Two Dead In Tenn. Church Shooting

(CBS/AP)  It was supposed to be the highlight of Sunday service at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church -- a performance of "Annie" by church member children just finished with music camp. But as CBS Evening News correspondent Bianca Solorzano reports, the singing was silenced by deadly gunfire.

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A gunman opened fire at the church youth performance Sunday, killing two people, including a man witnesses called a hero for shielding others from a shotgun blast.

Seven adults were also injured but no children were harmed at the church. Members said they dove under pews or ran from the building when the shooting started.

Congregants tackled the gunman.

Jim D. Adkisson, 58, was charged with first-degree murder and 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 people remained hospitalized, all in critical or serious condition. Two others were treated and released.

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.

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. Police were taking statements from witnesses and collecting video cameras from church members who taped the performance.

Authorities searched Adkisson's duplex in the Knoxville suburb of Powell on Sunday night. 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. Police refused to provide any details about what they found.

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 that she saw the gunman pull the shotgun out of a guitar case.

Witnesses reported hearing about three blasts from the 12-gauge shotgun. Witnesses said they did not recognize the gunman.

Church members said the gunman was tackled by John Bohstedt, who played "Daddy Warbucks" in the performance. He declined comment when reached by phone at his home.

[yamuttya]

Do some serious studying and find out what is happening around the World.


Posted by hbevis at 04:03 PM : Jul 28,

Have you ever left the US ???I have been in over a dozen states, and have lived in Canada, Asia and Europe. I know exactly what I''m talking about. Do You??
The world views NRA gun nuts as symtomatic of the pathetic American failure.
READ THE STORY !!!!
IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN IN AMERICA !!!!

[mastermisty]

This self-described conservative relied on the U.S. taxpayers for food stamps but could well afford to purchase an expensive gun and rounds of ammunition. He relied on a U.S. socialist policy to receive his food stamps but had an immense hatred of liberals to the point of terrorizing and murdering innocent people.
If he wanted his right wing conservative life, why didn''t he go to work, use his cash to buy his own food instead of a gun and not participate in liberal U.S. policies such as food stamps?
It sounds like this guy wanted it both ways...handouts from the taxpayers and whining about liberals to the point of terrorizing and killing them.

[mastermisty]

This self-described conservative relied on the U.S. taxpayers for food stamps but could well afford to purchase an expensive gun and rounds of ammunition. He relied on a U.S. socialist policy to receive his food stamps but had an immense hatred of liberals to the point of terrorizing and murdering innocent people.
If he wanted his right wing conservative life, why didn''t he go to work, use his cash to buy his own food instead of a gun and not participate in liberal U.S. policies such as food stamps?
It sounds like this guy wanted it both ways...handouts from the taxpayers and whining about liberals to the point of terrorizing and killing them.

[hbevis]

In a country with sensible gun laws the guy would have entered the church, caused a scene ,and been asked to leave.
In gun crazy America with NRA psycho laws people are dead. And it happens every day.


US gun laws are insane.

Posted by yamuttya at 12:09 PM : Jul 28, 2008


US gun laws are NOT insane. If you really believe what you write, then why don''t you move to England, Australia where they have the kind of laws you speak about. Then wait in fear for someone to break in an rob or murder you. As they have almost total gun control. They do not even want you to have a ball bat for protection, what a joke. The DATA shows that guns are still used by the Criminal to Rape, Rob and Kill.

Maybe you would like in Japan where they don''t have any guns to speak of. Just be in a crowd when some kook comes in with a knife and starts killing like what happened a very short time ago.

I could go on and on about what happens in other Countries. As I just named two. Do some serious studying and find out what is happening around the World.

[hbevis]

No. I think the REALITY here is, that that this Jim Adkisson probably shared the same viewpoints as you do with respect to one day being the shooter who takes down the gunman, until one day he woke up with a new purpose in life. That is the REALITY for every gun owner, and the threat that the rest of us are suppose to live with, on the "word" from one of you that you''''ll be the one who protects us instead of kills us.

BTW: having children is NOT a good reason to have a gun

That''''s why other industrialized countries have way less homocides than we do. They don''''t trust ANYBODY with a gun, particularly those who just have to have one.

Posted by prometheus41 at 09:57 AM : Jul 28, 2008

DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE MATTER. THE OTHER COUNTRIES,PER POPULATION,HAVE AS MUCH HOMICIDE AS WE DO. THEY JUST DON''T KILL WITH GUNS. KNIVES DO JUST AS GOOD A JOB AS A GUN WILL.

[hbevis]

No. I think the REALITY here is, that that this Jim Adkisson probably shared the same viewpoints as you do with respect to one day being the shooter who takes down the gunman, until one day he woke up with a new purpose in life. That is the REALITY for every gun owner, and the threat that the rest of us are suppose to live with, on the "word" from one of you that you''''ll be the one who protects us instead of kills us.

BTW: having children is NOT a good reason to have a gun

That''''s why other industrialized countries have way less homocides than we do. They don''''t trust ANYBODY with a gun, particularly those who just have to have one.

Posted by prometheus41 at 09:57 AM : Jul 28, 2008

DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE MATTER. THE OTHER COUNTRIES, PER POPULATION,HAVE AS MUCH HOMICIDE AS WE DO. THEY JUST DON''T KILL WITH GUNS. KNIVES DO JUST AS GOOD A JOB AS A GUN WILL.

[cricketbeers]

The ironic thing is that the nutcase is a conservative who lashed out with deadly force over frustration at the liberals and the so-called liberal movement (as per google news).

Hmmm. Makes one wonder just why the conservative felt the need to go postal and kill. Uh, lets see.... Which commandment was that? Thou shalt not kill?

[yamuttya]

In a country with sensible gun laws the guy would have entered the church, caused a scene ,and been asked to leave.
In gun crazy America with NRA psycho laws people are dead.
And it happens every day.


US gun laws are insane.

[bogirl-2009]

I am appalled by the discussions that are taking place online regarding the tragic shooting at the church in Knoxville. First of all, regardless of an individuals belief system, what we must keep in mind is that we are dealing with an issue regarding humanity that affects all of us. The venue (whether in a school, church, mall, etc.) where an act of violence occurs should be seen as secondary to the violent act against the victim(s). For people who do not wish to attend a church or place of worship, keep in mind that when acts such as this occur, it is a crime against humanity and everyone''s freedom is threatened. For those who do engage in worship, please be empathetic in this situation...what if this had occurred at your church, synagogue, or mosque? And, for those of us who profess to be Christians, let us pray to be Christ-like in all our thoughts, deeds, and actions%u2026including when making blog comments.

[berniepeders]

...granting you the right to worship and me the right to be free from your backward thoughts...Posted by Nancy_Naive

Very good, Nancy! I like the way you put that. Each to his own, right?
Peace