SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas ā A resident of the smallĀ town of Sutherland Springs saw the deadliest mass shooting in modern Texas history unfold right across the street from hisĀ home.
Fred CurnowĀ said he heard gunfire around 11:20 a.m. on Sunday. Being aĀ gun owner himself, he said recognized the sounds and initially didn't think anything of it but when the rapid fire didn't stop he became concerned.
READ THE INITIAL REPORT:Ā Gunman in Sutherland Springs church shooting ID'd as Devin Patrick Kelley, authorities sayĀ
"I went to the window to look and I see an armed man dressed in riot gear -- I guess that's what you call it -- SWAT gear," Curnow said. "Fully masked, fully armored. He was just shooting the church from the outside."
CurnowĀ said the gunman, identified Sunday night asĀ Devin Patrick Kelley, "kept unloading clip after clip." He said Kelley went to a white SUV to reload his assault rifle, thenĀ went into the church where CurnowĀ estimates Kelley unloaded another three clips of ammo. It's unclear how many rounds were fired.
RELATED:Ā Here's everything we know about the Sutherland Springs church shooting
Curnow said he heardĀ gunfire from a second gun and realized it was his neighbor returningĀ fire on Kelley, causing Kelley to drop his own rifle, get into the white SUV and speed away from the scene.
Curnow'sĀ neighbor who shot at Kelley got into the car of another community member and pursued the gunman.Ā Read more about that here.
CurnowĀ said heĀ went to the church to keep concerned and curious spectators from entering. He said many people showed up at the church wanting to know what happened and if their families were safe.
CurnowĀ said he was standing at the doorway of the church helping a man reconnect with his loved onesĀ when he looked around and saw shell casings and bodies.
"I'm right in the doorway and I looked around and there's just casings everywhere," Curnow said. "I looked to the side and I saw a couple of small children. They were -- they were not moving."
According to Curnow, a man and his niece were the only two who made it out of the churchĀ shooting alive. CurnowĀ and his familyĀ wereĀ uninjured.
His wife's car was shot at, but he said it's nothing in comparison to what others lost.
CurnowĀ expressed his gratitude to his neighbor for firing back at the gunman and chasing him down.
"By him having that gun he stopped him from doing more," CurnowĀ said.Ā "This doesn't happen everyday everywhere -- but when it does,Ā I think it's the people who have the guns, not the guns themselves."