2 Dead In Church Shooting, Suspect Held On $1Million Bond www.privateofficer.com

2 Dead In Church Shooting, Suspect Held On $1 Million Bond http://www.privateofficer.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. July 28 2008

BY: Rick McCann

Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers

http://www.privateofficer.com/ The crime scene has been cleared and the church where two parishioners lost their lives and at least five others were shot stands empty. The man police suspect of opening fire on a roomful of people during a church youth performance is in custody Monday after several church members tackled him stopping the murderous rampage.

But church members and the Knoxville community are still searching for answers as to why they were targeted by someone who was an apparent stranger to the church.
According to police, the gunman, a stranger to church members, walked in during a youth presentation and opened fire at the church Sunday, killing two people, including a man witnesses called a hero for shielding others from the gunfire.

Seven adults were also injured but no children were harmed at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church located on the west side of the city. Members said they dove under pews or ran from the building when the shooting started.
Thankfully police say, congregants were able to tackle and subdue the gunman now identified as Jim D. Adkisson, 58, who has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting and was held on $1 million bail, according to city spokesman Randy Kenner, who did not know if Adkisson had an attorney.

The slain man was identified as Greg McKendry, 60, a longtime church member and usher. Church member Barbara Kemper told The Associated Press that McKendry “stood in the front of the gunman and took the blast to protect the rest of us.”
Linda Kraeger, 61, died at the University of Tennessee Medical Center a few hours after the shooting, Kenner said.
Five of those injured were in critical or serious condition at a hospital Sunday. Two others were treated and released.
The gunman’s motive was not known. But Kemper said the gunman shouted before he opened fire.
“It was hateful words. He was saying hateful things,” she said, but refused to elaborate.
The FBI was assisting in case the shooting turned out be a hate crime, Police Chief Sterling Owen said.

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.
Police took statements from witnesses and collected video cameras from church members who recorded the performance.

Authorities also searched Adkisson’s duplex in the Knoxville suburb of Powell on Sunday night but refused to provide any details about what they found. A bomb squad was called in as a precaution.
“In a situation like this, we’re not taking any chances,” police Lt. Doug Stiles said.
Neighbors described Adkisson as a friendly man who would often work on his motorcycle outside and go on long rides on the weekends.
Melissa Coker, 44, said Adkisson had lived next door since she moved in four or five years ago. She said he had been a truck driver, but she didn’t believe he had steady work in the last six months or so.
“He’s just a really, really nice guy,” Coker said.
The shooting started as about 200 people watched 25 children perform a show based on the musical “Annie.”
Church member Mark Harmon said he was in the first row.
“It had barely begun when there was an incredibly loud bang,” he said.
Harmon said he thought the noise was part of the play, then he heard a second loud bang. As he dove for cover, he realized a woman behind him was bleeding. She looked like she was in shock, touching her wound, he said.
“It seems so unreal,” Harmon said. “You’re sitting in church, you’re watching a children’s performance of a play and suddenly you hear a bang.”
Harmon said church members just behind him in the second and third rows were shot. His wife told him she saw the gunman pull the shotgun out of a guitar case.

“Greg McKendry was a very large gentleman, one of those people you might describe as a refrigerator with a head,” said member Schera Chadwick, whose husband, Ted Lollis, arrived at the church just after the shooting. “He looked like a football player. He did obviously stand up and put himself in between the shooter and the congregation.”
The church’s minister was on vacation in western North Carolina at the time of the shooting but returned Sunday afternoon.
“We’ve been touched by a horrible act of violence. We are in a process of healing and we ask everyone for your prayers,” the Rev. Chris Buice said in a statement outside the church. “I will tell you we love Greg McKendry. We are grieving the loss of a wonderful man.”

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BREAKING NEWS 7 SHOT AT TN CHURCH www.privateofficer.com

BREAKING NEWS

7 PEOPLE SHOT AT CHURCH

 

 

Knoxville TN July 27 2008

By:Rick McCann

Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers

www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Seven people were shot and critically wounded Sunday at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church on Kingston Pike. in Knoxville, Tenn.

A police spokeperson said that one of those shot has died while the others are in critical condition at area hospitals.

Knoxville television station WBIR reported that church members tackled the suspect and held him until police arrived.

A church member told the media that the suspect was not connected to the church. He also said that the shooting happened as children were performing parts of the musical “Annie” during a regular service.

None of the children were believed to have been injured.

The incident took place at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.

 

According to on scene reports, the suspect was described as a   man with long blond hair, who appeared to be in his 40s, walked into the sanctuary and opened fiire with a shotgun, shooting indiscriminately.

At least six or seven people were hit by the gunfire. They have been transported to UT Medical Center. Two are believed to be in serious condition.

No children are believed to have been hit by the gunfire.

Members of the church were able to knock him down and subdue him and take away the firearm.

 

Church members heard a loud boom during the church service, which began around 10:15 a.m., the witness said. Several other loud booms followed, and the witness said the gunman seemed to be shooting randomly across a row of people. Two congregants tackled the gunman, he said.

Many people fled to the Second Presbyterian Church after the shooting, and that church was placed on lockdown, according to a 10 News crew at the scene. People have since been allowed to return to the Unitarian church building, where police are questioning witnesses.

 

Knoxville city police says the call came in at 10:18 am. The first officer arrived at 10:21 am. The suspect was taken into custody at 10:22 am. Police believe he is the lone suspect.

KPD officials says Mayor Haslam has been made aware of the event, and a press conference will be held later today.

More information about the church can be found at their website: www.TVUUC.org

 

At this time the suspect, who police have not released any information about and have not disclosed his name, is in police headquarters being questioned. He currently faces one count of murder and numerous charges of attempted murder.

 

 

 

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