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Multiple people injured after gunman opens fire in Nashville-area church
At least one person was killed and a half dozen others injured after a gunman opened fire in a Nashville-area church. (Image source: screenshot)

Multiple people injured after gunman opens fire in Nashville-area church

Multiple people were injured in a shooting at a Nashville-area church Sunday morning.

What happened?

  • According to WKRN-TV, a masked gunman entered a church in Antioch, Tennessee, and opened fire, killing one woman and injuring seven others.
  • Police responded to the church — Burnette Chapel Church of Christ — around 12:15 p.m. EST.
  • The gunman, in his mid-20s, murdered one woman in the church parking lot before entering the sanctuary and shooting six others. All of those injured were over the age of 60.
  • Police say another churchgoer grabbed a gun and confronted the shooter. The shooter then pistol-whipped the man.
  • The shooter shot himself in the head, but did not die and is being treated for his injuries.
  • Police say the shooter has no known relationship to the church.
  • It isn't clear if the pastor was a target, but the pastor's son said his father was shot, according to reports.

Who is the shooter?

Authorities later announced Sunday the shooter is 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson. According to Fox News, Samson immigrated from Sudan two decades ago.

He has been released from the hospital and has been charged with murder and attempted murder.

His possible motive?

Fox News reports the FBI will initiate a civil rights investigation into the incident because it occurred at a predominately white church. Federal authorities may have other reasons to believe race or religion played a role in the crime, but they have not yet announced whether or not it did.

Editor's note: This story has been updated.

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