2nd Death in Church Shooting, 6 wounded in Knoxville, Tennessee

UPDATE 7/27/08 8:20 p.m.: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) — Knoxville Mayor’s spokesman Randy Kenner confirms that a second person has died after Sunday morning’s TVUUC shooting.

Kenner says the victim has been identified as Linda Kraeger, 61.

Second victim dies in Sunday morning Knoxville church shooting

UPDATE 7/27/08 8:13 p.m.: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) — A source whose daughter attends the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church confirms to Volunteer TV’s Lauren Davis that a second victim, a woman, has died after being shot Sunday morning at the West Knoxville church.

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UPDATE 7/27/08 8:01 p.m.: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) — Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam has released the following statement concerning the Sunday morning Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church shooting in Knoxville:

“When we go to our places of worship, we go expecting to have a time of reflection and fellowship. Today’s violence is the worst sort of desecration and should be renounced by all faiths. I join all Knox Countians in offering our prayers to the families affected by this terrible tragedy. This is a time for all of us to come together to lend our complete support to this church family.”

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UPDATE 7/27/08 7:56 p.m.: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) — U.S. Senator Bob Corker has released the following statement concerning the Sunday morning Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church shooting in Knoxville:

“We’ve reached out to Mayor Haslam’s office, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by this terrible tragedy.”

Source: volunteertv.com via politisite

Update: 16:50 Hrs ET – I am sad to report that 1 person has died as the result of this shooting. CNN and the AP both confirm. The Fox Affiliate first reported it in scene.

Churches Website

KNOXVILLE (WATE) — Multiple people were shot during a Sunday morning service at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Church in Knoxville.

Published reports say six or seven people were hit by shotgun fire around 10:20 a.m. They were taken to UT Medical Center for treatment. Some may be seriously injured.

A suspect was taken into custody at the church. Witnesses describe him as white with blond hair and looking like he’s in his mid 40’s. He was wearing a T-shirt and jeans

One witness tells 6 News as the armed man left the sanctuary, he said, “I have it. I’ve got it.” His face was covered with blood.

It’s not known if he’s a member of the church.

Sunday morning’s service, which started at 10:00, was a performance called Annie, Jr., done by children in the summer musical theater workshop. None of the children were wounded.

The Unitarian church is located at 2931 Kingston Pike, near the Sequoyah Hills community.

Officials says they’ll hold a press conference Sunday but they haven’t released the exact time.

Mayor Bill Haslam released this statement Sunday afternoon. “Today, Knoxville suffered a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the church community.”

Source: wate.com via politisite

Seven people were shot and critically wounded Sunday at a Unitarian church in Knoxville, Tennessee, authorities said. The shooting took place at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville Sunday.

Police have arrested a suspect in the attack, which occurred about 10 a.m. ET at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, said Capt. Brent Seymour, a Knoxville Fire Department spokesman.

The church was scheduled to stage a children’s production of the musical “Annie” on Sunday morning, but all of the wounded appeared to be adults, Seymour said.

Police had no comment on the shootings, and a woman who answered the phone at the church declined comment, citing investigators’ requests.

The seven gunshot victims were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, located just across the Tennessee River from the church, Seymour said. About 12 others were treated for

Source: cnn.com via politisite