: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A man suspected of opening fire on a roomful of people during a church youth performance was in custody Monday after being tackled by witnesses.
But church members are still searching for answers to why they were targeted by someone who was an apparent stranger to the church.
A gunman opened fire at the church Sunday, killing two people, including a man witnesses called a hero for shielding others from the gunfire.
Jim D. Adkisson, 58, 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.
Seven adults were also injured but no children were harmed at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Members said they dove under pews or ran from the building when the shooting started.
Congregants tackled the gunman.
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.
Witnesses reported hearing about three blasts from the .12-gauge shotgun and said they did not recognize the gunman.
Church members said one of the people who tackled the gunman was John Bohstedt, who played "Daddy Warbucks" in the performance. He declined comment when reached by phone at his home.
Friends of McKendry said he was friendly with everyone.
"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."
McKendry and his wife had recently taken in a foster child.
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."
People never cease to amaze me. It one thing to not agree with a person's lifestyle or belief, but who made you God to carry out judgement on others and harm them because of how they live their lives. Sometimes people just need to mind their own business. You don't like it go to another freaking church!!!!!!!!!
@ Negrodamus
are you really respecting god if your judging other people knowing only GOD can judge? Your pastor says its wrong o.***. whatever. Do you all have nothing better to talk about in church than ***? Whatever happened to lifting up the lords name, praising him, and trying to become a better person? God is love and your pastor talking about *** and how it is wrong is hate. This is a tragedy. This man probably went to a church that talked about *** too.
Yeah they have had several church *** where I stay at (south). Nothing new but this is truly sad. We can't even go to church anymore without thinking about bring our heat.
@Khiafan2008, B!tch please! Why are you promoting that garbage on a post like this? Nobody even thinking about buying that ***$hit. At least have some kind of decency you broke down hoe!
I am a *** black woman and for those that seem to almost defend this ignorance because they support *** people are DUMB ***!!!You are ignorant and when white people are disrespectful to you because of the color of your skin, i will make sure i laugh at your ignorant ***.A person being *** does not make it okay to disrespect them or judge. The peopel on here claiming to be Christians.............do you actually read your bible?Thou shall not judge.You hate the sin, not the sinner.This is why i dont come on here because it's so many ignorant *** people, and they are my own *** race.pathetic.
@GiveMeFiftyFeet The BIBLE DOESN'T SAY *** ARE GOING TO HELL.. THE ACT IS A SIN...I BET YOU'll BE SUPRISED TO KIND OUT THERE WILL BE NOT MANY *** IN HELL SINCE YOU ARE GOING BECAUSE YOU ARE JUDGING *** PEOPLE!...I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THERE ARE MANY *** BLACK MEN LIVING A HOLY LIFE AND DON'T ACT ON THEIR DESIRES TO SLEEP WITH other MeN...
ALL YOU *** ARE GOING STR8 TO HELL FOR JUDGING AND NOT HAVING A PROBLEM WITH FORNICATION WHICH IS *** OUT OF WEDLOCK...YOU ALL CONDONE SO MANY BEHAVIORS THAT THE BIBLE SAYS IS A SIN BUT ONLY PICK OUT WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT *** CAUSE YOU TOO ARE FIGHTING YOUR SEXUALITY SO YOU WANT TO PUT HAPPY *** PEOPLE WHO ARE OPEN AND HONEST WITH THIER SEXUALITY ON BLAST...THAT IS SOME *** UP ***!...WHEN YOU DO THE SAME NASTY *** (AND EVEN WORSE)BEHIND CLOSED DOORS!...
WOW at the ppl who say this ok. If *** are indeed going to hell then all you ppl who think this was right will be there too. If this man did this to a group of blacks, or a group of women then the response would be tottally different. Maybe it would have been deserved for a group of liars, or murderers, or theives. Those are ppl who hurt ppl. Openly *** ppl don't hurt anybody so i don't understand how someone could say they 'deserved' it. SMDH really that's crazy and ignorant as hell!!!!!
God made man for women and women for man. I hope they do not think that going to church is going to spare their soul while they are *** because it is not. They need to change their ways and partners to enter into Gods kingdom. They need real help that come only from above. The pastor will be judged by God himself for not only excepting this type of behavior but for not sharing truth about Gods word with them. He is considered the blind leading the blind right now. He needs prayer himself.
This is not to say that you should take matters into your own hands. Now he must get his life right with God for murder. He could have just stood up and spoke the word of God to them instead. You never know what words are needed in order for a person to make a change. The Holy Spirit could have spoke something through that man that could have saved their lives. They all have to repent and get it right.
Some are You Guys Are ***, Like shasha4real And hardbody Who Have Probably Never Picked Up A Bible A Day In their Lives And *** Like There's No Tomorrow. Pre-marital *** Is Wrong, Judgement on Other Is Wrong, Murder Is Wrong! Answer This Question, Do Straight People Like the Opposite *** Because That's What you Prefer, Or Because It's The Right Thing To Do? Get Your Heads Out Of Your ***, It's Called Free Will, Read The Bible And Learn Something!!!
THIS MAN TOOK THE LIVES OF PEOPLE! SOME OF YOU IDOTS JUST TALK INSTEAD OF REALLY THINKING. HALF OF YOU IDIOTS HAVE NOT READ A BIBLE IN AGES...THIS IS JUST MISINFORMATION BEING PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATIONS TO GENERATIONS BUT I AM GLAD THAT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO THINK WITH THEIR MINDS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS VERSES TURNING EVERYTHING INTO THIS SIN HERE AND THAT SIN THERE......AS SOMEONE SAID BEFORE LET THIS HAD HAPPEN TO A GROUP OF BLACKS OR WOMEN...OR ANY OTHER GROUP..IT WOULD BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT. WHY?......MTO IS FULL OF IGNORANCE....TRULY IGNORANCE....BUT BLACK PEOPLE ALWAYS CLAMIN THEY WANT CHANGE BUT WE CANT STOP HATING ONE ANOTHER LONG ENUFF FOR THAT....
The ignorance of this world will be cleansed when God descends from the heavens. Gos Is Love and Love Is For Everyone! Not just the straight, the white, or the suburban crowd. We have all, each of us, been made in the Divine image of God, and that includes ***. Read your bibles, do your historical research and get back to me.
*** TO PPL WHO ARE SAYING ITS WRONG TO JUDGE
read the bible it says you can jugde as long as it a righteous judgement. *** is wrong, therefore we can judge, so is fornicating, stealing, e.tc. ... So to those who are saying we are not suppose to judge, your wrong we can judge. what *** are doing is wrong. now they want to get married, bring kids into the picture... uh. but i donot condon what that pycho did. i do not agree with the whole *** thing, but they ar humans and they *** be harmed... let God deal with them
WOW!!! JUST LOOK AT THESE IMBECILES UP HERE COMMENTING?!!
NEXT TIME MTO... JUST POST A PICTURE STORY FOR THESE IGNORANT SIMPLE HOLIER THAN THOU REMEDIAL ACTING MILDLY *** AZZ *** WHO CAN'T READ MORE THAN TWO LINES AT A TIME!
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING justifies *** innocent people! This is truly *** up!!! AND in front of children who were performing. Oh how scarred they will be.
But hey... *** it!!! At least yall was in the top ten.
Someone should hit all yall *** in the *** throat wit' a sledge hammer!
JahBLeSSmE Flag post *** TO PPL WHO ARE SAYING ITS WRONG TO JUDGE
read the bible it says you can jugde as long as it a righteous judgement. *** is wrong, therefore we can judge, so is fornicating, stealing, e.tc. ... So to those who are saying we are not suppose to judge, your wrong we can judge. what *** are doing is wrong. now they want to get married, bring kids into the picture... uh. but i donot condon what that pycho did. i do not agree with the whole *** thing, but they ar humans and they *** be harmed... let God deal with them
^^^while you're preaching atop your high horse... maybe you should think about coming down with us normal folk and LEARN HOW TO ***' SPELL!
*** IT'S A PLETHORA OF IDIOTS TRYING TO PREACH... OH HOW RICH!!!
i cannot believe some of you guys- how about you educate yourselves! My family has been members of a Unitarian church for my whole life, and no one in my family is ***! It is not a *** church- It is a church that fights for fairness, acceptance, and understanding for everyone- that includes ALL religions and beliefs. Rather than trying to change people, they accept everyone for who they are- ***, straight, black, white, transexual, male, female, etc! The Unitarian Church has always been the first to fight for black rights, women's rights, and *** rights. And i know- because i grew up in this church. i wish you all would see that these people, who believe in never judging or degrading others, were killed for what they believed. The funny thing is, this church would have open arms for any of you all, yet you think these people, deserved their death. I sometimes wonder where the real sin lies....
This is for all you religious Bible believers and quoters!
To begin, most of you didn't even read the article. You saw a headline and skimmed through the rest. The church is not one where a majority of the congregation are ***. Nor did it say this church condoned ***. What the church does stand for is treating humans equally no matter their sexual preference, gender,religion or race. That my friends is the real underlying message in the Bible. Jesus hung around prostitutes, thieves, and everyday people..not the "religious" church figures. He loved everone without casting judgement for He paid the ultimate price. A great STORY, but most overlooked in the Bible.
Most of you have never read the Bible. Or you go to church and receive the "highlights" from it. Send me to hell in a handbasket if you like, but I do not believe the Bible is to be taken literally. You cannot pick and choose what you want to follow. It's either all or nothing. Most of us have heard that at some time or another. And we've mainly heard it in church! Well, let me point out a few verses and then we'll how many of you are going to the hell you send *** to!
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. Leviticus 20:13 Kill the "***"...I get it. And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. Exodus 21:15 Hit your mother or father, you are outta here! And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10 Adulterers, you gotta go too! Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Exodus 31:14 If you work on Sunday, there's room for you in hell too! It's all or nothing ,right? Well, I guess more people are going to hell than we thought!It's a sad day when a man can kill innocent people based on his religious beliefs. Its even sadder that you condemn his actions, but condone his reasoning that led him to do what he did.
THIS IS THE FACE OF THE MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVE REPUBLCANS, OLD, WHITE RACIST, TRAILER TRASH AND INSANE.
THIS MAN IS A RACIST, ***, DRUNK. AND HI NEIGHBORS ARE EITHER JUST LIKE HIM OR STUPID TO THINK HE WAS SUCH A 'NICE GUY'. WHITE PEOPLE KILL ME. THEY CLOSE THEIR EYES TO OBVIOUS *** THEN ARE SO SHOCKED WHEN THEY DISCOVER A PSYCHO IN THEIR MIDST. THIS MAN LOOKS CRAZY FOR ONE AND HE'S A DRUNK. I NEVER TRUST A *** DRUNK, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU LOVE YOUR GUNS, FOOLING YOURSELF THAT THEY'RE FOR 'PROTECTION' REMEMBER THAT IF YOU CAN GET ONE, THE KLAN MEMBER DOWN THE STREET CAN GET ONE AND HE MAY SNAP ANY DAY. THE MORE SUCCESS BARACK OBAMA SEES, THE MORE CRAZY THESE IDIOTS ARE GONNA BECOME.
THIS WAS A SAD INCIDENT, BUT I'M SURE THERE'LL BE MORE BEFORE THIS ELECTION IS OVER. BTW, IF YOU READ THE STORY YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS TP TRASH SNAPPED AFTER BEING NOTIFIED THAT HIS FOOD STAMPS OR SOMETHING WERE BEING REDUCED, SO OF COURSE THAT THE FAULT OF LIBERALS AND ***. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS VOTING IN A DOWN SYNDROME BABY AS PRESIDENT.
Killin people is wrong. thats somethin u dont do jus because u dont agree wit how there living. BUT.... Wat kinda of church stands up for *** rights???? Thats not a church at all. God is against *** so how kan a church be 4 it. period. As much as u hate to hear it u kan go to as much church services as u want unless *** repent b4 they die then they are goin to hell. Yea I said it and u can tell ya mama I said it. Start readin ya bibles
@uzcomnsenz-GOOD JOB BUT SATURDAY IS THE SABBATH SO MOST BLACK PEOPLE ARE GOING DOWN FOR THAT ONE. DON'T BELIEVE ME LOOK AT YOUR CALENDAR AND YOU'LL SEE SUNDAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THE PEOPLE WHO CONDOWN THIS ***. READ THE STORY, THE PEOPLE HE KILLED WEREN'T ***, ***!!! AND TO ALL YOU(VERY FEW I'M SURE) CHURCHGOERS, ARE THERE ANY *** PEOPLE IN YOUR CHURCH? DO YOU EVEN KNOW? SO I GUESS IT WOULD BE OKAY IF HE *** UP YOUR SPOT AND BLEW YOU AWAY JUST BECAUSE SOMNE *** PEOPLE WERE IN THE CONGREGATION. DAMMIT BLACK PEOPLE START TO THINK!!! WHY DO YOU GIVE A *** WHO SOMEONE SCREWS?? MOST OF YOU HAVE A *** OR TWO AT HOME. OH AM I WRONG FOR THAT? GUESS WHAT HAVING *** OUT OF WEDLOCK LOCK IS A SIN-HOW MANY OF YOU REPENTED AFTER YOU SCREWED THAT GUY/GIRL YOU MET AT THE CLUB??/ YEAH I'M A FORNICATOR TOO, SO WHAT GIVES ME THE RIGHT TO CONDEMN ANYONE TO HELL??? I KNOW *** COUPLES WHO HAVE BEEN TOGETHER 20 PLUS YEARS AND HAVE MADE A HOME FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR KIDS WHO LIVE WITH THEM. BUT I GUESS THAT'S MORE SHAMEFUL THAN HAVING KIDS BY DIFFERENT PARTNERS. MANY OF YOU MEN DON'T EVEN LIVE WITH YOUR KIDS. YOU NEED TO *** THE *** UP AND FOCUS ON THE REAL PROBLEM. *** WON'T HURT YOU BUT GUN-TOTING REDNECKS WOULD LOVE TO BLOW YOUR DUMB-*** AWAY!!!
MTO...You owe every *** person on this site for inciting uncalled for controversey. I just heard the news Fox 5 report, that the man had issue with the Church's "Liberal" ways. Nothing was mentioned about ***! This is journalism at it's most vile...To falsely report news that is not true, is reprehensible...You should be ashamed. the most
I must say, that this is the first time I've read every comment made. There is still ignorance among us, but I must say that the overall majority of the people are understanding , and are in touch with the world, and the people in it. so I would like to personally Thank all of you for your support, positive attitude. Because I'm ***, and took MTO lack of judgement very serious...
Don't get me started on the bible...but, to those of you who are "christians", you are already sinning. Gossip, according to the bible is a sin. Gossip is similar to slander (a sin), and it's malicious.
Also, if you eat shellfish, of any sorts, (shrimp, etc), that's also a sin.
That's pretty leaves MTO with 99% sinners of the christian faith.
FYI, I'm a black & puerto rican female, and I'm also a *** in a committed relationship of over 3 years. These insults are so not necessary, and if you allow religion to breed hate in your heart - AND, if you trust a source that has never been proven, what does that say about you?
FYI, the unitarian universalist churches are all very accepting, and they accept people of all creeds, colors, sexual orientations. For someone to attempt to take away such a positive place is deeply psycho.
@carmel666 you are absolutely right! But the majority of christians observe Sunday as the sabbath. We go to church, stores are closed or close early, and even some restaurants are closed on Sunday. Just goes to show how we have made religion what we want it to be! Saturday is the 7th day of the week! Thanks for taking the time to read what I had to say!
