop at a stop sign | Minor violation |
| Driving without insurance | Minor violation |
| Purchasing or possessing firearms | Prohibited |
| Purchasing body armour | Prohibited |
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What You'll Learn
Devin Patrick Kelley broke gun laws by purchasing an assault rifle
Geoffrey Corn, a professor of military law at the South Texas College of Law Houston, said that based on Kelley's conviction in military court, he almost certainly would have fallen under the prohibition against felons purchasing or possessing firearms. Corn also said that Kelley's conviction under military law should have prohibited him from purchasing body armour.
Kelley's criminal record in Comal County, where he lived, included only minor violations such as driving with an expired registration, speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign, and driving without insurance. However, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Kelley lived briefly, he was arrested in 2014 on an animal cruelty charge. Witnesses to that incident told investigators that they saw Kelley chasing a dog at a trailer park and attacking the animal when he caught it.
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Kelley was convicted of an Article 128 family assault charge
Devin Patrick Kelley was convicted of an Article 128 family assault charge, which is a felony under military law. This means that Kelley would have been prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. The charge also should have prohibited him from purchasing body armour.
Kelley was convicted of assaulting his wife and stepson, who was an infant at the time. The young boy's skull was reportedly fractured. Kelley was sentenced to a year's confinement and demoted in rank.
Kelley also had a history of minor violations, such as driving with an expired registration, speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign, and driving without insurance. In addition, he was arrested in 2014 on an animal cruelty charge. Witnesses to that incident told investigators that they saw Kelley chasing a dog at a trailer park and attacking the animal when he caught it.
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Kelley was also convicted of assaulting his child
Devin Patrick Kelley, the gunman who killed 26 people and wounded 20 more at a Texas church, was convicted of assaulting his child and then-wife. Kelley was in the Air Force when he was court-martialled in 2012 for the assault. He served a year in military prison and was demoted in rank. The young boy's skull was reportedly fractured. Kelley was also convicted of animal cruelty in 2014, when witnesses told investigators they saw him chasing a dog at a trailer park and attacking the animal when he caught it.
Kelley's history of violence and criminal behaviour raises questions about how he was able to purchase the assault rifle used in the attack. Geoffrey Corn, a professor of military law, has stated that based on Kelley's conviction for family assault, he should have been prohibited from purchasing firearms and body armour.
In addition to the assault conviction, Kelley had a history of minor violations, including driving with an expired registration, speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign, and driving without insurance. These violations, while not directly related to the church shooting, demonstrate a pattern of disregard for the law and a lack of respect for the safety of others.
The fact that Kelley was able to legally obtain an assault rifle and carry out such a devastating attack highlights the need for stricter gun control laws and more comprehensive background checks. It is clear that Kelley presented a danger to society and should not have had access to firearms. The failure to prevent him from purchasing weapons ultimately led to the tragic loss of life in the Texas church shooting.
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Kelley was arrested for animal cruelty
Devin Patrick Kelley was arrested for animal cruelty in 2014 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Witnesses to the incident told investigators that they saw Kelley chasing a dog at a trailer park and attacking the animal when he caught it. Kelley was also court-martialled in 2012 for assaulting his child and then-wife. He served a year in military prison and was discharged for bad conduct.
Geoffrey Corn, a professor of military law at the South Texas College of Law Houston, said that based on Kelley's conviction in military court, he almost certainly would have fallen under the prohibition against felons purchasing or possessing firearms. Corn also said that Kelley's conviction under military law should have prohibited him from purchasing body armour.
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Kelley was found guilty of minor driving violations
Devin Patrick Kelley was found guilty of minor driving violations, including driving with an expired registration, speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign, and driving without insurance. In addition to these minor infractions, Kelley was also charged with more serious offences, including an Article 128 family assault charge, for which he was court-martialled and served a year in military prison. This conviction would have prohibited him from purchasing firearms or body armour. Kelley was also arrested in 2014 on an animal cruelty charge, with witnesses reporting that they saw him chasing and attacking a dog.
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Frequently asked questions
Devin Patrick Kelley broke a number of laws, including animal cruelty, speeding, driving without insurance, and assaulting his child and then-wife.
Kelley was convicted of an Article 128 family assault charge.
Kelley was sentenced to a year's confinement and demoted in rank.
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