One person was killed and at least six were wounded in a shooting at a Tennessee church on Sunday, CNN reports. An eighth person was also “pistol whipped,” or hit by a weapon. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed the shooting on Twitter, identifying Antioch’s Burnette Chapel Church of Christ as the scene of the crime.
Gunman opens fire at Church of Christ Burnette Chapel on Pin Hook Road. 1 woman dead in parking lot…6 other innocents shot… pic.twitter.com/yuwjfGPjXs
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) September 24, 2017
Reports of shots first appeared to police around 11:15 a.m., when a gunman in his mid-20s arrived in the church parking lot as a service was letting out and fatally shot a woman walking to her car. According to NBC News, the other shootings occurred inside the church.
“Six innocent persons inside the church were wounded by gunfire,” police spokesman Don Aaron said at a press conference. “They have been taken to area hospitals.”
The “pistol whipped” victim tried to confront the gunman before being attacked. Apparently, the victim recovered from the blow and went outside to retrieve his own gun. By the time he was back, the gunman, wearing a “type of neoprene mask,” shot himself. He is currently hospitalized with minor injuries.
ABC News says that Aaron is unsure about any connection between the gunman and church members. The Nashville Fire Department revealed in a tweet that all but one of the victims is over 60 years old. Authorities also revealed that unharmed church members were in a safe location and being interviewed by investigators.
All of the wounded except for one is over the age of 60.
— Nashville Fire Dept (@NashvilleFD) September 24, 2017
The @RedCrossTN is OTW to feed members of the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ as @MNPDNashville continue to investigate this shooting.
— Nashville Fire Dept (@NashvilleFD) September 24, 2017
Nashville mayor Megan Barry also released a statement, saying, “My heart aches for the family and friends of the deceased as well as for the wounded victims and their loved ones. Their lives have been forever changed, as has the life of their faith community at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ.”
The shooting today at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ is a terrible tragedy for our city. Full statement: https://t.co/vk6DOxuMPc pic.twitter.com/x3UsUPDmA9
— Megan Barry (@MayorMeganBarry) September 24, 2017
Our thoughts are with the Antioch community as they recover from this tragedy.