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Texas Churchgoers Welcomed the Poor, but Sensed This One Was Trouble ‘Battling a Demon’: Drifter Sought Help Before Texas Church Shooting
(about 16 hours later)
WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas — Given West Freeway Church of Christ’s location, on a busy thoroughfare just off a major highway, vagabonds and homeless people regularly found their way inside. Sometimes, they sought spiritual help. But more often, they came asking for food, which the church would provide, and money, which it typically would not.WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas — Given West Freeway Church of Christ’s location, on a busy thoroughfare just off a major highway, vagabonds and homeless people regularly found their way inside. Sometimes, they sought spiritual help. But more often, they came asking for food, which the church would provide, and money, which it typically would not.
Keith Kinnunen was one of those supplicants. The 43-year-old drifter found his way into the building recently, church leaders said, looking for help.Keith Kinnunen was one of those supplicants. The 43-year-old drifter found his way into the building recently, church leaders said, looking for help.
“He had on several occasions been given food, but he was upset that they would never give him any money,” said Jack Wilson, a parishioner who led a volunteer security team the church had set up when it moved into its new location a little less than three years ago.“He had on several occasions been given food, but he was upset that they would never give him any money,” said Jack Wilson, a parishioner who led a volunteer security team the church had set up when it moved into its new location a little less than three years ago.
Mr. Kinnunen came back to the church on Sunday, but this time, he pulled out a shotgun during the communion service and fatally shot two parishioners — just before Mr. Wilson killed him with a single shot.Mr. Kinnunen came back to the church on Sunday, but this time, he pulled out a shotgun during the communion service and fatally shot two parishioners — just before Mr. Wilson killed him with a single shot.
“We formed the security team just in case something like this was to happen,” Mr. Wilson said on Tuesday, as he tried to explain the church’s attempts in recent years to be both welcoming and careful. “People have to realize there are no safe havens,” he said. “Even church.”“We formed the security team just in case something like this was to happen,” Mr. Wilson said on Tuesday, as he tried to explain the church’s attempts in recent years to be both welcoming and careful. “People have to realize there are no safe havens,” he said. “Even church.”
Mr. Kinnunen, who had a history of run-ins with the police and troubles with drug abuse and mental illness, was also a deeply religious man who often quoted from the Bible, his family and friends said — just the kind of person those at the church in the suburbs of Fort Worth have sought to aid.Mr. Kinnunen, who had a history of run-ins with the police and troubles with drug abuse and mental illness, was also a deeply religious man who often quoted from the Bible, his family and friends said — just the kind of person those at the church in the suburbs of Fort Worth have sought to aid.
“We strive to make everyone who comes in to feel at home, and that includes this person,” said John Robertson, one of the church’s elders.“We strive to make everyone who comes in to feel at home, and that includes this person,” said John Robertson, one of the church’s elders.
“I had visited with him,” the church’s senior pastor, Britt Farmer, said of Mr. Kinnunen. “I had given him food.”“I had visited with him,” the church’s senior pastor, Britt Farmer, said of Mr. Kinnunen. “I had given him food.”
Since the attack, the congregation has been mourning the loss of two longtime members who had been active in the church: Anton Wallace, a 64-year-old nurse, and Richard White, 67, a retired sales manager for a manufacturing company. In a tearful vigil Monday night, Mr. Farmer praised Mr. White’s courage during the attack and described Mr. Wallace as his “best friend.”Since the attack, the congregation has been mourning the loss of two longtime members who had been active in the church: Anton Wallace, a 64-year-old nurse, and Richard White, 67, a retired sales manager for a manufacturing company. In a tearful vigil Monday night, Mr. Farmer praised Mr. White’s courage during the attack and described Mr. Wallace as his “best friend.”
“Preachers don’t have many best friends,” Mr. Farmer said. “If you’ve never been a preacher, you don’t understand that. But he was my best friend, and he died saving lives.”“Preachers don’t have many best friends,” Mr. Farmer said. “If you’ve never been a preacher, you don’t understand that. But he was my best friend, and he died saving lives.”
Though he had been to the church before, Mr. Kinnunen aroused suspicion among members of the security team on Sunday when he walked in wearing a trench coat and what looked like a fake beard. He tailed a family as they entered the church, which immediately brought attention his way.Though he had been to the church before, Mr. Kinnunen aroused suspicion among members of the security team on Sunday when he walked in wearing a trench coat and what looked like a fake beard. He tailed a family as they entered the church, which immediately brought attention his way.
“He walked across the parking lot to get into the building, and normally we don’t have a lot of people walk from down the road,” Mr. Robertson, the church elder, said.“He walked across the parking lot to get into the building, and normally we don’t have a lot of people walk from down the road,” Mr. Robertson, the church elder, said.
Mr. Kinnunen took a seat toward the back of the simple sanctuary, an auditorium with a carpeted stage, a wooden altar inscribed with “This Do in Remembrance of Me” and a pair of water jugs that had been stuffed with bills and coins collected from worshipers.Mr. Kinnunen took a seat toward the back of the simple sanctuary, an auditorium with a carpeted stage, a wooden altar inscribed with “This Do in Remembrance of Me” and a pair of water jugs that had been stuffed with bills and coins collected from worshipers.
“He seemed to be relatively pleasant until he got up and wasn’t,” Mr. Robertson said.“He seemed to be relatively pleasant until he got up and wasn’t,” Mr. Robertson said.
Mr. Kinnunen asked where the restroom was and then returned a few minutes later, Mr. Wilson said. “We were concerned,” he said. One of the church’s security cameras was soon trained directly on him, and Mr. White, who was part of the security team, also stationed himself behind him. Mr. Wilson stood near a back wall several feet away.Mr. Kinnunen asked where the restroom was and then returned a few minutes later, Mr. Wilson said. “We were concerned,” he said. One of the church’s security cameras was soon trained directly on him, and Mr. White, who was part of the security team, also stationed himself behind him. Mr. Wilson stood near a back wall several feet away.
“I could see his right hand at all times.” Mr. Wilson said. “I was concerned because I could not see his left hand.”“I could see his right hand at all times.” Mr. Wilson said. “I was concerned because I could not see his left hand.”
Mr. Kinnunen approached Mr. Wallace, who was administering communion, and the two men spoke briefly. “No one knows what that conversation was,” Mr. Wilson said. The gunman sat down and then went up to Mr. Wallace again, this time pulling out a shotgun he had hidden under his coat.Mr. Kinnunen approached Mr. Wallace, who was administering communion, and the two men spoke briefly. “No one knows what that conversation was,” Mr. Wilson said. The gunman sat down and then went up to Mr. Wallace again, this time pulling out a shotgun he had hidden under his coat.
Mr. Wilson said that both he and Mr. White drew their guns from their holsters. Mr. Kinnunen fired at Mr. Wallace and Mr. White from close range. Mr. Wilson said he had a clear shot at the gunman’s head. “The thing I teach in our classes, in our training, is you don’t do head shots unless that’s all you have,” he said. “And that’s all I had at that point.”Mr. Wilson said that both he and Mr. White drew their guns from their holsters. Mr. Kinnunen fired at Mr. Wallace and Mr. White from close range. Mr. Wilson said he had a clear shot at the gunman’s head. “The thing I teach in our classes, in our training, is you don’t do head shots unless that’s all you have,” he said. “And that’s all I had at that point.”
He fired once. Mr. Kinnunen, bleeding heavily, appeared to be dead in less than two minutes, he said.He fired once. Mr. Kinnunen, bleeding heavily, appeared to be dead in less than two minutes, he said.
In the days since the attack, Mr. Kinnunen’s family and acquaintances have said he had a history of mental illness and troubles with the law.In the days since the attack, Mr. Kinnunen’s family and acquaintances have said he had a history of mental illness and troubles with the law.
He was married and divorced twice, and had one son, his family said.He was married and divorced twice, and had one son, his family said.
Court records show that he was arrested in 2012 in Oklahoma, where he was accused of setting a fire in a cotton field by soaking tampons in lamp oil and lighting them. Mr. Kinnunen told a court-appointed psychologist after his arrest that he had tried to kill himself with a firearm at the age of about 19, but that he was no longer suicidal. But he attacked fellow jail inmates, according to the psychologist’s report, and went on a hunger strike, saying he thought he was being poisoned.Court records show that he was arrested in 2012 in Oklahoma, where he was accused of setting a fire in a cotton field by soaking tampons in lamp oil and lighting them. Mr. Kinnunen told a court-appointed psychologist after his arrest that he had tried to kill himself with a firearm at the age of about 19, but that he was no longer suicidal. But he attacked fellow jail inmates, according to the psychologist’s report, and went on a hunger strike, saying he thought he was being poisoned.
That same year, Cindy Glasgow-Voegle, his former wife, sought a protective order against him. In court documents, she said he had shown up with no money and no car, wanting to see their son. But the boy was terrified of his father, she said; he had a criminal record in several states, and was violent and “paranoid.”That same year, Cindy Glasgow-Voegle, his former wife, sought a protective order against him. In court documents, she said he had shown up with no money and no car, wanting to see their son. But the boy was terrified of his father, she said; he had a criminal record in several states, and was violent and “paranoid.”
Ms. Glasgow-Voegle said she had helped him get a job and a trailer, but he quit the job and landed in the county jail for assaulting a man. He told her he was “battling a demon.”Ms. Glasgow-Voegle said she had helped him get a job and a trailer, but he quit the job and landed in the county jail for assaulting a man. He told her he was “battling a demon.”
Mr. Kinnunen’s sister, Amy Dawn Kinnunen, said she and her two brothers grew up in a religiously conservative family; her parents expected her to wear dresses to school. But her brother was not very religious, she said, until their younger brother died of an overdose of oxycodone at the age of 30 in 2009. At that point, she said, her brother worked hard to kick drugs and alcohol, and “become totally involved with the Lord.”Mr. Kinnunen’s sister, Amy Dawn Kinnunen, said she and her two brothers grew up in a religiously conservative family; her parents expected her to wear dresses to school. But her brother was not very religious, she said, until their younger brother died of an overdose of oxycodone at the age of 30 in 2009. At that point, she said, her brother worked hard to kick drugs and alcohol, and “become totally involved with the Lord.”
“He was a religious fanatic,” Ms. Kinnunen said. “He went off on me just because I smoked cigarettes.” She said she last communicated with him on Nov. 25, to wish him a happy birthday. He responded, “Forty-three, and nine years clean.”“He was a religious fanatic,” Ms. Kinnunen said. “He went off on me just because I smoked cigarettes.” She said she last communicated with him on Nov. 25, to wish him a happy birthday. He responded, “Forty-three, and nine years clean.”
Bill McGaughey, a childhood friend, said that he had also seen Mr. Kinnunen turn to religion after his brother’s death. “He got very into church and very into the Bible,” Mr. McGaughey said. “He knew the Bible better than anybody I know.”Bill McGaughey, a childhood friend, said that he had also seen Mr. Kinnunen turn to religion after his brother’s death. “He got very into church and very into the Bible,” Mr. McGaughey said. “He knew the Bible better than anybody I know.”
Mr. McGaughey said that Mr. Kinnunen had tried and failed to turn his life around. “He just got broken and nobody could fix him,” Mr. McGaughey said. “I think he just wanted to be done with life.”Mr. McGaughey said that Mr. Kinnunen had tried and failed to turn his life around. “He just got broken and nobody could fix him,” Mr. McGaughey said. “I think he just wanted to be done with life.”
Ms. Kinnunen said she had been praying for the victims of Sunday’s tragedy, along with their families. But she also pleaded for compassion for her brother and his family. “Everybody’s making him a monster, and that’s not the case,” she said. “Honestly, I can’t even wrap my head around it.”Ms. Kinnunen said she had been praying for the victims of Sunday’s tragedy, along with their families. But she also pleaded for compassion for her brother and his family. “Everybody’s making him a monster, and that’s not the case,” she said. “Honestly, I can’t even wrap my head around it.”
At a vigil on Monday to commemorate the two victims, Mr. Farmer urged members of the community to remember all that remained after so great a loss.At a vigil on Monday to commemorate the two victims, Mr. Farmer urged members of the community to remember all that remained after so great a loss.
“We’ve lost great men,” he said, but added: “I love this community. I love this church. I love this state. And I love our country, and I love our freedoms. And I’m not going to let evil take that away.”“We’ve lost great men,” he said, but added: “I love this community. I love this church. I love this state. And I love our country, and I love our freedoms. And I’m not going to let evil take that away.”
Dave Montgomery reported from White Settlement and Granbury, Texas; Anemona Hartocollis from New York; and Rick Rojas from Atlanta. Mitch Smith contributed reporting from Chicago. Alain Delaqueriere contributed research.Dave Montgomery reported from White Settlement and Granbury, Texas; Anemona Hartocollis from New York; and Rick Rojas from Atlanta. Mitch Smith contributed reporting from Chicago. Alain Delaqueriere contributed research.