Neighbors Who See Stabbing Kick Ass
Church Shooting in Knoxville, TN
Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 4:43 pm
The gunman's timing seemed particularly tragic. Nearly 200 parishioners inside the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church [website] in Knoxville, TN were listening to children sing a song from Annie Jr. in service this morning when all hell broke loose. According to church member Steve Drevik, a 40-something man with long blond hair walked in and started shooting. The weapon of choice was a shotgun, and the man was firing at random.
Before the man was tackled by three men from the congregation, 6 people were critically wounded. A seventh person was killed.
The dead man was named Greg McKendry, and according to witnesses, McKendry lost his life in an act of sheer heroism.
A woman named Barbara Kemper told the Knoxville News Sentinel that in an effort to protect others, McKendry "stood in the front of the gunman and took the blast."
Based on the age and location, it appears as though this personal profile may have been created by McKendry.
The gunman wore a red, white and blue t-shirt. Witnesses say he shouted "awful things" as he fired.
When he was done with the first round of shells, the gunman paused to reload from what some described as a "fanny pack" he wore on his waist. That was when he was tackled and subdued. He was taken into custody just before 10:30 a.m. ET.
This story is still unfolding. Updates and revisions to follow.
UPDATE
It often seems like early reports of crimes like this are filled with bad information. The only way to handle that is to report what you've got and clarify later.
In this instance, the probable age of the gunman may be off. Speaking with WBIR, Knoxville's NBC affiliate, a church member named Amy Broyles described the shooter as 'an older man, perhaps 65 years old.' Sixty-five, of course, is a long way off from 40s to mid-40s.
Otherwise, Broyles tells of what must have been an eerie, terrifying experience. She'd taken one of her children into a quiet room at the rear of the TVUUC sanctuary, a glass-walled area found in some modern houses of worship that permits mothers to deal with crying children without actually missing the service. Broyles heard the muffled boom of the first shot, and looked through the glass to see people diving under pews. She picked up her child and blocked the entrance to the quiet room, in case the gunman tried to enter.
According to Broyles, the gunman was taken down just outside the quiet room door by the men from the congregation.
UPDATE II
There have been 8 victims in all, and the News Sentinel is reporting that a second victim has passed away. Four victims remain at the UT Medical Center in critical condition, one in serious condition, and another was released after treatment.
The Reverend William Sinkford, Unitarian Universalist Association President, released a statement about the shooting. It read, in part:
A tragedy such as this makes us acutely conscious of the beauty and fragility of our lives and those of our loved ones. I am especially saddened by this intrusion of violence into a worship service involving children and youth.
I know that many people, both in Knoxville and around the country, are struggling with shock and grief right now. I pray that those so affected will find strength and comfort...
It is interesting to note that police have said that they do not believe mental illness played a role in this shooting.
[WBIR.com; Knoxville News Sentinel -- an editorial note: It would be better for your soul if you didn't read the insane comments posted on the News Sentinel article.]
Tags: church shooting, Greg McKendry, random shooting, Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
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