Trump calls church shooting 'act of evil'

President says Americans will ‘join hands’ and ‘stand strong’ after massacre of 26 in Texas, promises to monitor investigation during Asia tour

TOKYO — US President Donald Trump said a Texas church shooting that left 26 dead was an “act of evil” and promised his administration’s full support to the investigation.

Speaking to US and Japanese business leaders in Tokyo on Monday during his Asian trip, Trump expressed his sorrow over what he called a “horrific shooting” at a “place of sacred worship.”

“Our hearts are broken but in dark times — and these are dark times — such as these, Americans do what they do best. We pull together, we join hands, we lock arms, and through the tears and through the sadness we stand strong,” he said.

Trump also pledged to continue monitoring the investigation during his lengthy Asian tour.

The attack happened Sunday morning when a man dressed in black tactical-style gear and armed with an assault rifle opened fire inside a church in a small South Texas community, killing 26 people and wounding at least 16 others in what the governor called the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history.

First responders work at the rear of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in response to a fatal shooting, November 5, 2017, in Sutherland Springs, Texas. (AP/Darren Abate)

Officials identified the shooter as Devin Kelley, 26, an area man who had previously served in the Air Force. A motive for the shooting was not immediately clear.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also offered his condolences, saying on Twitter: “I offer my deepest condolences for those who lost their lives in the incident that occurred in the US state of Texas.”

He added: “My thoughts are with those who suffered injuries in the incident.”

In Israel, President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both offered condolences over the attack.

“Horrified by the savagery in Texas. Our hearts are with the victims, their families and the American people,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter.

Terrible news coming out of #Texas. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families.

— Reuven Rivlin (@PresidentRuvi) November 5, 2017

The shooting comes just over a month after a gunman opened fire on an outdoor music festival on the Las Vegas Strip from the 32nd floor of a hotel-casino, killing 58 people and wounding more than 500. Trump traveled to Las Vegas several days after to meet with families of victims and first responders.