People wounded in church shooting improve
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee -- Three people wounded in a fatal shotgun rampage at a Unitarian church were in serious condition Tuesday, a day after a candlelight vigil tried to comfort congregation members and others attempting to "make sense of the senseless."
Jim D. Adkisson, 58, an out-of-work trucker, is accused of killing two people and wounding six others during a children's musical at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Sunday morning.
Children on Monday ended the service by singing, "The sun will come out tomorrow," a line from the signature song from that musical, "Annie."
A four-page letter found in Adkisson's SUV indicated he picked the church for the attack because, the Knoxville police chief said, "he hated the liberal movement." The Unitarian Universalist congregation advocates women's rights and gay rights and has provided sanctuary for political refugees.
Three people who were shot were in serious condition and a fourth was stable at Tennessee Medical Center, nursing supervisor Susan Wilson said Tuesday. Killed were Greg McKendry, 60, and Linda Kraeger, 61.
An overflow crowd of more than 1,000 people attended the memorial service at the Second Presbyterian Church next door.
"We're here tonight to make sense of the senseless," the Rev. William Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, told the gathering.
About 200 people were watching 25 children perform when authorities said Adkisson entered and fired three blasts from a semiautomatic shotgun.
Still in the hospital were Jack Barnhart, 69, Linda Chavez, 41, and Tammy Sommers, all in serious condition, and Joe Barnhart, 76, who was stable, Wilson said.
Two others who were shot were treated and released, and a seventh person was hurt diving under a pew, authorities have said.
Adkisson's ex-wife once belonged to the church but hadn't attended in years, said Ted Jones, the congregation's president. Police spokesman Darrell DeBusk declined to comment on whether investigators think the ex-wife's link was a factor in the attack.
Adkisson, who had been on the verge of losing his food stamps, remained jailed Tuesday on $1 million bond after being charged with one count of murder. More charges are expected.