Michigan couple killed in Texas church shooting
(WJBK) - A Michigan couple was killed Sunday when a man opened fire inside a Texas church, authorities announced.
Robert and Shani Corrigan are two of the 26 people who were killed in the shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. The Corrigans are from Harrison, Mich., which is about 20 miles south of Houghton Lake.
Renee Haley with Clare County Veterans' Services says Robert was an Air Force retiree, and that the couple has two boys currently on active duty. Haley also said Robert and Shani were both Harrison High School graduates, and that Robert held the track record for years.
A candlelight vigil is being held at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Veterans Freedom Park in Harrison. Funeral services have not yet been announced.
It's not known at this time why the Corrigans had traveled to Texas.
Officials said 26 people were killed about 20 others were wounded in the church shooting. The victims ranged in age from 5 to 72 years old.
At a news conference, the shooter was described only as a white man in his 20s who was wearing black tactical gear and a ballistic vest when he pulled into a gas station across from the church, about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) southeast of San Antonio, around 11:20 a.m.
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The gunman crossed the street and started firing the rifle at the church, said Freeman Martin, a regional director of the Texas Department of Safety, then continued firing after entering the white wood-frame building, where an 11 a.m. service was scheduled.
As he left, the shooter was confronted by an armed resident who "grabbed his rifle and engaged that suspect," Martin said. A short time later, the suspect was found dead in his vehicle at the county line.
Federal agents, including ATF investigators and the FBI's evidence collection team, swarmed the small rural community of just hundreds of residents.
Several weapons were found inside the vehicle and Martin said it was unclear if the attacker died of a self-inflicted wound or if he was shot by the resident who confronted him. He said investigators weren't ready to discuss a possible motive.