NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)
One woman was killed and eight people, including the gunman, were injured in what officials are calling a “mass casualty” incident at a church in Antioch Sunday morning.
Metro police responded to the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ on Pin Hook Road at 11:15 a.m.
The preliminary investigation shows the gunman–identified as Emanual Kidega Samson, 25–arrived to the church in a blue SUV wearing all black and half of a face mask. He was reportedly armed with 2 pistols.
Metro police said he immediately confronted a woman outside the church, shooting her at least one time, killing her on the scene. She was identified as Melanie Smith, 39, of Smyrna.
Samson is accused of then going inside the church and opening fire. Forty-two people were in attendance, and six people were injured. Those victims were identified as the minister, Joey Spann; his wife, Peggy Spann; William Jenkins, 83; his wife Marlene Jenkins, 84; Linda Bush, 68; and Katherine Dickerson, 64.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said the usher of the church—identified as 22-year-old Robert Engle—then confronted the gunman and was pistol-whipped, receiving a “significant injury to his head.”
At some point during the confrontation, authorities say the gunman then shot himself, but it’s unclear if it was intentional.
Aaron said the usher, who has a valid carry permit, then went out to his car and retrieved his own gun, holding it on the gunman until police arrived. Police described Engle as “extraordinarily brave” for his actions.
Stella's Place 
well, guess it wasn’t an angry white crazy KKK boy who just shot up a black church, was it.
Don’t think RACE had anything to do with this did it?
But it WAS a racial killing spree.
Maybe taking down all the Robert E. Lee statues just isn’t enough to make everyone all happy yet.
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I wonder … there’s more to be learned here.
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Was the shooter Samson a refugee
I have been reading he’s a migrant
Not sure if he’s an American citizen
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Who knows what the words mean any more: legal resident? migrant? I’ve seen both – and don’t know why a distinction is being made.
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So far what had been reported
The shooter was an immigrant from Sudan that came to the US 2 decades ago
The church was predominantly white
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guess he was checking out US White Christian Privilege maybe……
this stuff is FAR from over I fear greatly.
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Well…let’s see how the media will spin it
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I’m beginning to feel like I’m coming down with Stockholm Syndrome.
It has been some years since I began to be aware that I could be shot in church on Sunday morning. One reason I usually sit toward the back, but I know that wouldn’t necessarily provide enough protection. I should get a CC just to be ornery.
Wouldn’t they be surprised if a church lady shot THEM dead.
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By mentioning Stockholm Syndrome, obviously I don’t mean I feel sympathy for the bad people. I mean that I feel like we are under siege – actively under siege. And those who are responsible for preventing it or putting a stop to it only seem to talk talk talk talk in familiar phrases and there is very little action taken to actually change what’s happening. Just new statistics.
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Mississippi has a law now legalizing carry in church. Folks down heuh don’ cotton to other folks comin’ into their churches and shootin’ ’em up.
Wonder if the FBI will devote the same level of investigative zeal to this church incident as they would were it a white shooter at a predominantly black church?
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I wonder that as well. I don’t believe they will. My opinion.
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My husband always carries in church. It’s sad people can’t feel safe in their houses of worship.
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I’m so glad. It’s important that people know they are NOT inherently safe in church – that knowledge and acceptance of that knowledge makes them safer.
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Very true, Sharon.
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