1 killed, 8 others wounded in Tennessee church shooting

[Chris_]

1 killed, 8 others wounded in Tennessee church shooting

(CNN) -- One adult was killed and at least eight others wounded -- six of them seriously -- when a man opened fire during a children's play Sunday morning at a Unitarian church in Knoxville, Tennessee, police and church members said.

Police said a man walked into Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church's sanctuary and fired a 12-gauge shotgun about 10:15 a.m. Church members subdued him, and officers were questioning him Sunday afternoon, Police Chief Sterling Owen said.

Greg McKendry, a 60-year-old usher and board member at the church, was fatally shot, Owen said.

"We loved Greg McKendry. Please pray for this congregation, because we are grieving the loss of a wonderful man," the church's minister, Chris Buice, told reporters as he choked back tears.

Two of the wounded were treated and released, Owen said. Five of the others were in critical condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, just across the Tennessee River from the church, and a sixth was in serious condition, hospital spokeswoman Becky Thompson said.

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I drove past this church about an hour after it happened.  Thought at first there were just police cars out front to direct traffic after services had ended.  As we approached, it was obvious that that was not the case...waaaaay too many police cars, TBI, ambulances, fire trucks, etc.

Prayers for the congregation, the victims and their families.

[thundley4]

Why is the "suspect" being questioned?  Why wasn't he killed while they were apprehending him?   I guess they can strike another member from the DU roles.

[Ptarmigan]

Church is suppose to be a safe haven. I know what pain they are going through. So my condolences to them. I remember in September of 1999, there was a church shooting at Wedgewood Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Larry Gene Ashbrook had two pistols and killed seven people. He also had a pipe bomb. It was a few months after the Columbine massacre.

[Chris_]

Why is the "suspect" being questioned?  Why wasn't he killed while they were apprehending him?   I guess they can strike another member from the DU roles.

He was apprehended by members of the church.  Most people don't carry firearms to (inside) church.  One of those who apprehended him died as a result of that act.

[mamacags]

Why are people so freaking sick!?!?!  Some guy in PA this week armed himself and went after a Christian radio station.  It is like Satan isn't even trying to be sneaky anymore.

[rich_t]

Why are people so freaking sick!?!?!  Some guy in PA this week armed himself and went after a Christian radio station.  It is like Satan isn't even trying to be sneaky anymore.

I read in a book a few years ago something along the lines of: One of Satan's most recent victories has been to convince so many that God is not real.

It may have been in one of the "left Behind" books.

[thundley4]

I have to recant my comment about it being a DU member.  This sounds like the only type of church that they would attend.

The gunman's motive is not yet known. The church, like many other Unitarian Universalist churches, promotes progressive social work, such as desegregation and fighting for the rights of women and gays. The Knoxville congregation has provided sanctuary for political refugees, fed the homeless and founded a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, according to its Web site.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080727/ap_on_re_us/church_shooting

[debk]

I have to recant my comment about it being a DU member.  This sounds like the only type of church that they would attend.

The gunman's motive is not yet known. The church, like many other Unitarian Universalist churches, promotes progressive social work, such as desegregation and fighting for the rights of women and gays. The Knoxville congregation has provided sanctuary for political refugees, fed the homeless and founded a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, according to its Web site.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080727/ap_on_re_us/church_shooting

I live in Knoxville.....and know people who attend this church...one is a co-worker....and yes, he and his partner are gay...and "their" children are the right age for being in the play.....and I think he's a registered Republican.

Regardless.....anyone should be safe in their church....particularly children...




Lug-nut.....were you visiting or do you live in the area?

[Chris_]

Second church shooting victim dies

A second person has died as a result of the church shooting in Tennessee, 61-year-old Linda Kraeger, who passed away several hours later in a hospital.

The shooter, Jim D. Adkisson, is being charged with first degree murder and is held on $1 million bond.

Lots more information here: http://www.wbir.com/news/breaking/story.aspx?storyid=61322&catid=29

[Ptarmigan]

I drove past this church about an hour after it happened.  Thought at first there were just police cars out front to direct traffic after services had ended.  As we approached, it was obvious that that was not the case...waaaaay too many police cars, TBI, ambulances, fire trucks, etc.

Prayers for the congregation, the victims and their families.

Dude, that's really ****ed up. I remember once driving and I saw a bunch of police and news helicopters flying. I was wondering what had happened. I later found out, someone went on a shooting spree in early 2001.

[Chris_]

I have to recant my comment about it being a DU member.  This sounds like the only type of church that they would attend.

The gunman's motive is not yet known. The church, like many other Unitarian Universalist churches, promotes progressive social work, such as desegregation and fighting for the rights of women and gays. The Knoxville congregation has provided sanctuary for political refugees, fed the homeless and founded a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, according to its Web site.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080727/ap_on_re_us/church_shooting

I live in Knoxville.....and know people who attend this church...one is a co-worker....and yes, he and his partner are gay...and "their" children are the right age for being in the play.....and I think he's a registered Republican.

Regardless.....anyone should be safe in their church....particularly children...




Lug-nut.....were you visiting or do you live in the area?

Just visiting.

[Thor]

While Churches SHOULD be a sanctuary, they're not. There have been quite a few Church shootings. The reason why is simple; it's a place where people gather, unarmed. This is EXACTLY the reason we need concealed carry in Churches, schools and other place where guns are not typically found. Some Churches have resorted to the ushers being armed. While the taking of a life is NOT inconsequential and shouldn't be taken lightly, concealed carry and the ability to eliminate a threat is of utmost importance in many cases like these. Kudos to the congregation for subduing this murderer.

Based on the news reports, the murderer was a member of the 101st Airborne and apparently a hard core right winger.

[USA4ME]

Based on the news reports, the murderer was a member of the 101st Airborne and apparently a hard core right winger.

It's also being reported that he hated Christians, which if true, sorta flies in the face of the hard right winger report.

I would have to say that most people who hate Christians probably don't know enough to distinguish between those churches that adhere to the teachings of the Bible as opposed to those churches who claim to be God centered but teach that anything goes.  I have to wonder if this guy just saw the word "church" on a building, figured one was pretty much like the others that contained those Christians he hated so much, and went for it.

.

[Thor]

I dunno....... it's being reported that the murderer HATES "liberals". It sure seems to fit that this Church fits the "Liberal" mold.

[USA4ME]

Ah, I see the reports now.

While his blame was correctly pointed at those of whom their political positions have primarily contributed to the decline of decent and moral society in America, his methods in dealing with them were abundantly wrong.

.

[debk]

Flying home from Cuyahoga Falls to Knoxville.....currently in Cincy....flight to Knoxville is full with lots of standbys.....guess they are reporters.....

[Airwolf]

Why is the "suspect" being questioned?  Why wasn't he killed while they were apprehending him?   I guess they can strike another member from the DU roles.

He was apprehended by members of the church.  Most people don't carry firearms to (inside) church.  One of those who apprehended him died as a result of that act.

Well that's not quite true. The State of Tennessee has for as long as I know barred carrying guns to Churches ,bars.liquor stores and other places. even if they had wanted to carry they would have violated the law to do so. It still could have saved some of the wounded from being hit.

[Chris_]

Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity on accused shooter's reading list

Hoo, boy.  The pinheads and nutroots are going to go apeshit over this one. 

Police found right-wing political books, brass knuckles, empty shotgun shell boxes and a handgun in the Powell home of a man who said he attacked a church in order to kill liberals "who are ruining the country," court records show.

Adkisson targeted the church, [Officer] Still wrote in the document obtained by WBIR-TV, Channel 10, "because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country, and that he felt that the Democrats had tied his country's hands in the war on terror and they had ruined every institution in America with the aid of media outlets."

Adkisson told Still that "he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement that he would then target those that had voted them in to office."

Adkisson told officers he left the house unlocked for them because "he expected to be killed during the assault."

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/28/church-shooting-police-find-manifesto-suspects-car/

First thing's first, we have to take First Amendment rights away from those troublesome conservatives.  Because this is obviously what it leads to. 

[Chris_]

Why is the "suspect" being questioned?  Why wasn't he killed while they were apprehending him?   I guess they can strike another member from the DU roles.

He was apprehended by members of the church.  Most people don't carry firearms to (inside) church.  One of those who apprehended him died as a result of that act.

Well that's not quite true. The State of Tennessee has for as long as I know barred carrying guns to Churches ,bars.liquor stores and other places. even if they had wanted to carry they would have violated the law to do so. It still could have saved some of the wounded from being hit.

Firearms are banned from places that serve liquor for consumption on the premises.  Liquor stores and (to my knowledge) churches have no such rules.

[Airwolf]

Why is the "suspect" being questioned?  Why wasn't he killed while they were apprehending him?   I guess they can strike another member from the DU roles.

He was apprehended by members of the church.  Most people don't carry firearms to (inside) church.  One of those who apprehended him died as a result of that act.

Well that's not quite true. The State of Tennessee has for as long as I know barred carrying guns to Churches ,bars.liquor stores and other places. even if they had wanted to carry they would have violated the law to do so. It still could have saved some of the wounded from being hit.

Firearms are banned from places that serve liquor for consumption on the premises.  Liquor stores and (to my knowledge) churches have no such rules.

They must have changed it then? I'm trying to remember from back in the 80s when I was at Ft Campbell. I seem to remember the laws on guns being alot stricter then or it could have been strictly Clarksville TN own laws I remember.

[USA4ME]

Neighbors: Accused shooter everyone's friend, questioned Christianity

The man accused of a mass church shooting this morning was described by his Powell neighbors as a helpful and kind man, but one who had issues with Christianity.

(snip)

"He had his own sense of belief about religion, that's the impression I got of him," said neighbor Karen Massey. "We were talking one day when my daughter graduated from Bible college, and I told him I was a Christian, then he almost turned angry.

"He seemed to get angry at that."

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/27/neighbors-accused-shooter-everyones-friend-hated-c/

I knew I had seen reports on the "he hated Christians" angle.  This nut had major issues.

.

[Ptarmigan]

Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity on accused shooter's reading list

Hoo, boy.  The pinheads and nutroots are going to go apeshit over this one. 

Police found right-wing political books, brass knuckles, empty shotgun shell boxes and a handgun in the Powell home of a man who said he attacked a church in order to kill liberals "who are ruining the country," court records show.

Adkisson targeted the church, [Officer] Still wrote in the document obtained by WBIR-TV, Channel 10, "because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country, and that he felt that the Democrats had tied his country's hands in the war on terror and they had ruined every institution in America with the aid of media outlets."

Adkisson told Still that "he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement that he would then target those that had voted them in to office."

Adkisson told officers he left the house unlocked for them because "he expected to be killed during the assault."

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/28/church-shooting-police-find-manifesto-suspects-car/

First thing's first, we have to take First Amendment rights away from those troublesome conservatives.  Because this is obviously what it leads to. 

Bill O'Reilly and Michael Savage are not really conservatives. Sure, they have conservative tendencies at times, but they are more populists. Sean Hannity is just a Republican party hack in my eyes.

[Ptarmigan]

here have been mulitple church shooting sprees in the past I can think of. Here are the ones I remember:

June 22, 1980-Daingerfield, TX First Baptist Church 5 Dead Alvin Lee King
March 10, 1999-Gonzalez, LA New St. John Fellowship Baptist 3 Dead Shon Miller
September 16, 1999-Fort Worth, TX Wedgewood Baptist Church 7 Dead Larry Gene Ashbrook
March 12, 2005-Brookfield, WI Living Church of God at Sheraton Hotel 7 Dead Terry Ratzmann
May 21, 2006-Baton Rouge, LA Ministry of Jesus Christ Church 5 Dead (4 at church) Anthony Bell
December 9, 2007-Arvada and Colorado Springsm CO Youth With A Mission and New Life Church shootings 4 Dead Matthew J. Murray

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chu_viol1.htm

[Thor]

I don't know about TN, but Minnesota allows carry, even in BARS!!! Hell, they can even have A drink, perhaps two and still be legal to carry (0.04% BAC is the max) The stranger thing is that, with the numerous Church massacres that have happened around the Nation, the "Sheeple" just don't get it. It's NOT the ones with Carry permits that folks need to be concerned with, it's the ones WITHOUT!!! Granted, a shootout is not exactly WHY folks go to Church, but EVIL knows no bounds any more. It's time for folks to wake up and face the world instead of hiding behind closed doors, cowering in fear.