{"id":53719,"date":"2017-11-06T18:47:25","date_gmt":"2017-11-06T18:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/11\/06\/texas-resort-manager-says-church-gunman-was-security-guard\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:10:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:10:22","slug":"texas-resort-manager-says-church-gunman-was-security-guard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/2017\/11\/06\/texas-resort-manager-says-church-gunman-was-security-guard\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas resort manager says church gunman was security guard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas \u2014 The gunman who opened fire on a Texas church recently began working as a security guard at a vacation resort near his home outside of San Antonio, a manager at the resort said Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claudia Varjabedian told The Associated Press that Devin Kelley had been working at Summit Vacation Resort in New Braunfels for the past month and a half and \u201cseemed like a nice guy.\u201d She said he worked unarmed on his shift as the day security guard and didn\u2019t give her any problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had no complaints. I was as shocked as anyone else,\u201d said Varjabedian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The riverside resort in the Texas Hill Country is near Kelley\u2019s apparent home off a rural highway in New Braunfels, Texas, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Sutherland Springs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelley had a history of trouble long before he opened fire Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, killing 26 people and wounding about 20 others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had been discharged from the Air Force for assaulting his wife and child, according to an Air Force spokeswoman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He served 12 months\u2019 confinement after a 2012 court-martial. He ultimately received a bad conduct discharge and reduction in rank, the spokeswoman, Ann Stefanek, said Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said Kelley served in Logistics Readiness at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from 2010 until his discharge in 2014. His job was responsible for moving passengers, cargo and personal property in military transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
This undated photo provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows Devin Kelley, the suspect in the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. (Texas Department of Public Safety via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kelley previously been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty in east-central Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Court records in El Paso County indicate Kelley was cited on Aug. 1, 2014, when he lived in a mobile home park near Colorado Springs. He was given a deferred probationary sentence and was ordered to pay $368 in restitution. The charge was dismissed in March 2016 after Kelley completed his sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Denver Post reports court records indicate someone was granted a protection order against Kelley on Jan. 15, 2015, also in El Paso County.<\/p>\n\n\n\t