Man shoots up church for its liberal views

[elegantelliotoffen]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_...BgovYymp7NH2ocA

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - An unemployed man accused of opening fire with a shotgun and killing two people at a Unitarian church apparently targeted the congregation out of hatred for its support of liberal social policies, police said Monday.

Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen IV said a signed, four-page letter written by Jim D. Adkisson, 58, was found in his small SUV in the church parking lot. 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 at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Witnesses said some of the church members wrestled the suspect to the ground after he pulled a shotgun from a guitar case and fired three times.

 

Adkisson, who is charged with one count of first-degree murder, remained jailed Monday under "close observation" on $1 million bail, authorities said. More charges were expected.

 

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 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-gauge semiautomatic shotgun into the church in a guitar case, but it appeared no specific person was targeted. A search of his house also turned up a .38-caliber handgun, Owen added.

 

Owen said authorities believe the suspect had gone to the Unitarian church because of "some publicity in the recent past regarding its liberal stance on things."

 

Unitarians have roots in a movement that rejected Puritan orthodoxy in New England. Although individual Unitarian churches can vary dramatically in outlooks, most congregations retain a deep commitment to social justice, which has led many to embrace liberal stances on the ordination of women, civil rights and gay rights.

 

Adkisson lived in a surburb north of Knoxville, about a 20 minutes' drive from the Unitarian church in an established neighborhood of older homes and several other houses of worship.

 

The police chief said the shotgun was bought at a pawn shop about a month ago and Adkisson wrote the letter in the last week or so. But he added: "I am sure this is something that has been building a long time in terms of his anger."

 

He said the state recently sent a letter to Adkisson telling him food stamps he had been receiving would be reduced or eliminated.

 

Investigators were reviewing several video recordings of the performance by parents and church members. Owen said police would not release the videos nor Adkisson's letter until they have been entered into evidence.

 

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, saying he attempted to block the gunfire. Barbara Kemper said that McKendry, who died, "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, though police said others didn't recall him saying anything.

 

"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 who died hours later was identified as Linda Kraeger, 61.

 

Officials said Adkisson was arraigned Sunday night and faces his next court hearing Aug. 5.

 

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.

[Joe Miner]

Unitarian Church almost seems like an oxymoron.

[Alaska Darin]

Guess God was off doing everything else at the time. Dude works in mysterious ways.

[KD in CA]

Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen IV said a signed, four-page letter written by Jim D. Adkisson, 58, was found in his small SUV in the church parking lot. 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.

 

If all fairness, sitting through that could push anyone over the top.

[finknottle]

According to the Paulites, there are no homegrown terrorism threats. This whole story smacks of a media conspiracy against the constitution.

[Alaska Darin]

According to the Paulites, there are no homegrown terrorism threats. This whole story smacks of a media conspiracy against the constitution.

What exactly are you going for here?

[Chilly]

According to the Paulites, there are no homegrown terrorism threats. This whole story smacks of a media conspiracy against the constitution.

 

O RLY? News to me..

[Chef Jim]

Guess God was off doing everything else at the time. Dude works in mysterious ways.

 

Seems to me that he takes an awful lot of vacation days.

[Alaska Darin]

Seems to me that he takes an awful lot of vacation days.

You can do that when you're in charge.

[/dev/null]

I don't mean to nerd this thread over, but somebody in my EQII guild was there

[Chef Jim]

You can do that when you're in charge.

 

I know I do.

[justnzane]

To quote George Carlin:

I can't wait till the day when a guy shoots up a church.

They will refer to him on the news as a disgruntled parishioner

 

I don't mean to nerd this thread over, but somebody in my EQII guild was there

... liar

[elegantelliotoffen]

Appantently this guys was a big Fox News watcher.

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/28/c...o-suspects-car/

 

Adkisson told Still that since "he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement that he would then target those that had voted them in to office."

 

Adkisson told officers he left the house unlocked for them because "he expected to be killed during the assault."

 

Inside the house, officers found "Liberalism is a Mental Health Disorder" by radio talk show host Michael Savage, "Let Freedom Ring" by talk show host Sean Hannity, and "The O'Reilly Factor," by television talk show host Bill O'Reilly.

 

The shotgun-wielding suspect in Sunday's mass shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church was motivated by a hatred of "the liberal movement," and he planned to shoot until police shot him, Knoxville Police Chief Sterling P. Owen IV said this morning.

[Chef Jim]

Appantently this guys was a big Fox News watcher.

 

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/28/c...o-suspects-car/

 

Adkisson told Still that since "he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement that he would then target those that had voted them in to office."

 

Adkisson told officers he left the house unlocked for them because "he expected to be killed during the assault."

 

Inside the house, officers found "Liberalism is a Mental Health Disorder" by radio talk show host Michael Savage, "Let Freedom Ring" by talk show host Sean Hannity, and "The O'Reilly Factor," by television talk show host Bill O'Reilly.

 

The shotgun-wielding suspect in Sunday's mass shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church was motivated by a hatred of "the liberal movement," and he planned to shoot until police shot him, Knoxville Police Chief Sterling P. Owen IV said this morning.

 

Ok, what's your point?

[elegantelliotoffen]

Ok, what's your point?

 

I think that alot of people out there have an unhealthy obsession with liberals.

[olivier in france]

Seems to me that he takes an awful lot of vacation days.

 

 

that's because he's french!

 

5 legal weeks + the 35 hours/ week additionnal days!

[KD in CA]

I think that alot of people out there have an unhealthy obsession with liberal ideas.

 

 

Me too. They are causing a lot of damage.

[elegantelliotoffen]

The first time I had sex with a man it really hurt, but after the 700th time I started to get used to it.

 

Whoa, Whoa! That's too much information! Take it easy!

[/dev/null]

So sorry about that. It took 700 tries before I realized Country Crock makes a better lube than Texas Pete's hotsauce

 

TMI

[Philly McButterpants]

I think that alot of people out there have an unhealthy obsession with liberals.

 

Dude, ever read the op-ed page of any major daily newspaper or periodical? I think a lot of people have an unhealthy obsession with republicans, conservative or otherwise . . .