Tenn. shooting suspect sent suicidal text, police say
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A man charged in a mass shooting at a Tennessee church expressed suicidal thoughts in June and had a volatile relationship with a woman that twice involved law enforcement intervention this year, according to police records.
Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, is charged with the fatal shooting of one woman and is expected to face several more charges following the rampage that left six others wounded Sunday.
According to an affidavit filed with the court, Samson told Nashville police following his arrest that he arrived at the church armed and fired upon the building. Court documents do not indicate whether Samson has an attorney in advance of his first court hearing Wednesday.
Police records in nearby Murfreesboro show that Samson’s father reported that his son had texted him June 27 to say “Your phone is off, I have a gun to my head, have a nice ... life.”
Officers in January responded to two domestic disturbances between Emanuel Samson and a woman who accused him of cheating on her. Samson cut his hand when he punched a small TV on her desk, according to statements to police.
In March, police were sent to Samson’s home. Samson told police the woman was trying to enter his house despite his attempts to break off contact. He told officers he was afraid because she had struck him in the past.
No charges were filed in either incident.
Toward the end of services at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ on Sunday, member Minerva Rosa said members were talking about the success of their yard sale the previous day when they heard gunshots outside the building.
The church pastor, David Spann, 60, then shouted for everyone to run.
The gunman entered the church from the back after fatally shooting a woman outside, police said. He then walked through the church silently, shooting six more people before usher Robert Engle, 22, tackled him, police said. Engle suffered injuries when he was pistol whipped. Police later recovered another pistol and a shotgun from the suspect’s vehicle.
“He’s amazing,” Rosa told reporters about Engle. “Without him I think it could be worse. He was the hero today.”
Authorities said Samson came to the United States from Sudan as a child in 1996 and is a legal resident.