Deadly gun rampage in US church

By IRNA,

New York : A man has opened fire in a church in the US state of Tennessee, killing two people and wounding seven others.


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A group of children were performing a play in a Unitarian church in Knoxville when the gunman fired a shotgun.

There were about 200 people in the church at the time of the shooting.

All the victims were adults. Police say they have detained the gunman, who is believed to be in his 40s.

He reportedly concealed his weapon in a guitar case.

No information has so far been released about his identity or his possible motive.

Church member, Steve Drevik: ‘We are praying for everyone at the hospital’
One witness said the attacker had shouted “hateful words”.

He took a 12-gauge shotgun and opened fire into the congregation, who were watching a performance by 25 children based on the musical, Annie.

People dived for cover under pews, but nine were hit before a group managed to tackle the gunman when he reloaded.

Police have named one of the two people killed as Greg McKendry, a 60-year old usher at the church. The other, Linda Kreager, died of her injuries at a nearby hospital a few hours later.

Church member Barbara Kemper said that Mr McKendry had “stood in front of the gunman and took the blast to protect the rest of us”.

The deputy chief of Knoxville Police Department, Bill Roehl, called the attack “horrendous”.

“It’s terrible that you come to church to do worship and something like this occurs,” he said.

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