Posted on 07/27/2008 8:19:51 PM PDT by LdSentinal
The man accused of a mass church shooting this morning was described by his Powell neighbors as a helpful and kind man, but one who had issues with Christianity.
Jim D. Adkisson, 58, has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, which killed one and injured eight others.
He is being held on $1 million bond.
More details as they develop online and in Monday's News Sentinel.
"He had his own sense of belief about religion, that's the impression I got of him," said neighbor Karen Massey. "We were talking one day when my daughter graduated from Bible college, and I told him I was a Christian, then he almost turned angry.
"He seemed to get angry at that."
According to Massey, Adkisson talked frequently about his parents who "made him go to church all his life ... he was forced to do that."
Adkisson has lived by himself in the neighborhood for four or five years, Massey said. She's lived there seven years.
He told neighbors that he had worked in a factory and driven a truck, but they weren't sure if he was still employed.
He is an avid motorcyclist and rides his bike up and down the road.
He goes by the name, "David," according to the neighbors.
"He only socialized with a few people," Massey said.
"He was very nice ... he's kind of quiet," she said.
Melissa Coker, a next-door neighbor, also expressed shock that he would be accused of such a violent.
She related how he recently helped change a tire on her car in the driveway.
"He was a very nice guy, he said he used to be a truck driver, but in the past six months to a year, he wasn't driving any more," Coker said. "From my understanding, he was retired."
He lives in a white basement duplex, with garages facing the street.
The yard was neatly mowed, and a water hose was coiled up in the driveway in front of the duplex.
Neighbors said he was the guy who would always help them, no matter what.
No one ever saw him with any weapons of any kind, Massey said.
"He's never bothered anyone," Massey said.
oh, they were watching a play. being that is a unitarian church I wonder if it was play about phags being oppressed. that being said, no one deserved to die.
It was a bunch of kids putting on “Annie”. Okay - perhaps not the most “Christian” thing - but view it more like the local community get-together place with a chance to hang out with friends and watch the kids perform. I wonder if they got the chance to sing “Tomorrow” which they had no doubt been rehearsing (fun in itself and keeps the kids entertained and engaged during the summer).
I sort of hope not, to go from singing this song to seeing their parents, aunts, uncles, etc. shot up and laying in pools of blood because of some sick bas*&%D that probably never had a date and blamed it on his parents and “church”.
Tomorrow:
The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
They’ll be sun!
Just thinkin’ about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
and the sorrow,
‘Til there’s none!
When I’m Stuck with a day
That’s gray,
And Lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
OH
The sun’ll come out
Tomorrow So ya gotta hang on
‘til tomorrow
Come what May
Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I Love ya
Tomorrow!
You’re always
A day
Away!
(Lines)
When I’m stuck with a day
That’s gray and Lonely
I just stick out my chin and grin
And say, Oh
The sun’ll come out tomorrow
so ya gotta
hang on
‘til tomorrow
Come what May
Tomorrow, Tomorrow
I love ya, Tomorrow
You’re always a day, Away!
Everybody’s friend = nobody’s friend!
Middle name could be Dwayne - don’t give up on your theory yet!
If he had issues with Christianity” what was he doing shooting up a bunch of Unitarians?
Thanks for that. The description said, “long hair”, just looks curly, not long. Couldn’t figure out why there was no information about this guy.
Thanks again,
No, but there have been some awfully snarky comments that have no place in this thread.
Why can’t you people come up with new ‘baiting’ material? Why do you keep antagonizing Christians with the same questions they asked 70, 80 years ago?
Why do Christians fear death? Why did the Pope have surgery to save his life?
No, you would not be doing a Christian a favor by killing him, but he would benefit from your actions.
Why do Christians fear death?
I resist death because I have people here to take care of. I don't fear it. I can't explain why other people fear death.
Why did the Pope have surgery to save his life?
Because everyone has a job to do, and the longer we're here, the more we can accomplish.
Here's a question for you: Why does every Debate Club/Philosophy major dropout ask the same questions?
Because we are still waiting for an honest answer.
Sheesh!
You lighten up. I said what I did because I am light!
You people make me giggle.
I can do that, because I’m not a very good Christian. I have no assurances of a greater reward, only hope. Hope, and people like you to amuse me on my journey.
Aren’t you going to ask me if God can make a mountain too big for him to move?
What "people" would that be?
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/28/church-shooting-police-find-manifesto-suspects-car/
Headline from said article:
“Police: Accused shooter hated liberals, wanted to be killed
4-page letter outlines frustration, hatred of ‘liberal movement’”
Sure as hell hope they don’t tell us he is registered on FreeRepublic. That’s ALL we need right now.
“hope they don’t tell us he is registered on FreeRepublic”
Believe me, there are scores of Woodward wanna be’s searching ferverishly right now.
Funny people.
This thread is full of self-righteous folk.
- Southern Baptist here.
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