Police: Man shot churchgoers over liberal views
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - July 28, 2008 Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen IV said a letter had been
been recovered from the SUV of Jim D. Adkisson, 58, by
investigators seeking clues about the motive behind the attack.
Authorities said he was an apparent stranger to the Tennessee
church where gunfire punctuated a children's performance based on
the musical "Annie." Two people were killed and seven wounded
Sunday.
"It appears that what brought him to this horrible event was
his lack of being able to obtain a job, his frustration over that
and his stated hatred of the liberal movement," Owen said at a
news conference.
No children were hurt, but five people remained in serious or
critical condition Monday. A burly usher who died is being hailed
as a hero for shielding others from gunfire Sunday at the Tennessee
Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Witnesses said some of the
men present tackled a man who pulled a shotgun from a guitar case
before at least three blasts rang out.
Adkisson, who is charged with first-degree murder, remained
jailed Monday under "close observation" on $1 million bail,
authorities said.
The Unitarian-Universalist church promotes progressive social
work, including advocacy of women and gay rights. The Knoxville
congregation also has provided sanctuary for political refugees,
fed the homeless and founded a chapter of the American Civil
Liberties Union, according to its Web site.
Owen said the letter indicated Adkisson, who neighbors said had
previously worked as a truck driver, did not expect to leave the
church alive. He added the man also reported having no family or
next-of-kin.
"He certainly intended to take a lot of casualties," Owen
said. "He had 76 rounds with him."
Police said Adkisson carried a 12-guage semiautomatic shotgun
into the church in a guitar case, but it appeared no specific
person was targeted in the church. A search of his house also
turned up a .38 caliber handgun, Owen added.
Investigators were reviewing several home video recordings of
the children's performance for any evidence. Owen said police don't
plan to release those videos and they did not make public a copy of
Adkisson's letter.
Unitarians have roots in a movement that rejected Puritan
orthodoxy in New England. Although the outlook and beliefs of
individual Unitarian churches can vary dramatically, most
congregations retain a deep commitment to social justice, which has
led them to embrace liberal positions over the years. Unitarians
were among the first to ordain women, support the civil rights
movement and back gay rights.
The shooting started as about 200 people watched a show put on
by 25 children.
Church member Mark Harmon said he was in the first row when he
heard "an incredibly loud bang." He thought the noise was part of
the play, then he heard another bang and saw a woman bleeding as he
dove for cover.
"It seems so unreal," Harmon said.
Church members praised Greg McKendry, 60, who died as he
attempted to block the gunfire. Barbara Kemper said that McKendry
"stood in the front of the gunman and took the blast to protect
the rest of us."
Kemper said the gunman shouted before he opened fire.
"It was hateful words. He was saying hateful things," she
said, refusing to elaborate.
"Greg McKendry was a very large gentleman, one of those people
you might describe as a refrigerator with a head," said church
member Schera Chadwick. "He looked like a football player. He did
obviously stand up and put himself in between the shooter and the
congregation."
A second victim was identified as Linda Kraeger, 61. She died at
a hospital hours later, Kenner said.
Officials said Adkisson was arraigned Sunday night and faces his
next court appearance Aug. 5.
Other Unitarian congregations held tearful services afterward.
At a packed Westside Unitarian Universalist Church in suburban
Farragut, congregants prayed, sang and consoled each other.
The shooting follows a December 2007 spree in which a man shot
four staff members at a missionary training center near Denver,
Colo., killing two, after being told he couldn't spend the night.
About 12 hours later and 65 miles away in Colorado Springs, police
say the 24-year-old man fatally shot a parishioner at a megachurch
and wounded four others before killing himself.
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Associated Press writers Beth Rucker in Knoxville and Cara
Rubinsky and Anna Varela in Atlanta contributed to this report.
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On the Net: http://www.tvuuc.org