Tennessee Church Shooting During Annie

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 1:51pm

How horrible.

===

Man Open Fires At Tenn. Church, 7 Injured
2 People Believed To Be In Serious Condition

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (CBS) ― A man walked into a Knoxville, Tenn. church and open fired Sunday, injuring 7 people, CBS station WVLT-TV reported.

The incident took place at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church at 10:15 a.m. Church members said children from the congregation's summer theater workshop were performing a musical when the shooting occurred.

A church member told The Associated Press that the gunmen fired three shots. The church member, Steve Drevick, says that several people had head injuries.

Seven people were transported to an area hospital. At least two are believed to be in serious condition.

The alleged shooter is in custody.

Man Open Fires At Tenn. Church, 7 Injured

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 1:55pm

Some of the news reports say it was during a church service buit other say the youth group was performing Annie.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 1:58pm

Seven Injured in Church Shooting

Church members say the attack occurred as children were performing "Annie the Musical" as part of the congregation's summer theater workshop.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

(UPI) - Seven people were critically wounded Sunday when an unidentified gunman entered a church in Knoxville, Tenn., and opened fire, authorities say.

Knoxville Fire Department spokesman, Capt. Brent Seymour said police had a suspect in custody for the morning attack at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, CNN reported.

Church members say the attack occurred as children were performing "Annie the Musical" as part of the congregation's summer theater workshop.

Meanwhile, Knoxville's WBIR-TV reported only six of the injured individuals suffered gunshot wounds in the attack. The seventh injury victim only suffered an ankle injury, the TV station said.

The TV station added that no children were thought to have been hurt and two of the hospitalized victims may be serious condition.

Knoxville's WVLT-TV said the gunman may have been restrained by members of the congregation following the shooting spree.


Seven Injured in Church Shooting

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 2:05pm

Updated On: 1/14/09 at 02:05 PM

[Chance]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 2:10pm

If the production was terrible then really, you can't blame them.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 2:12pm

That was an assHole thing to say, Chance.

[Chance]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 2:21pm

I dont know, i've been to a few shows that left me with the urge to open fire.

[Jon]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 2:28pm

To add to the political incorrectness:

I wonder if they had permission and were paying royalties... If not, will MTI forgive them, because of the shootings?

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 8:05pm

it was Annie Jr. I'm betting they paid rights.

the guy only got off 2 shots before being tackled by congregation menbers. the 3rd shot went into the ceiling. Shotguns usually have 8 pellets per shot.

yeah, I live here. It was the Unitarian Universalist Church.

[Chance]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 8:09pm

i have a friend thats a unitarian universalist


oh and 1 guy died.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 8:38pm

According to CNN, a second person has died.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 10:22pm

The church is well known for fighting for women's rights and gay rights and starting an ACLU chapter. I always wanted the balls to go to this kind of church.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 10:25pm

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

How horrible.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/27/08 at 10:42pm

PalJoey'sPal belongs to a UU Church here in NY. We go every Christmas eve and Easter morning.

[javero]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 12:24pm

I didn't see this prior to firing up a similar thread. This is a really sad story.

I'll just add that the case is being reviewed for possible reclassification as a hate crime. The gunman appears to have had issues with liberals and gays.

Gunman had issues with church's liberal values

Updated On: 7/28/08 at 12:24 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 12:36pm

I hope they classify this as a hate crime.

First-degree murder is not enough.

[Namaste]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 2:32pm

Soon they'll have metal detectors and around-the-clock security at all church entrances.
Updated On: 7/28/08 at 02:32 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 4:45pm

The last I heard, he said he did it because he was mad at his parents for making him go to church. This man is in his 50's!

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 4:54pm

clearly the man needs our help and understanding. the calls for punishment are entirely out of order and counter-productive. only when we understand what corporate giant drove him to do what he did can we file suit and start the healing process.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 5:00pm

The last I heard, he said he did it because he was mad at his parents for making him go to church. This man is in his 50's!

No. He said he did it because of the Unitarian Church's liberal policies.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 5:14pm

I heard that also Pal. But the news said that he did it because his parents made him go to church. They actually said this after they said it was because of the church's policies. Maybe it was because they made him go to that particular church. By this evening it could be a whole other story! But that's the last I heard.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 5:19pm

OK...so that statement has been clarified:

"A neighbor said the 58-year-old was known to speak often about his parents and that he said they forced to him to attend church "all his life."

Got that from the local news website. I just posted what I heard on the news. They clarified it on their website.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 7:26pm

This is quite sad.
I wish all the best for the UU fellowship, and Knoxville (I know some really great people in both)

I think the sickness is endemic, and unfortunate.
There is too much anger and hatred and belief that violence will solve problems and that is true on all sides of the political spectrum.

I hope this incident might help to bring a bit of peace in the pain though, several conservative churches in the area have come to the aid of this congregation, and hopefully the displays of humanity can be something they can build on together.

Posted: 7/28/08 at 8:30pm

this is really emotional for me because I live in Knoxville. I didn't know anyone who was injured or killed, but it was scary because it was in my town. Don't let this fool you though, knoxville is normally a very safe town with good broadway shows that come

[tazber]

Posted: 7/28/08 at 8:42pm

I think this has more to do with him just being a nutcase than a widely held belief that violence is the answer.