Sept. 24 (UPI) — A lone gunman who injured at least six persons at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ near Nashville, Tenn., has been identified.
Don Aaron, a spokesman for the Metro Nashville Police Department, told reporters on Sunday he has the name of the suspect in his 20s who attacked a diverse congregation in Antioch, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville.
According to ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Ala., the suspect’s name is Emanuel Kidega Samson, and that police say he will be jailed tonight on multiple charges including murder and attempted murder.
“Inside a church building a gunman opened fire on them, multiple rounds of fire inside the church,” Aaron said in an update to local reporters. “At this juncture six persons, six innocent persons were wounded by gunfire inside the church.”
“They have been taken to area hospitals.”
Aaron confirmed in his update one of the church members confronted him but was pistol-whipped by the gunman.
“This particular church member had a handgun-carry permit. He went to his vehicle, got his gun, came back inside, and according to him, it was then the gunman shot himself,” Aaron said.
“It is our belief the gunman’s condition is not life threatening, he is under police guard right now at Vanderbilt University Medical Center,” the police spokesman added.
The wounded are three men, three women, including the shooter, Aaron said.
One person has died as a result of the shooting.
WSMV-TV reported police received a call about a shooting as the people were leaving the church at 11:15 p.m. The service began at 10 a.m.
The gunman, wearing a ski mask, arrived in a blue SUV, WKRN-TV reported. He allegedly killed a woman outside the church in the parking lot, and entered the church through the back door and started shooting, police said.
Authorities said the gunman then shot himself in the head.
Joe Love, 67, who lives with his wife Donna Love, 56, across the street from the church, said they initially thought the sounds were a nearby car crash.
“He shot her like she was a damn dog in his backyard,” Love told the Tennessean.
Sen. Bob Corker issued a statement via Twitter that said: “We are closely monitoring reports of a church shooting in Antioch. As we await more details, please join me in praying for the victims.”
