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Deadly gun rampage in US church Deadly gun rampage in US church
(about 4 hours later)
A gunman has opened fire in a church in the US state of Tennessee, killing one person and wounding eight others. A man has opened fire in a church in the US state of Tennessee, killing two people and wounding seven others.
A group of children were performing a play in a Unitarian church in Knoxville when the man began shooting. A group of children were performing a play in a Unitarian church in Knoxville when the gunman fired a shotgun.
There were about 200 people in the church at the time of the shooting. All the victims are adults. There were about 200 people in the church at the time of the shooting. All the victims were adults.
Police say they have detained the gunman, who is believed to be in his 40s. He reportedly concealed his shotgun in a guitar case. Police say they have detained the gunman, who is believed to be in his 40s. He reportedly concealed his weapon in a guitar case.
Police have not released any information about the suspect's identity or possible motive. No information has so far been released about his identity or his possible motive.
Gunman 'tackled' But some have suggested the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church was targeted because it is very liberal - allowing gay ministers and marriages.
Local police chief Sterling Owens confirmed that one of the victims had died of his injuries. He identified the man killed as Greg McKendry, an usher at the church. One witness said the attacker had shouted "hateful words".
Five of those injured are reported to be in a critical condition. He took a 12-gauge shotgun and opened fire into the congregation, who were watching a watching a performance by 25 children based on the musical, Annie.
Local television station WBIR reported that two members of the congregation tackled the gunman and held him until he was taken into custody. People dived for cover under pews, but nine were hit before a group managed to tackle the gunman when he reloaded.
Russell Biven, a reporter with WBIR, told the BBC that the man had entered the church "with a guitar case, he opened up the guitar case during their service and opened fire". "It had barely begun when there was an incredibly loud bang," church member Mark Harmon told the Associated Press news agency.
The incident happened at about 1015 local time (1415 GMT). Mr Harmon said people sitting just behind him in the second and third rows of the congregation were shot.
Police have named one of the two people killed as Greg McKendry, a 60-year-old usher at the church. The other, Linda Kreager, died of her injuries at a nearby hospital a few hours later.
Church member Barbara Kemper said that Mr McKendry had "stood in front of the gunman and took the blast to protect the rest of us".
The deputy chief of Knoxville Police Department, Bill Roehl, called the attack "horrendous".
"It's terrible that you come to church to do worship and something like this occurs," he said.
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