Police: Shooting suspect sent suicidal text

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 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 on Sunday.

Samson wore a tactical vest and fired 12 rounds from a .40-caliber handgun, reloading it once, Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron said. He was also carrying a loaded 9 mm handgun and had a .22-caliber pistol and military-style AR-15 rifle in the car he had left running outside the church, police said.

Police did not find any AR-15 ammunition on the scene, Aaron said.

According to an affidavit, Samson told Nashville police after his arrest that he arrived at the church armed and fired upon the building.

Court documents do not indicate whether Samson has an attorney. His first court hearing is Wednesday.

Police in Murfreesboro, Tenn., about 20 miles southeast of the church, responded to a call from Samson’s father, who had 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 f——— life.”

Samson’s phone was traced to a Nashville business and officers checked on Samson’s welfare. They described his demeanor as “professional” and said they had “no reason to believe” that he would harm himself, Aaron said.

In January, Murfreesboro officers 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 dispatched to Samson’s home, where he said the woman was trying force entry despite his attempts to break off contact with her. He told officers he was afraid of her because she had struck him in the past.

No charges were filed in either incident.

On Sunday, toward the end of services at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, Minerva Rosa said church 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, according to a witness.

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 Robert Engle, a 22-year-old usher, tackled him.