Texas church shooter had pending sex assault case, officials say

New Braunfels resident: 'Sit on issues, bad things happen'

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – A pending 2013 sexual assault case involving the shooter in Sunday's church massacre in Sutherland Springs has stirred reaction among some residents. 

After the learning that Devin Patrick Kelley had lived with his parents in Comal County, Sheriff Mark Reynolds said his office began looking for any prior contact deputies may have had with Kelley and calls to his address. 

Related: Ex-girlfriend of church gunman: 'Devin was a very disgusting person'

Reynolds, who took office in January, said he's now reviewing what happened with the still pending sexual assault case and a disturbance call the following year involving Kelley. Both alleged incidents happened on his parents' property. 

"If we sit on issues like this all the time, sooner or later, bad things are going to happen," said Kevin Robles, a resident of New Braunfels for nearly 40 years. 

Related: Images: Remembering the victims

But Nancy Fisher, who also lives in New Braunfels, doubts that Sunday's massacre would have been prevented had Kelley been prosecuted for the alleged crimes.

"Until you're proven guilty, you're not guilty," Fisher said. "So, he would still be able to purchase a gun."

Robles disagrees.

"If he had some sort of consequences for his actions, he wouldn't have been able to buy the rifles to begin with legally," he said.

Related: Latest on Texas church shooting

New Braunfels resident Justin Harris said it doesn't bother him that Kelley was from New Braunfels.

"It doesn't really seem like it reflects upon on the town or the people here, or myself. It was like, well, he was just from here," he said.


About the Author

Jessie Degollado has been with KSAT since 1984. She is a general assignments reporter who covers a wide variety of stories. Raised in Laredo and as an anchor/reporter at KRGV in the Rio Grande Valley, Jessie is especially familiar with border and immigration issues. In 2007, Jessie also was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame.

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