Cops: 'Hero' Usher Stopped Tenn. Church Shooting

He confronted gunman, held him at gunpoint
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 25, 2017 1:20 AM CDT
Updated Sep 25, 2017 5:21 AM CDT
Cops: 'Hero' Usher Stopped Tenn. Church Shooting
This photo provided by the Metro Nashville Police Department shows Emanuel Kidega Samson.   (Metro Nashville Police Department via AP)

A 22-year-old usher who stopped a shooting rampage at a Nashville-area church on Sunday says he's not a hero—but police do not agree. "He's the hero. He's the person who stopped this madness," says Metro Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson, per the Tennessean. The chief says Robert Engle "physically engaged" with alleged shooter Emanuel Samson, who was shot in the chest during the struggle. Police say Samson, 25, killed a woman in the parking lot of the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tenn., before opening fire inside. Engle was one of seven people wounded, though after the struggle, he was still able to retrieve a weapon from his car and hold Samson at gunpoint until police arrived.

Engle, who is being treated at a local hospital, said in a statement late Sunday that he had been attending the church since he was a small child. "I ask everyone to pray for the victims, family members of the victims, our church community. Please pray for healing," he said. "Also, please pray for the shooter, the shooter’s family and friends. They are hurting as well." The real heroes, he said, "are the police, first responders, and medical staff and doctors who have helped me and everyone affected." Samson, who was treated for gunshot wounds, has been charged with felony homicide. Police say he is a Sudanese citizen with legal US residency, CNN reports. Parishioners say he attended the church one or two years ago. (More Nashville stories.)

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