Church shooting: 2nd victim dies; authorities search accused man's house

[rainbow4321]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/27/church-shooting-leaves-several-injured/

A second victim has died from this morning's shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.

Linda Kraeger, 61, died this evening at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, according to City of Knoxville spokesman Randy Kenner.

She attended Westside Unitarian Universalist Church in Farragut and was visiting the Kingston Pike to watch the children's play.

Knoxville police, the Knoxville Police Department bomb squad and FBI agents are executing a search warrant at Adkisson's house.

[napi21]

1. Interesting htat the purp hasn't said why he did this. Most people

who do things like this are very proud of what they did and why.

[rainbow4321]

2. We do need to remember that just because his "reason" has not been made public

Doesn't mean he is not telling officials what it was. If I had to guess, they don't want to offer up that (and other details) since it may put their case against him in jeopardy later down the line.

[Ian David]

3. Just a guess...

Same church shooter attacked: Church sponsors drop-in centers for gay teens
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3685915

But it could just be a mentally ill person with no real political agenda. That shit happens across all socio-economic and religious boundaries.

[Ian David]

4. This contradicts an earlier report: Gunman had no connection to the church

The gunman was described as having no connection to the church and was taken into custody within minutes of the shooting, according to Owen, and no motive was immediately available.

<snip>

"We've gone to some in the county and in other counties as well," Owen said. He declined to identify the churches targeted for additional security, however, the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church was a strong proponent of gay rights in the community.

<snip>

She said the gunman was yelling "hateful things" and was wearing a red, white and blue T-shirt.

More:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/27/church-shooting-leaves-several-injured/

I wonder what his FR screen name is?

[Pavulon]

5. Could go the other way

he may have been anti Christian and fucking stupid as well as a murderer.

May have driven by the church and decided to kill Christians. Hateful speech does not mean anti gay. that is assumed.

Will wait and see. Locals are saying he was anti Christian, probably mentally ill.

Motive will be key.

[Ian David]

7. People who hate christians don't generally target Unitarians.

If THAT was the reason, then he really picked a stupid target.

For one thing, Unitarians don't wake you up early on Saturday mornings or corner you in the laundromat to talk about Jesus.

[Sanctified]

9. He may have hated all Religions and a Unitarian Church would be a perfect target then. n/t

[Ian David]

15. He could have just really hated Annie and her freaky, pupil-free eyeballs.

That IS some freaky shit...

[ellie]

23. Jesus! Thanks for the ensuing nightmare I'm going to have.

[Pavulon]

10. Again, criminals are not all prodigal sons..

this guy could be a moron who shot up the church closest to his house or job or whatever.

There is no reason to make these high level connections based on information provided.

They are assumptions.

[Ian David]

12. Self-delete n/t

[libnnc]

18. not the same name

Adkisson was his name

[Ian David]

20. oops. Gonna try and fix it in post. n/t

[Sanctified]

8. I am interested in what the "hateful things" were one of his neighbors reports

he claimed everything in the Bible was a contradiction.

"She said she once had a conversation with Adkisson about religion and that he told her everything in the Bible was a contradiction, but Massey thought Adkisson had a strong Christian upbringing."

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=61322&catid=2

[Ian David]

17. "... mental illness is not believed to be a factor in the suspect's actions."

KPD Chief Sterling Owen said officials are not ready to release the suspect's name or age, but he did say that mental illness is not believed to be a factor in the suspect's actions. Owen also said the FBI is now involved in the investigation. Owen confirmed witness reports indicating that the suspect arrived on the scene with a large quantity of ammunition. He also noted that the suspect had attempted to conceal the 12 gauge shotgun he used in the shooting by carrying it in a guitar case.
http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=61322&catid=2

I don't see how mental illness can be ruled-out so quickly unless it was a personal attack against an individual.

[guruoo]

19. Strikes close to home for me, as I live nearby, and attended this church as a teen...

many years ago. As soon as I got home from work an hour ago and heard the news I began attempting
to contact my friends that still attend, and tap my contacts at the KPD for more detailed
info on the shooter.

If I hear anything new, I'll post it here on DU.

[Ian David]

21. I hope everyone you know is okay. n/t

[Ian David]

6. Photo of the shooter here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3685915&mesg_id=3686072

[Sanctified]

11. When they said Red White and Blue T-Shirt I was picturing something a little different. n/t

[Ian David]

13. Me too...

... or a shirt with this bullshit on it:

[Pierre.Suave]

14. red, white, blue...

AND a whole lot of gray...

Somehow that was left out...

[TheMightyFavog]

22. Or just say he was wearing a shirt emblazoned with the Tennessee state flag?

:shrug:

[Pierre.Suave]

24. I did not know that

Interesting...

[rainbow4321]

26. Didn't the red, white, blue comment come from people in the church??

Like immediately after the shooting?

In their defense, if I had just fled the building where a madman was shooting, the odds of me even being able to say that it was a male (never mind his what he was wearing) would be really, really slim.


As with all tragedies, public reports given right after (or the day of) will probably be changed, clarified, or ruled out in the days following that tragedy.

[guruoo]

16. IMO, the fact that he allowed himself to be taken alive...

tends to support the possiblity that the shooter was acting upon a preestablished agenda.

on edit:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3686707&mesg_id=3687159

[AnnieBW]

25. My bet is that he knew someone at the church

Ex-wife, perhaps, or relative?

Either that, or he was one of those Freepers that was chortling about it. :argh:

[libnnc]

27. none of the congregants had ever seen him before

according to reports

I dunno.

[Dr.Phool]

28. I googled his name, and caught a blog in Knoxville.

They talked to one of his neighbors. He said he mentioned to the guy that his daughter had just graduated from Bible College, and the guy flipped out, and started bitching that he hated church, and the fact that his parents forced him to attend when he was younger.

http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/25972159.html