8 members of a single family were killed in the Texas church shooting

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November 6, 2017 6:16 PM

At least 8 members of a single family were killed during Sunday's attack. The victims included children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and in-laws.

At least eight members of a family attending church were killed during Sunday's shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
Joe and Claryce Holcombe confirmed the death of their family members, which included a 1-year-old great-granddaughter.
The family is heavily involved in the church.

At least eight members of a single family were shot and killed in the shooting at the First Baptist Church in Texas on Sunday. They were among 26 total victims of deadliest shooting in Texas history.

Joe and Claryce Holcombe told The Washington Post that they lost children, grandchildren, and in-laws.

Joe Holcombe confirmed to the Post that his granddaughter-in-law, Crystal Holcombe, died along with her unborn child and three of her children, Emily, Megan, and Greg. Crystal's two other children survived.

Joe also said that his grandson, 36-year-old Marc Daniel Holcombe and his one-year-old daughter Noah, died in the gunfire. His son, 60-year-old Bryan Holcombe, and his 58-year-old wife Carla Holcombe were also killed. Bryan and Carla had been married for almost 40 years, according to The Chicago Tribune.

CNN reports that three more members of the Holcombe family were wounded, although their identities have not yet been revealed.

Crystal's friends and family members posted on her Facebook page Sunday saying they couldn't get a hold of her. By Monday morning, as people learned of her death, the messages turned to prayers for Crystal and her family.

The Holcombe family was heavily involved in the church. Crystal's husband John teaches Sunday school and runs the audio for Sunday services at the church, The Chicago Tribune reported. John was shot in the leg, but survived.

In the week before the attack, Crystal shared photos of the church's fall festival, and posted photos of Emily and Megan participating in a 4H event. "They've worked hard and learned so much, I'm very proud of them both!" she wrote.

On the day of the attack, Bryan Holcombe was about to start preaching when the gunman opened fire. Bryan was filling in for the church's lead pastor, Frank Pomeroy, who was out of town on Sunday. Pomeroy's 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle Renee Pomeroy, also died in the shooting.

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