♪ good evening, everyone. thanks for joining us. here on "nightline" we're reporting on another mass shooting. this one the deadliest in texas history. this one at a church. a youngest killed a 1-year-old child. at least a dozen of the victims were kids. the kind of bloody carnage that's become horrifyingly familiar to us in the past decade. an elementary school in connecticut, a movie theater in colorado, a nightclub in orlando, a concert in las vegas. all ordinary places where we all gather turning into crime scenes, changing lives forever. both the death toll and frequency of these attacks increasing. these are just some of the names of people murdered in mass shootings in just the past year. tonight we are on the ground in

sutherland springs, texas, as the police investigation continues. what led a mad man to unleash a hail of bullets on this small church? the hero neighbor who heard gunshots and ran to help. plus the shooter's violent past, how a clerical error by the air force allowed him to get that military-style weapon. "nightline" will be right back.

"nightline" continues with sutherland springs, texas. >> a little church, quiet street, a small texas town. suddenly thrust into the glare of the national spotlight. >> it's heartbreaking. that church is my family. >> after a gunman opened fire killing 26 people during their sunday ritual at a house of worship. >> and there's so many that are gone. it hurts so much. >> sutherland springs joining las vegas, orlando, newtown, a list of names synonymous with mass shootings in what seems like an endless and accelerating stream of gun violence. and tonight new information about the killer, the military confirming he was convicted of domestic violence during his time in the air force. that record should have stopped him from being able to buy the murder weapon in first place. the assault began shortly after 11:20 a.m. in the midst of the

morning worship service. the attacker, identified by authorities as 26-year-old devin kelley, parked his car at this gas station, then walked across the street to the first baptist church. >> he was shooting people while he was walking in there. >> reporter: rosa salis just got home in the hospital still recovering from a bullet wound in the shoulder. >> everybody was so quiet. you could only hear the sound of the bullets and people screaming. people screaming and people crying. and mama, where are you? mama! the little kids. >> was anybody trying to get away? was there anywhere to go? >> uh-uh. there was nowhere to go. >> you were all trapped? >> we were trapped inside. >> she says as kelley unloaded hundreds of roads reloading, he yelled this message to his victims. >> is everybody done [ bleep ]. that's how he said. i had my ears covered up. and oh, my gosh. >> you're like this and you're covering your head, what are you

thinking? >> i shouldn't have gone to church that day. he told me not to go. let's not go. let's just wait till next week. i'm never going to see my grandchildren again, and i'm going to die. >> as he exited the church a local resident grabbed his rifle and engaged that suspect. >> i'm no hero. i am not. i just wish i could have gotten there faster. >> steven williford, his granddaughter ran him saying she heard gunfire at the church. >> every time i heard a shock, i knew that probably represented a life. i was scared to death. >> but the former nra instructor didn't freeze. he grabbed his gun, raced outside. he wasn't even wearing shoes. >> people at service, and their family. >> he spotted johnny langendorff. >> the gentleman with the rifle

came to my truck, he briefed me quickly on what had just happened and said we had to get him. that's what i did. we hit about 95 going down 539 to catch this guy. he just hurt so many people. >> my god, my lord protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done. >> during the chase, police say the shooter called his father. >> the suspect used his cell phone to notify his father that he had been shot and didn't think he was going to make it. >> the gunman lost control of his vehicle and crashed it into a ditch about ten miles away at the wilson guadalupe county line. an autopsy confirms that williford did shoot him but ultimately kelley shot himself. >> two gunshot wounds were from the armed citizen, one in the leg and the torso. >> back at the church, another neighbor, david cassillas returned weeping as he turned

his camera on. >> there's people dead in there already. there's one dead out here. >> police suspect that the killing spree was rooted in a domestic dispute. kelley hunting for his mother-in-law. >> the suspects a mother-in-law attended this church. we know that she had received threatening texts from him. >> tonight a senior law enforcement official who viewed the video from inside the massacre tells abc news there's little doubt the gunman came to the church to kill everyone in that building, period. >> sounds like in this case the individual, who carried out the attack was going through a life of anger and disconnection finally focused on his in-laws as the root of his problems. >> authorities say the 26-year-old, a former airman, was discharged in 2014 after serving a one-year sentence for assaulting his first wife and his 11-month-old stepson. military records show he intentionally broke the child's

clavicle and severely injured his skull. in reality the domestic abuse charges should have prevented anyone from obtaining guns, but the air force allegedly failed to enter information about kelley's conviction into an fbi database. one source calling it an error. >> he applied for a legal permit to carry a gun in the state of texas and was denied that permit. >> but at some point in 2016 and again in 2017 he did buy two weapons from academy sports, a chain store at two different locations in san antonio. academy sports confirmed the purchases in a statement adding both sales were approved by the national instant criminal background check system. we're cooperating with law enforcement as they investigate further. kelley apparently had an affection for his firearms, posting a picture of his assault rifle on his facebook page and could be heard shooting where he

lived, a rural area north of san antonio. >> the only thing unusual about them across the street is we hear a lot of gunfire and a lot of times at night. >> the gun used was a ruger ar-556. the same type of weapon used in newtown and las vegas, a weapon that was once illegal. >> we've seen so many mass shootings. what we've seen over and over again is that the assault-style rifle is the preferred weapon of killing. >> president clinton signed into law a ban of new semiautomatic assault weapons and large capacity magazines. the law was in place for ten years but expired in 2004. >> what has happened is it becomes bigger than an issue just around gun ownership. it's can a proxy for the social battles and the cultural battles that seem to animate everything in politics right now. >> president trump was quick to respond from jan.

>> a very deranged individual. >> but suggest it was too soon to discuss gun policy. >> this isn't a guns situation. i mean, we could go into it, but it's a little bit soon to go into it. >> a similar sparesponse to whae gave in the wake of the massacre last month that killed 58. but in stark contrast to his stance in the truck rampage in new york city when he called for immediate changes in immigration policy. >> this is a mental health problem at the highest level. >> but critics point out that just weeks after his inauguration, trump signed a measure rolling back regulation that made it harder for some people with mental illness to purchase guns. critics of that regulation said the rule, which affected about 75,000 people violated the second amendment. >> not everyone with a mental health issue is going to commit a mass casualty attack. but anyone who commits mass murder clearly has a mental health issue. >> today on capitol hill --

>> it's hard to envision a foolproof way to prevent individual outrages by evil people. >> and ted cruz, a republican senator from texas, in a testy exchange with reporters. >> are you thinking gun control now, sir? >> it is an unfortunate thing that the immediate place the media goes after any tragedy, after any murder is politicizing it. >> i think you've seen republicans answer these events with predictable regularity. almost like the tweets are cued up from the last time to talk about thoughts and prayers and the needs of the victims and hope that the nation can heal. what we're seeing with each of the passing events is democrats are newly emboldened to call out their colleagues on the other side. >> it's no coincidence that these shootings have one thing in common, a weapon that is

banned in most countries. >> tonight the community remembering 26 lives lost. the dead and wounded ranging from just 18 months old to 77 years old. at least a dozen, maybe more, were children. that includes pastor frank pomero's youngest daughter anna belle. they were out of town when the shooting happened but 14-year-old belle was in the church sunday morning as usual. >> one thing that gives me a sliver of encouragement was the fact that belle was surrounded yesterday by her church family that she loved fiercely. >> for the holcomb family death spanned three generation. brian holcome was a guest speaker. the gunman burst in. he died along with his wife carla, son mark daniel and 1-year-old granddaughter, noah.

crystal did not. three more of her children also died. eight members of a single family gone killed in the place that so many americans feel safest -- their church. so many others fighting to survive tonight. for sutherland springs, the focus is on the long road towards healing. for so many families here, faith will keep this community strong. >> whatever life brings to you, lean on the lord rather than your own understanding. i don't understand. i know my god does. and that's where i'll be. >> for "nightline, matt gutman, sutherland springs, texas. >> our thanks to matt gutman. tonight our thoughts the are with all who were touched by the senseless bloodshed. we change goers with luke bryan. the family man behind the music. make clean floors part of your everyday routine with roomba from irobot. goers with luke bryan. the family man behind the music. bryan. the family man behind the music. e bryan. the family man behind the music. luke bryan. the family man behind the music.

luke bryan. the family man behind the music. bryan. the family man behind the music. bryan. the family man behind the music. while two multi-surface brushes and power-lifting suction grab and remove everything from fine dust to large debris. daily dirt doesn't stand a chance. you and roomba from irobot. better together. one laugh, and hello so i tried always discreet. i didn't think protection this thin could work. but the super absorbent core turns liquid to gel. snap! so it's out of sight... ...and out of mind. always discreet. for bladder leaks. having mplaque psoriasise is not always easy. it's a long-distance run. and you have the determination to keep going. humira has a proven track record of being prescribed for nearly 10 years. humira works inside the body to target and help block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to symptoms. in clinical trials, most adults taking humira were clear or almost clear and many saw 75% and even 90% clearance

in just four months. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal, infections and cancers, including lymphoma have happened as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms, or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. join over 250,000 people who have chosen humira. ask about the #1 prescribed biologic by dermatologists. humira & go. like new savory grilled with mediterranean shrimp, topped with a blend of green onions, tomatoes, and herbs. and your favorites, like garlic shrimp scampi. now's the only time to try as much as you want, however you want 'em. so hurry in today.

he stood up to north jersey special interests nobody delivers more for south jersey than steve sweeney. to increase funding for our schools. he stopped christie's commuter tax,

saving south jersey residents over 200 million dollars. and he led the charge to pass paid family leave. aarp applauded sweeney for freezing property taxes for seniors and cutting prices on prescription drugs. "i got to take my hat off to him. he's a man of his word." steve sweeney. because there's more work to do to get south jersey's fair share. how's it going down there? that's good. lica misses you. i'm over it though. (laughter) that's fine. i miss her more than you anyway. ♪ ♪ hey, my window is closing. yeah that's okay. alright miles. i love you. (phone hangs up) ♪ ♪ yeah i love you too. ♪ ♪

you know, many of his songs are so rowdy and fun that you'd never know his life was shaped by sadness. country superstar luke bryan has had epic highs and lows ever since he left his family's georgia farm to pursue a music career in nashville. tonight he tells abc's robin roberts the joys and hardships that followed. >> what's up, iowa! let's go. >> it's luke bryan's kind of night. 20,000 fans on an iowa farm. ♪ >> don't steal none of my workers from me now. i'm from a farming family. this is kind of a way for me to

pay tribute to how i was raised to come here and play my music on farms. >> he's great at selling out stadiums but at 41 at the top of his game, he's staying true to his family roots with the farm tour. >> we started in claxton, georgia, with a farm tour. we filmed the "rain is a good thing" video there. ♪ corn makes whiskey ♪ whiskey makes my baby feel a little frisky ♪ >> it was all designed to bring a country music concert to a rural area that wouldn't necessarily ever get a concert like this. so right here is the main gate. see all the fans. crazy. >> our own robin roberts spent time with luke bryan and wife caroline at their home in nashville. married for nearly 11 years they're raising their two sons along with their nephew and two

nieces who they took in after luke's sister kelly passed away in 2007, then her husband passed in 2014. and now we have three children that have lost both their parents. so now that becomes our new focus, to try to nafb gate and guide them through this life. >> just walk me through that journey of taking the children and raising them. >> we never thought twice about it. we just did it. >> it seems like what we see is what we get. the luke bryan we see on tour is the luke blyi iabryan at home. >> it is. there is no act. >> oh, daddy. >> you're kidding me. >> see what happens? i had to show america how i can outfish you all. >> the crash my party singer was born thomas luther bryan in albany, georgia. >> all sports, all outdoor activities. we were a fun family. we were a tight family. it was just big, loud, crazy,

fun, family. >> he would grow up to be a two-time cma entertainer of the year, an honor he's been nominated again for this year. is it still a pinch me moment. i know you've won it twice, but is it still? >> every time. >> adored by fans around the world, luke has seen his share of ups and downs. >> just before i moved to nashville, my brother was killed in a car accident. so that totally derailed and postponed my nashville plans. my dad could tell that i was one foot in the door, one foot out the door. he was adamant about me chasing my dreams based on what we did with my brother, we had seen how fragile life was. so getting to nashville was pretty liberating. i was on music row every day writing song. people at capitol kept hearing them. and the next thing you know i'm getting a record deal from capitol records. it was april 6th, 2007 and i get

to play the grand ole opry for the first time. that night little did i know my sister and i would be our last photo together. she passed away a month later. >> how have you been able to be so resilient and deal with such heavy loss so well? >> well, you keep going and you try to be as positive as you can. you try to appreciate every day ♪ ♪ just being proud of what makes you country ♪ >> his newest hit, "what makes you country" is a tribute to music fans everywhere. >> we want people to be celebrated for all kinds of music they love. >> what makes you country? >> how i was raised, in a small town with parents that, when i wasn't acting right, they reeled me back in. and it was just -- everybody

knew everybody. was a magical little small town life. >> the past decade has been a whirlwind for luke and his family. from that first hit "all my friends say." ♪ what all my friends say >> ten years ago, the first song, what about the next ten? >> yeah, my wife and i, we talk about that. we were rocking on the porch and we were like, isn't it amazing what can happen in ten years of your life? the good things, the bad things, the changes. i've dedicated this ten years to certainly music. i think the next ten years you'll see that. but you're also going to notice me stopping and smelling some roses a little bit more. >> we'll be right back. ♪

♪ ♪

a bridge shut down over politics. their biggest triumph was a traffic jam. chris christie and kim guadagno's failures

shortchanged our future. after 8 years- incomes are down, costs are up and our economy is crawling. we are better than this. i'm phil murphy together we'll build a stronger, fairer economy that works for every new jersey family. christie and guadagno left new jersey stuck. i'm serious about moving new jersey forward. why arit's because sweeney'sing been exposed as aeeney? double dipping pension padder.

caught spending campaign money on lavish dinners and fine cigars for his pals. investigated for being a lobbyist and a senator at the same time. sweeney voted to raise taxes 145 times while our economy continues to struggle. south jersey is a mess, and it's time to take out the trash. on november 7th, make a change. dump sweeney.

finally tonight, let's go back to matt gutman in sut a sutherland springs. >> i've been on the ground here for about 30 hours. a couple of things really distinguish this attack from so many of the other horrors that we've covered over the past couple of months. the first is how tiny this place is. the equivalent of 10% of the