A federal judge determined on Wednesday that the United States Air Force is primarily responsible for the killing of 26 people by an ex-military in a Texas church in 2017, because they did not record their criminal records in the FBI database, which should having prevented you from accessing firearms.
San Antonio District Judge Xavier Rodríguez stated in his ruling that the Air Force is "60% responsible" for the deaths and injuries left by the attack on the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, one of the bloodiest in Texas history.
Devin Kelley served nearly five years in the Air Force before being discharged in 2014 for misconduct after being convicted of assaulting his ex-wife and stepson, whose skull he smashed.
[Texas church killer shot crying babies: "They'll all die!"]
The Air Force acknowledged that if Kelley's information had been included in the FBI database, it could have prevented him from purchasing licensed firearms, as well as acquiring bulletproof vests.
"His mistake soon caused the deaths and injuries of the plaintiffs at Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church," Rodriguez wrote.
Kelley opened fire during a Sunday mass at the Sutherland Springs church in November 2017. Authorities raised the official death toll to 26 because one of the 25 people killed was pregnant.
AP
Kelley died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after two men shot and chased him after hearing gunshots in the church.
The lawsuit against the federal government was filed by the families of the victims.
Rodríguez ordered the holding of a subsequent trial to assess the damages owed to the families.