Burnette Chapel Church of Christ shooting suspect told police he 'fired upon the church building'
Natalie Neysa AlundThe Middle Tennessee man Metro police say brazenly opened fire on a Nashville-area church Sunday morning killing one and seriously injuring seven others admitted to police he opened fire on the church, according to new court documents.
Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, of La Vergne, told police during an interview that he arrived at the church at 10:55 a.m. and that he was armed with a handgun and "fired upon the church building," a police affidavit shows.
Samson, who left his vehicle running outside Burnette Chapel Church of Christ and wore a mask while wielding two pistols, was shot during a daring confrontation with churchgoer Robert "Caleb" Engle, a 22-year-old described by police as a "hero."
According to the affidavit, Samson was observed by multiple witnesses entering the church at 3890 Pin Hook Road in Antioch with a handgun and firing randomly at parishioners.
Several people were shot before Samson was subdued, the affidavit states. When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered 39-year-old Melanie Smith dead in the parking lot.
Multiple witnesses told police they heard gunshots from the parking lot moments before the defendant entered the church.
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Samson, charged with criminal homicide, remained jailed Monday morning at the Metro jail without bond.
He is due in Davidson County General Sessions court Wednesday for a hearing on his case.
Police say a motive in the shooting is not immediately known.
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The mass shooting occurred shortly after the service ended. In the chaos, many of the 42 churchgoers screamed while some ducked under church pews and others pretended to be dead.
Church minister Joey Spann shouted for congregants to run.
But most were senior citizens. "They didn't make it out," said Minerva Rosa, who was inside the church during the attack.
Police said Samson is a legal U.S. resident but not a citizen. He moved to the U.S. in the 1990s, police spokesman Don Aaron said.
Church members did not recognize Samson on Sunday because he was masked, but later told police he used to attend church services there.
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Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.