News and Commentary

BREAKING: Investigators Discover How Texas Shooter Purchased Gun Despite Ineligibility

   DailyWire.com

A new report on Monday stated that the United States Air Force did not submit Devin Patrick Kelley’s criminal history to the FBI as required by the Pentagon, which would have prevented him from purchasing firearms.

Kelley, 26, opened fire on a congregation of churchgoers on Sunday, killing at least 26 people in the deadliest mass shooting at a place of worship in American history.

Kelley, who used an “assault-style rifle” and owned two handguns, should not have been able to legally purchase the weapons due to his history of violent criminal behavior — but the government made a mistake, NPR reported. “Under federal law, his conviction disqualified him from legally possessing a firearm.”

“He assaulted his stepson severely enough that he fractured his skull, and he also assaulted his wife,” retired colonel Don Christensen told The New York Times. “He pled to intentionally doing it.”

A Pentagon official told NPR that a mistake made by the government resulted in his criminal records not being entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

“This was mishandled by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, where Kelley was serving when he was arrested,” NPR explained. “An investigation is now underway, and the Air Force is taking it very seriously, said the source.”

The Associated Press confirmed the information in a tweet:

Create a free account to join the conversation!

Already have an account?

Log in

Got a tip worth investigating?

Your information could be the missing piece to an important story. Submit your tip today and make a difference.

Submit Tip
The Daily Wire   >  Read   >  BREAKING: Investigators Discover How Texas Shooter Purchased Gun Despite Ineligibility
Daily Wire Plus
Facts and headlines on the go.
Download the Daily Wire app.
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
Download App QR CodeScan the QR Code to Download
FacebookXInstagramYouTubeRSS
Daily Wire PlusFacts and headlines on the go.
Download the Daily Wire app.
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
© Copyright 2025, The Daily Wire LLC  | Terms | Privacy
Podcast compliance badge