Police: Accused shooter hated liberals, expected to be killed
4-page letter outlines frustration, hatred of 'liberal movement'
By Hayes Hickman , Don Jacobs Originally published 07:44 a.m., July 28, 2008 Updated 11:28 a.m., July 28, 2008
The shotgun-wielding suspect in Sunday"s mass shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church was motivated by a hatred of "the liberal movement," and he planned to shoot until police shot him, Knoxville Police Chief Sterling P. Owen IV said this morning.
Jim D. Adkisson, 58, of Powell wrote a four-page letter in which he stated his "hatred of the liberal movement," Owen said. "Liberals in general, as well as gays."
Adkisson said he also was frustrated about not being able to obtain a job, Owen said.
The letter, recovered from Adkisson"s black 2004 Ford Escape, which was parked in the church"s parking lot at 2931 Kingston Pike, indicates he had been planning the shooting for about a week.
"He fully expected to be killed by the responding police," the police chief said.
Owen said Adkisson specifically targeted the church for its beliefs, rather than a particular member of the congregation.
"It appears that church had received some publicity regarding its liberal stance," the chief said. The church has a "gays welcome" sign and regularly runs announcements in the News Sentinel about meetings of the Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays meetings at the church.
The church"s Web site states that it has worked for "desegregation, racial harmony, fair wages, women"s rights and gay rights" since the 1950s. Current ministries involve emergency aid for the needy, school tutoring and support for the homeless, as well as a cafe that provides a gathering place for gay and lesbian high-schoolers.
Officers recovered 76 shells for a 12-gauge, semiautomatic shotgun inside the church. Among those shells were three spent rounds. He had carried the shotgun inside the church in a guitar case, Owen said.
"He certainly intended to take a lot of casualties," the chief said.
Adkisson is accused of killing two people and injuring seven others. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Greg McKendry, 60. Also killed in the shooting was Linda Kraeger, 61, who was visiting the church from Westside Unitarian Universalist Church.
Injured were Joe Barnhart, 76, and Jack Barnhart, 69, who are brothers; Betty Barnhart, 71; Linda Chavez, 41; John Worth Jr., 68; Tammy Sommers, 38; and Allison Lee, 42. Jack and Joe Barnhart are brothers, and Jack and Betty Barnhart are married.
At about 10:25 a.m., two staffers from Second Presbyterian Church next door, placed a large flower arrangement from their church"s sanctuary atop TVUUC"s sign along Kingston Pike.
"Our hearts go out to this church. This is our community. We love these people," said Julie Lothrop, assistant to the pastor.
The shooting began at 10:18 a.m. Adkisson was arrested minutes later after being restrained by church members.
Three of those wounded remain in critical or serious condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Two others were treated at a local hospital and released. One of those suffered an injury when trampled as worshippers left the church.
The letter was not addressed to anyone but was signed by Adkisson, Owen said.
Adkisson"s criminal history includes a DUI in Calfornia and in Clinton.
He had been a member of the U.S. Army"s 101st Airborne, according to Owen.
Public Defender Mark Stephens" office has been appointed to represent Adkisson.
Through a spokeswoman this morning, Stephens said he could not comment.
If the suspect"s own resume is accurate, Owen said, Adkisson worked in a variety of places across the country and most recently worked in Knoxville in 2006. The chief did not specify where Adkisson last held a job. Adkisson also holds an associates degree in mechanical engineering.
More than 200 people were packed into the church"s sanctuary watching the children"s musical, "Annie Jr." when a gunman opened fire.
McKendry, according to witnesses and police, confronted Adkisson, who shot him with a 12-gauge shotgun.
Witness Barbara Kemper said Adkisson walked past the area where children were awaiting their stage call and into the sanctuary.
Witnesses said Adkisson did not aim the shotgun at children but focused on the pews filled with adults. The first blast left many wondering if the disabling boom was part of the musical program.
"We heard the first shot," said Marty Murphy, 66, a church member since 2000. "It sounded like a bomb went off. We thought it was part of the program at first.
"The second shot is when everyone started calling 911 and telling everyone to get down."
Murphy and others said Adkisson didn"t say a thing before he began firing. Kemper, however, said Adkisson was yelling "something hateful."
Witnesses said Adkisson had a fanny pack around his waist that contained extra shells for his shotgun.
"There were shotgun shells all over the place, so he must have thought he was going to get more shots in," Murphy said. "He had those shells everywhere.
"Who would have thought, here in Knoxville?" she said.
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Sounds like he hated liberal christians that accept gays, but they aren't real Christians anyway are they? I've read that on the religion board.
Well Charlie, you are going to read a bunchof things on the religion board. But, if one practices homosexuality, knowing that God hates it, while professing to be a Christian, its the same as me going out and sleeping with every women I see, being unfaithful to my wife, but going to Church on Sunday saying I love God and follow his commands. As it explains in James, you can tell someone's heart by thier fruit they produce.
Yeah Steve-o and if a couple of people had been "packin" in that church, perhaps he wouldn't have been able to shoot anybody (remember the church security guard last year??). Gun control is not the answer.
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Looney tunes deductive reasoning:
--Me smell Mohican burning
--Me last Mohican
--Must be me!!!
--EEEOOOWWW!!!!!
I was not saying that gun control is the answer. I am only saying that there are some right-wingers who seem to live for the 2nd amendment only who maybe should not always be trusted with guns. I have seen more than my share of gun-owners who didn't exactly seem like ideal examples of mental stability. I can only imagine what else might be out there.
This guy might have posted here
