Gunman opens fire in Tennessee church, 7 injured

[Keith B]

Another church shooting. Man armed with shotgun opened fire during a children's program.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080727/ap_ ... h_shooting

By DUNCAN MANSFIELD, Associated Press Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A gunman entered a church during Sunday services and opened fire, sending seven people to the hospital, officials said.

No one was reported killed, but a church member who arrived moments after the shooting said some victims had head injuries. A hospital would not release their conditions.

Police said the gunman was in custody, according to Knoxville television stations WBIR-TV and WATE-TV.

The gunman entered the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church and fired three times with a shotgun, said church member Steve Drevick. He was called to the church immediately after the shooting to help out and later gave a statement to reporters.

Several people had head wounds, he said. Drevick had spoken to several eyewitnesses and said no one at the church recognized the gunman, who was tackled after he fired the shots, Drevick said. The gunman had more ammunition on him, Drevick said.

There were about 200 people in the church at the time of the shooting watching a youth performance being put on by 25 children.

Police had cordoned off the church with yellow and red tape, and were taking statements and collecting video cameras from church members who'd been taping the performance. Police at the church would not immediately release any information and did not return phone calls from The Associated Press.

The seven patients were "in various stages of treatment," said Becky Thompson, spokeswoman for the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

A woman from a nearby Presbyterian church brought flowers to the scene. Carrie Niceley, 19, said an announcement about the shooting was made while she was attending her church Sunday.

[anygunanywhere]

Are Tennessee churches gun fgree zones?

Anygunanywhere

[WarHawk-AVG]

The gunman entered the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church and fired three times with a shotgun...no one at the church recognized the gunman, who was tackled after he fired the shots

Apparently it happened real fast...probably lucky for him, I would almost bet if noone tackled him he would have gotten mowed down by a CHL'er at church

I know I carry at church

[thefatneck]

This one looks like one that would have been hard to stop.The shooter was a member and an usher.He carried the shotgun in a guitar case.If you go to a local church it might be wise to see what they are doing to be "proactive" in church security.JMHO

Corrected below

[Mike1951]

I do not believe this is accurate.

CNN is still saying:

A suspect, Jim Adkisson, 58, of Powell, Tennessee, was charged with one count of first-degree murder, Kenner said Sunday evening.

Adkisson is not believed to have been a member of the Knoxville church, and investigators have not determined a motive for the shooting, Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen told reporters.

One of the victims:

Also killed was Greg McKendry, a 60-year-old usher and board member at the church, police said earlier in the day.

[thefatneck]

My bad...you are correct.Thanks!

[dukesean]

what a senseless tradgedy...

...and also why I carry to church

[agbullet2k1]

Are Tennessee churches gun fgree zones?

Anygunanywhere

No carry allowed in churches in TN, even by the clergy. The faulty reasoning is that even the most sensible of people can get emotionally riled during a "hellfire and brimstone" sermon and take it out on the preacher.

Interesting sidenote: in TN, there is precedent to no-bill someone with a HCP who carries and uses a gun to stop a violent crime in a gun-free zone, so if anyone had been carrying in the church and stopped him, they'd most likely escape charges. A few years ago, someone shot a gunman in TN who tried to pull a Luby's, but since the restaurant served alcohol, he shouldn't have carried in there. The case never made it past grand jury. IANAL, but I do remember hearing about the case on the evening news and reading about it in the papers.

[longhorn_92]

what a senseless tradgedy...

...and also why I carry to church

I agree

...and that is also why I carry in church as well!

[DoubleJ]

Interesting sidenote: in TN, there is precedent to no-bill someone with a HCP who carries and uses a gun to stop a violent crime in a gun-free zone,

Health Care Professional?

[agbullet2k1]

Interesting sidenote: in TN, there is precedent to no-bill someone with a HCP who carries and uses a gun to stop a violent crime in a gun-free zone,

Health Care Professional?

Handgun Carry Permit. Open or concealed. Not even a holster required technically. You could walk down the street with it in your hand legally as long as you aren't up to something.

[Venus Pax]

No carry allowed in churches in TN, even by the clergy. The faulty reasoning is that even the most sensible of people can get emotionally riled during a "hellfire and brimstone" sermon and take it out on the preacher.

Yep. It's a big, recurring problem isn't it.

[Pinkycatcher]

No carry allowed in churches in TN, even by the clergy. The faulty reasoning is that even the most sensible of people can get emotionally riled during a "hellfire and brimstone" sermon and take it out on the preacher.

Yep. It's a big, recurring problem isn't it.

Can they be allowed to carry by the administration of the church, because wouldn't it be private property?

[Keith B]

Can they be allowed to carry by the administration of the church, because wouldn't it be private property?

Nope, state law specifically lists no church carry, so that overrides the private property. Besides, a church is open to the public for the most part. (Hopefully anyway! )

[jmorris]

Can they be allowed to carry by the administration of the church, because wouldn't it be private property?

Nope, state law specifically lists no church carry, so that overrides the private property. Besides, a church is open to the public for the most part. (Hopefully anyway! )

But being open to the public does not make it public property. A mall is private property. AFAIK, public property is only owned by the goverment.