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Crime

‘The Devil’s Work’: Meet the Man Suspected of Yesterday’s Deadly Shooting at a GA Megachurch

Oct. 25, 2012 6:21am Billy Hallowell

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (TheBlaze/AP) — The man suspected of calmly walking into a service at an Atlanta-area megachurch and gunning down a church volunteer leading a prayer was committed eight years ago to a psychiatric hospital after a violent incident in Maryland, court records show. TheBlaze first reported about this story when it unfolded on Wednesday.

Police in Georgia said former church worker Floyd Palmer, 51, entered a chapel at World Changers Church International just before 10 a.m. Wednesday and opened fire, killing church volunteer Greg McDowell, 39.

“He walked in calmly, opened fire, and left as calmly,” Fulton County Police Cpl. Kay Lester said.

Palmer was a former facilities maintenance employee at the church who resigned in August for “personal reasons,” Lester said.

Meet Floyd Palmer: Suspect of Shooting Incident at World Changers International Church

This photo provided by the Fulton County Police Department and released Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012 shows shooting suspect Floyd Palmer. Police say a volunteer leading a prayer service at the World Changers International Church in College Park, Ga., was shot and killed by a former church employee. (AP Photo/Fulton County Police Department)

The church’s well-known founder and leader, the Rev. Creflo Dollar, was not there at the time.

Palmer was taken into custody without incident a few hours later at a Macy’s at a mall in Atlanta’s upscale Buckhead neighborhood, Lester said. Police spotted his black Subaru station wagon with tinted windows in the parking lot of Lenox Square. They didn’t recover a weapon.

He faces murder and other charges, according to online jail records.

Court records show a man named Floyd Lester Palmer, born on the same day in 1960, was charged in Baltimore in 2001 with attempted murder, assault and handgun charges. He was committed to a psychiatric hospital in 2004 after pleading not criminally responsible to lesser charges. The records show he was released the next year subject to conditions that were to remain in effect for five years.

The court filings include motions by the defense for a dangerousness evaluation, which was later withdrawn.

Details of what led to the charges weren’t immediately known. Baltimore police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the department did not have arrest records in the case, which is not unusual in cases where someone has been committed. Palmer’s attorney in the case, Kenneth Ravenell, was out of the country on Wednesday, his staff said.

U.S. Marshals are part of a large police presence outside of Macy’s at Lenox Mall in Atlanta, where the search for Floyd Palmer, a former World Changers Church employee who is suspected of killing a volunteer leading a church service earlier in the day, was underway Wednesay, Oct. 24, 2012. Palmer, 52, was later taken in to custody without incident. Credit: AP

About 20 to 25 people were gathered in the chapel when the shooting happened. No other people were wounded and the gunman fled.

Investigators were working to determine if Palmer and McDowell knew each other.

“We do not know if the victim was targeted,” Lester said. “We are looking into that as he was the only person that was shot.”

Ken Terry, a pastor at the church who is acting as a spokesman for McDowell’s family, said the church family was distraught and trying to comfort McDowell’s family.

“He would be considered a model dad,” Terry told reporters. “To have this happen is just devastating.”

Although the campus has security officers and surveillance cameras, Lester said the suspect was known to some at the service, so his presence wouldn’t have been unusual.

The violence upset members and neighbors of the church, which is one of the largest in the United States, claiming 30,000 members at the main campus and a ministry of satellite churches across the country.

Church members leave the main sanctuary building at World Changers Church International in College Park, Ga. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, next door to the chapel where a church volunteer leading prayer was shot and killed. Authorities were searching for former church employee Floyd Palmer, who is suspected in the shooting. Credit: AP

Along with Bishop Eddie Long, Dollar is one of the most prominent African-American preachers based around Atlanta who have built successful ministries on the prosperity gospel, which teaches that God wants to bless the faithful with earthly riches.

Dollar didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press, but he preached Wednesday evening at a Bible study in the campus’s larger World Dome sanctuary. He repeated the importance of having faith in God even when bad things happen and rejecting fear and doubt.

“We pray for this family,” he said, referring to McDowell. “We pray for both families and then we pray for every family that’s in here tonight.”

Earlier Wednesday, several church members walked over to the scene after hearing about the shooting.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” said Adolph Hanley, 66, of College Park. “People don’t want the real Word.”

He said of the fatal shooting: “That’s the devil’s work.”

“Why would anyone want to hurt the church?” he asked.

Albert Henry, 55, of Riverdale, said his 5-year-old son was in day care near the chapel when the shooting took place. He said staffers called and told him to pick up the child.

“I can’t believe someone just did it in the House of the Lord,” said Henry, as his boy sat in the back seat.

Linda Pritchett, 43, a church member for 10 years, said the shooting didn’t make her feel less secure attending services. She said people cannot give in to fear. But she said she grieved for the victim and his family.

“When something happens to one of us, it hurts all of us,” she said.

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Comments (46)

txn4justice
Posted on November 18, 2012 at 10:31pm
Crack cocaine folks

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LovinUSA
Posted on October 29, 2012 at 7:02am
Seems to have a lot of characteristics like Barack Obama, purple lips, droopy eyelids, just sayin’.

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Stormy1948
Posted on October 28, 2012 at 9:56pm
I live in CA, and attend a Word of Faith church. Our pastor was with Kenneth Copeland for many years. We have one of the most diversive churches there is, and to say that the prosperity churches don’t have the Holy Spirit is just false. Creflo Dollar is a most compassionate man and pastor and he his church is a mega church , becasue he preaches the Word of God and goes by that Word alone. People think if we are “that church” we are wierd. We aren’t. We beleive in the total Word of God and no where does God say that He wants His people poor, and hungry, and not have anything. He wants us all to prosper. Jesus even said ” I come to give you life and life more abundantly” now if you can find where God or Jesus say that, and says in the Word He wants you poor, then as my grandpaprents from MO says Show Me! We just have the faith to believe it, and so far He has kept His word to my whole family me and our children and grand children are doing wonderful, and even my grand chuildren find jobs in this economy. We pray and believe and God does His word.

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ellietoo
Posted on October 28, 2012 at 6:06pm
The downfall of American can be attributed to the failure of the church in America. I’m not against the so called prosperity gospel or any gospel that proclaims that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. I am against a church that is so self involved and has forgotten the necessity of intercession and care for those outside the church. Without the power of the Spirit of God there is not church. So many services take place every Sunday in America that never take the time to allow the Spirit of God to speak. It’s all man centered. Read the book of Acts and see what Jesus intended for his church. Read the first chapter of the book of Revelation and see what He thinks of churches that have lost their “first love.” A church without the power of God has lost touch with The Head. We can not continue without the power of God. We are simply going through the motions while the world falls apart around us.

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anothercomment
Posted on October 28, 2012 at 1:45pm
This is the story of a man who was incited to enter Creflo Dollar’s church. Who was he planning to shoot? Was the victim just a 2nd choice? Even if you have ever lived in this area, and know the real Creflo and his local behavior, you will not dissuade those who have drunk Cref’s Kool-Aid and follow his preachin’. Yes, I know people who were touched by Jim and Tammy Bakker preaching, even after their downfall and continued to support his ministry. God works through many people.
The very sad fact is an unknown congregant was following his personal path, and was shot in a church, and now leaves a family in mourning. It has nothing to do with gun control, TV evangelists, or the political election. A man was shot in church. His family and loved ones need everyone’s prayers.

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F_Obama
Posted on October 28, 2012 at 6:27am
If obama had a brother that shot up a church, he would look just like this guy.

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JohnPas
Posted on October 27, 2012 at 10:39pm
“… and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.”

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dove777000
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 11:23pm
Christians are under attack in America, and around the world. I agree with the woman that said we cannot let fear keep us away from the word of the Lord. It’s like with the D.C. snipers, people were afraid to go out , especially to pump gas, or shop. You cannot let the evil of a few, completely change your life or the terrorists win. Believe me when I put my grandson between me and the car I was putting gas in, I was nervous, but I prayed that God would send Warring Angels to protect us. And he did……………..The evil it the world can be cast out, but only for a season, for it is written, in Jesus name. However when Jesus comes back every knee shall bow to the holiest of Holy’s.

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- The Giver
  Posted on October 27, 2012 at 12:07am
  Yes, kneel at his feet. Amen.
  
  Report this comment
- dlanod
  Posted on October 28, 2012 at 2:38pm
  yes an you can not be stupid either.
  
  Report this comment
INTHEBROTHERHOOD
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 2:31pm
that church has enough money to install metal detectors and personnel to operate them. it is the pastors responsability to keep his flock safe while attending services.

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- The Giver
  Posted on October 27, 2012 at 12:03am
  You want MORE regulation? Everyone emptying their pocketbooks, removing belts? Sure way to stop all church attendance.
  An armed congregation should let a crook think twice.
  
  Report this comment
- Come_and_take_it
  Posted on October 27, 2012 at 1:37pm
  You blame the pastor/victims! How about blaming the criminal…that is where the guilt lies. The church had security workers and video. Do you want TSA like workers stationed at churches?
  
  Report this comment
- INTHEBROTHERHOOD
  Posted on October 28, 2012 at 1:34pm
  he wasnt a crook… he was an armed shooter, and you think a whole congregation of armed people would have prevented that? and no im not blaming the pastor im just sayin now that this happened it is his responsability to take measures to prevent it from happlning again
  
  Report this comment
deeberj
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 2:07pm
I just want to say one thing about that article. I did not like how they grouped Creflo Dollar with Eddie Long. They are NOTHING alike except they are black.

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- The Giver
  Posted on October 27, 2012 at 12:05am
  Dollar teaches about earthly riches? Is this a joke? Is that his real name?
  
  Report this comment
- LeadNotFollow
  Posted on October 27, 2012 at 1:45am
  .
  Creflo Dollar was arrested for allegedly choking and punching his own Daughter.
  He can’t be much of a Christian.
  
  Report this comment
- anothercomment
  Posted on October 27, 2012 at 9:37pm
  @THEGIVER
  Not sure if that is his real name, but he really lives what he believes, his house is the size of an upscale hotel (outlandishly ornate from the outside). He was in trouble about a decade ago for giving $1000.00 ‘gifts’ to the police officers in College Park, GA. As the previous post stated, Creflo Dollar is in a class all by himself…..
  
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Solidspine
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 8:56am
Just a typical Obama supporter

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bonesiii
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 8:04pm
Jesus offers forgiveness even for this murderer. I pray that he will read about the Apostle Paul, previously known as Saul, who had organized murder before God called him to repentance. We all need to turn back to God.

There probably was something personal and not as it seems involved here. It sounds like the speaker was targeted, but who knows.

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- The Giver
  Posted on October 27, 2012 at 12:13am
  McDowell was only 39 y/o. He is probably in God’s Light. May his family have love and strength.
  
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FAITH47
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 4:03pm
Our country and the Nations are surrounded by EVIL doer.IT SEEMS SATAN RISING.BUT I TELL YOU I DON’T FEAR NO EVIL, I KNOW MY GOD IS ALWAYS WITH ME.

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KENTUCKIANAPATRIOT
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 3:36pm
There are God fearing people like Dr. Creflo Dollar, “fearing” in this context is REVERE–ING. Then there are the CHRIST-A-PHOBES……NOT in the same ballpark. However–since SO many here on the Blaze have “commented” on “mental illness”…..perhaps DR. Dollar could help you in the “secular” as well…..GUESS in which “field” Dr. Dollar COULD return to, were he ever to LOSE HIS MIND & forego the BLESSINGS of GOD?………(I don’t look for that to happen–but what do I know?) BTW–Jesus said “Fear not”, “Be thou NOT afraid”–He spoke more against fear & mental anquish, worry–than ANYTHING else….interesting……The world just keeps proving the Bible correct–accurate–to be TRUTH. And Creflo Dollaer just keeps speaking the Word of God. NOT the “word” of Creflo Dollar–rather the Word of God. Some of us recognize TRUTH when we hear it–some don’t. Some of choose LIFE–some reject HIM. Creflo Dollar is a BLESSED man. So? He had NOTHING to do with a crazy person killing someone. Creflo Dollar’s life in hurting Christaphobes—how? I KNOW the answer–if you DON’T–that’s too bad.

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- INTHEBROTHERHOOD
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 2:19pm
  what exactly are you trying to say? your babbling
  
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- rickfromthecape
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 10:45pm
  what???????…
  
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Sol Invictus
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:54am
This church believes in “the prosperity gospel, which teaches that God wants to bless the faithful with earthly riches.”
The insanity of the religious mind….

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- KENTUCKIANAPATRIOT
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 3:04pm
  Yes, Dr. Creflo Dollar (he’s not only a GENUINE Christian, GENUINE Pastor–he’s a GENUINE DOCTOR)–Dr. Dollar is BLESSED. It’s called the ABRAHAMIC COVENANT–not only can Dr. Dollar & his beautiful wife Taffi teach & PREACH–you see, they can READ. Therefore, by CHOICE, they CHOSE LIFE. They chose NOT to reject the sacrifice of the Christ. That would be Jesus–Yeshua. Instead of being jealous of Creflo Dollar–either be WILLING to live YOUR life the way HE lives HIS–or shut-up about things & people you know nothing about. You CHRIST-A_PHOBES….why the fear? Did you know that the spirit of fear doesn’t come from the LORD? I suppose you do–given you & alll of the CHRIST-A-PHOBES know FAR more about Christians THAN Christians know about themselves. But–you are out of “luck”–Christians don’t learn from the “world”, we learn from the WORD. You can CHOOSE the Saviour, as Dr. Dollar did, or…..NOT.
  
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- JosephsMyth
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 3:32pm
  KENTUCKIANAPATRIOT,
  
  Creflo Dollar (aka CashFlow Dollar) is not a “GENUINE DOCTOR.” He received an honorary doctorate of theology from ORU from the previous president of the university. “Honorary degrees are usually awarded at regular graduation ceremonies, at which the recipients are often invited to make a speech of acceptance before the assembled faculty and graduates – an event which often forms the highlight of the ceremony.” In fact, most people that receive them do not use them as a title because everyone knows it is honorary only and not a result of actual academic work.
  
  The founders son (RIchard Roberts) handed out honorary doctorates to prominent ministers during his tenure as president as a way to court favor with them and their congregants. Richard was eventually forced to resign for financial malfeasance. ORU has finally rid itself of the Roberts family and is being run, quite well, by the Green family of Hobby Lobby fame.
  
  Report this comment
- Sol Invictus
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 3:51pm
  @Kentuckian
  I’m not AFRAID of Christ I just don’t admire anyone who perverts the message of the Gospels for material gain. If you’ve got a proble with that then you’re not a Christian either.
  
  Report this comment
- Sol Invictus
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 4:07pm
  @ Kentuckian
  What on earth makes you think anyone is afraid of Christ? If you think this church is anything to do with his message you are sadly mistaken. Don’t rant at me for telling the truth – you wouldn’t recognise the truth if it leapt up and bit you on the a**.
  
  Report this comment
- deeberj
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 2:15pm
  Don’t judge Creflo Dollar until you are familiar with his preachings. Years ago when my husband left me, I watched him every day on TV and his teachings were most helpful to me. I will never forget what he taught about the seed and the sower and how my heart can be fertile ground, and how I need to be aware of what I allow to enter the gates of my soul (my senses and what I say). Those two teachings took a person who had been a struggling, wavering Christian for 29 years and made me into someone who knows and fully trusts God. My life is so much better after hearing those messages. I will never say anything bad about that man.
  
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- INTHEBROTHERHOOD
  Posted on October 26, 2012 at 2:39pm
  true that….prosperity is everlasting life….not earthly riches….to k patriot..C. Dollar is not a doctor.. its an honorary certificate..
  
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FreeBeer
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 11:28am
@Independent I disagree in one respect. There is a gun control point to be made here as Churches are specifically listed as one of the locations permit holders are NOT allowed to carry firearms in GA. I don’t believe it would have made a difference in this case but it does show how pointless that rule is. People who are intent on committing murder don’t follow gun control laws. What part of that is so difficult for politicians to understand?

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- RobertHere
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:38pm
  I carry everywhere I go-it is not so much my “right” as my duty as a freeman, husband, father, neighbor and citizen. My church really does not have a policy on the issue though it might be considered rude to carry openly in Church; discreet is neat? If a Church, restaurant or such bans my means of self-defense I will respect that and go where I am welcome.
  
  I can not prove it and would not if I could but I am confident there are indeed fine, honest Christians in Georgia carrying while praying regardless of Caesars edict. Now if Floyd Palmer is “insane”, had harsh potty training or is just a mean SOB I do know this: we need safe, sanitary and CHEAP prisons to lock up such miscreants where they can never threaten us again. And judges who keep giving convicted felons “rights” need to spend 15 or 20 years in such prisons just for the heck of it ;-)
  
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demsrtraitors
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 8:38am
If the shooter was White , This would be on ALL the lame stream news outlets. And everyone knows it.

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- BenKatz
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 1:06pm
  Yet another injustice against the poor, mistreated and oppressed minority that is the white race. There is not a day that goes by that I wake up wondering when we will finally get a break in this country.
  
  Report this comment
smash44
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 8:34am
Darn racist Tea Party crazies.

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- RobertHere
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 12:40pm
  As soon as I am done stealing blankets and water bottles from the homeless I’ll answer this post!
  
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kvan
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 7:26am
My heart goes out to the Victim and his Family and to all of the Members of the Church.

God Bless.

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KingCanon
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 7:25am
It’s a liberal owned incident. As lib’s condemn churches so go the
minds of individuals such as this man. Oh the shame to be labeled a lib.

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- golfer8805
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 10:04am
  Your comment makes absolutely no sense.
  
  Report this comment
beckistheking
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 7:25am
The shooter is insane. The supernatural had nothing to do with it.

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- Wolf
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 9:20am
  And just where does ‘insanity’ come from?
  
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- beckistheking
  Posted on October 25, 2012 at 9:36am
  The brain can malfunction like any other organ. Physical trauma, chemical imbalances, and genetic causes are usually responsible. There are other causes as well. Insanity is not caused by “evil spirits.” That kind of thinking is primitive.
  
  Report this comment
NOFX
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 7:24am
“Reverend Dollar” ….how fitting. It feels like 2012 has had quite a lot of “workplace violence” or terrorism. Remember the Washington DC sniper back in 2001, right after 9/11? I have a feeling we’ll see people like him again but targeting churches and places of worship. Just the way the world is headed that I can easily see some sick maniac start sniping random people after church services are over for the day.

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Independently_Independent
Posted on October 25, 2012 at 7:00am
This is not an issue of gun control, but one of the failure of our mental health system to effectively treat those with brain disorders. Funding for mental health treatment is at an all time low, and continues to be under attack by our legislators. There’s little to no accountability or measured outcomes to determine what methods of treatment are effective or if providers and practitioners are delivering the full service they are supposed to (if it is covered at all). Finally, HIPAA has confounded the treatment process by excluding care givers and loved ones from the treatment process – information that is crucial to practitioners in evaluating the behavior of those with brain disorders.

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