Before Antioch church shooting, suspect made cryptic Facebook posts
Nate Rau
Emanuel Kidega Samson made several cryptic Facebook posts, one alluding to a sudden attack, on Sunday morning before police say he went on a shooting rampage at a church in Antioch where he used to attend.
Samson, who, according to his Facebook page, is originally from the Sudan, wrote just before 11 a.m., “Everything you've ever doubted or made to be believe as false, is real. & vice versa, B.”
More:Burnette Chapel Church of Christ shooting suspect told police he 'fired upon the church building
Two photos posted this morning show Samson flexing his muscles accompanied with the words "unrestricted paroxysm." Paroxysm means a sudden attack or violent expression of emotion.
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.
More:Nashville church shooting: Masked gunman kills woman, injures seven in Antioch, police say
More:Nashville police identify 'hero' usher who confronted church shooter
More:Tennessee church shooting: What we know about the injured
"He actually had attended this church a year or two years ago," Aaron said. "They said he hasn't been there in quite a while. They couldn't be more definitive on that, but they actually knew him."
A public records request yields no criminal record for Samson, 25, from La Vergne.
According to public records, Samson recently lived in Rutherford County and at an apartment in South Nashville near Burnette Bethel Church of Christ.
Police say Samson shot and killed one woman and left others wounded during a shooting spree at the church. The shooting began at about 11 a.m., according to Nashville police.
More:Antioch church shooting: 10-year-old boy helped barricade door inside building
More:Antioch church shooting: What we know now
Just before then, Samson was active on his Facebook page, posting: “Become the creator instead of what’s created. Whatever you say, goes.”
He also wrote, “You are more than what they told us.”
Police have not indicated a motive for why they believe Samson opened fire on the small congregation.