One Dead in Tennessee church shooting, gunman identified

Washington, Sep 25 (IANS) At least one person died and seven others were wounded on Sunday in a mass shooting at a church in Tennessee, US, local police said.

The incident took place about midday at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, about 15 km southeast of Nashville, Efe reported.

On its Twitter account, the Nashville Police Department said that a woman was found dead in the church parking lot and seven other people were wounded inside the church.

The suspect, identified as Emanuel Kidega Samson, is a legal US resident who immigrated from Sudan in 1996, according to Xinhua.

The 25-year-old wore a mask and brought two guns to the church on Sunday and fired "multiple rounds," said police. 

The gunman was wounded -- apparently when he accidentally shot himself -- and was taken to a local hospital.

A church usher who confronted the shooter was also injured by the shooter, although apparently he was "merely" beaten -- reportedly pistolwhipped -- and not shot. Once the gunman was wounded and/or subdued, the usher reportedly went to his own car, got his gun and then came back and guarded the shooter until police arrived on the scene.

Three men and three women were reportedly wounded in the attack, including church pastor Joey Spann and his wife Peggy.

Police spokesman Don Aaron said that the shooter accidentally shot himself in the head, although his wound was not life threatening.

Earlier, the Nashville Fire Department had said on Twitter that medical personnel were attending to eight people wounded at the church in question, with the shooter being among the injured.

The fire department said that all the wounded except one are over 60 years of age and were taken to local hospitals.