The First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, where a gunman killed more than two dozen worshippers in 2017, was torn down despite some families seeking to preserve the scene. The sanctuary, which had been kept as a memorial, was demolished using heavy machinery following a judge’s ruling. The vote to tear down the building was made by church members in 2021, but some families in the small community hoped for a new vote on its fate. The shooting in November 2017 resulted in 26 people dead, including a pregnant woman and her unborn child, and a new church was completed for the congregation about a year and a half later.
John Riley, an 86-year-old member of the church, expressed sadness and disappointment as the building was demolished, believing that “the devil got his way.” He lamented that the church was God’s house, not the property of those who initiated the demolition. For many in the community, the sanctuary was a place of solace, and its demolition has left them feeling sad, angry, and hurt. A temporary restraining order was granted by a Texas judge in early July, sought by some families to prevent the demolition. However, another judge later denied an extension of the order, allowing the demolition to proceed.
The tearing down of the church has been a contentious issue, with attorneys for the church asserting their rights to demolish the memorial as it was a constant and painful reminder. On the other hand, attorneys for the families suing the church were hoping for a new vote on the building’s fate. Amber Holder, a church member and plaintiff in the lawsuit, emphasized the historical significance of the church and the powerful reminder of what happened that the scars on the building provided. She expressed her belief that tearing it down would not bring any good.
The gunman responsible for the shooting, Devin Patrick Kelley, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after being chased by bystanders and crashing his car. Investigators determined that the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute involving Kelley and his mother-in-law, who sometimes attended services at the church but was not present on the day of the shooting. Mass shootings have raised questions about what should happen to the sites of such tragedies, with various locations across the U.S. facing different resolutions. In some cases, buildings have been demolished and rebuilt, while others have been preserved or repurposed.
Overall, the demolition of the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs has sparked mixed emotions within the community, with some feeling a sense of loss and mourning, and others viewing it as a necessary step to move forward. The decision to tear down the sanctuary, despite efforts by some families to prevent it, underscores the complex considerations involved in dealing with the aftermath of mass shootings. As communities grapple with the legacies of such tragedies, the debate over the fate of these sites reflects deeper societal questions about remembrance, healing, and resilience in the face of unspeakable violence.
