Church Shootings

Stories

11 Stories

July 2008
- Is Killing Liberals a Hate Crime?
  
  Slate | Jul 31, 08 5:45 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The suspect in last weekend’s Knoxville church shooting told police that “liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country.” But Tennessee, like the federal government and most states, doesn’t extend hate-crime law to political affiliation, explains Chris Wilson in Slate. In fact, legal experts say politically motivated hate crimes are rarely prosecuted. More »
- Letter: Tenn. Gunman Hated 'Liberals,' 'Gays'
  
  Knoxville News Sentinel | Jul 28, 08 12:08 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A letter found in the vehicle of a gunman who killed two people at a Tennessee church yesterday indicated a deep hatred of liberals and gays, and frustration over unemployment, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. The liberal Unitarian church claims involvement with social causes dating to the 1950s, and hosts a support group for friends and family of homosexuals. More »
- Gunman Charged in Deadly Attack on Tenn. Church
  
  CNN | Jul 27, 08 4:47 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A gunman opened fire at a Knoxville, Tenn., Unitarian church today, killing two and wounding seven others before he was subdued, CNN reports. He was later charged with first-degree murder in the death of the first victim. The attack occurred about 10am while children were performing the musical Annie , church members told WVLT. More »
December 2007
- FBI Warned on Colorado Shooter
  
  Associated Press | Dec 12, 07 12:34 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The FBI was alerted to Internet postings supposedly written by Colorado church shooter Matthew Murray between his two rampages, the AP reports. The operator of the forum for the Association of Former Pentecostals said a member contacted the FBI the day of the shootings after “nghtmrchild26,” thought to be Murray, made 11 posts saying he wanted to kill Christians. More »
- Colorado Church Gunman Killed Himself
  
  Los Angeles Times | Dec 12, 07 2:04 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Though Colorado church gunman Matthew Murray was shot by a security guard, the wound that killed him was self-inflicted, reports the Los Angeles Times . Murray shot himself after he was wounded by the volunteer guard who opened fire when Murray burst into the church with three guns and 1,000 rounds of ammunition. More »
- Colo. Church Gunman 'Hated Christians'
  
  Associated Press | Dec 10, 07 8:15 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The gunman at two Colorado church shootings yesterday had been expelled from the missionary school where killed two people, the AP reports. He also sent the school hate mail in recent weeks and may have "hated Christians," police said. The school admitted that it had kicked out the gunman, Michael Murray, a few years ago due to "issues with his health." More »
- Colo. Shooter Had Ties to Church
  
  CNN | Dec 10, 07 2:44 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - A former mission worker was the shooter in both of yesterday’s Colorado church shootings, CNN reports. The killer, identified as Matthew Murray, worked with Youth With a Mission in Arvada, where the first shooting occurred. The Rocky Mountain News describes Murray as the 24-year-old son of a local neurosurgeon, and CBS 4 reports that his neighbors said Murray was a recluse. More »
- Link Sought in Church Shootings
  
  CNN | Dec 10, 07 3:15 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Investigators believe there may be a link between deadly shooting sprees yesterday at two Colorado religious sites—a megachurch in Colorado Springs and a Christian missionary center outside Denver. A second victim has died from wounds suffered at the New Light Church, where a guard killed the black-clad gunman who opened fire on worshipers, reports CNN. Two staffers were killed at the missionary center earlier by a man denied a bed for the night, police said. More »
- Gunman Dead in Church Attack
  
  CNN | Dec 9, 07 7:14 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The gunman who opened fire at a Colorado megachurch today killed one and wounded four before being fatally shot by a security guard, CNN reports. Police Chief Richard Myers called the guard at New Life Church "a courageous security staff member who probably saved many lives today." Some of the victims' injuries were life-threatening, Myers said. He added that "suspicious devices" were found on the church grounds. More »
- 4 Shot at Haggard's Colo. Church
  
  Associated Press | Dec 9, 07 3:15 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Gunfire struck Colorado Christians a second time today, hitting at least four people in the parking lot of Ted Haggard's New Life Church this afternoon, the AP reports. It was unclear if the incident, in Colorado Springs, was linked to two earlier shooting deaths at a missionary training center 70 miles away, where officials said a white male shot 4 staffers after being denied shelter last night. More »
August 2007
- Shooter Opens Fire in Missouri Church, Killing 3
  
  Associated Press | Aug 12, 07 5:49 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - An unidentified gunman killed 3 and wounded several in a church in southwest Missouri today. The AP reports that he briefly held 25 to 50 churchgoers hostage at the First Congregational Church in Neosho, Missouri before being arrested. Police say that an incident between the shooting suspect and a family that attends the mostly Latino church motivated the killing. More »