Texas church shooter Devin Kelley was "an evil man," David Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, said Wednesday.
Kelley was dishonorably discharged from the Air Force, Shulkin noted in an interview that aired Wednesday on "CBS This Morning."
"I do not consider him a veteran. I consider him a criminal. And while I don't know the motivation why anybody would do such a horrific act, and whether there was a component of mental illness, I consider this an evil man who would do what he did," Shulkin said.
Those who have been dishonorably discharged do not get treatment at the VA, Shulkin noted.
"One of the first acts that I did as secretary, is I extended mental health services to those that were other-than-honorably discharged. But when you're dishonorably discharged, as this gentleman was, it's because you've committed a crime and really did something horrific," Shulkin said.
"We do not take care of them in the VA system. And frankly, people who have worn the uniform don't want to be associated with people like that," Shulkin added.
Kelley was court-martialed in 2012 for assaulting his wife and fracturing his infant stepson's skull. He was discharged from the Air Force under dishonorable circumstances in 2014.
Considering Kelley a veteran "would give him much more respect than he deserves," Shulkin said during remarks at the National Press Club in Washington.