Antioch, Tenn. – The hero usher who took down Antioch church shooter Emanuel Kidega Samson has been identified as 22-year-old Robert Caleb Engle.

Emanuel Samson opened fire in the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ on Sunday Morning, murdering Melanie Smith, 39, in the parking lot.

A witness said that Samson shot Smith in the back and then turned her over and shot her in the head.

Samson then entered the church and opened fire on the people inside, hitting Joey Spann, 60, William Jenkins, 83, Marlene Jenkins, 84, Peggy Spann, 65, and Linda Bush, 68.

Thankfully, church usher Caleb Engle had the courage to take on the armed bodybuilder. They got into a struggle and Engle sustained a severe injury from getting pistol whipped in the head. During the struggle, Samson was shot with his own gun.

Engle went to his car and obtained his own pistol, then returned and held Samson at gunpoint until officers arrived.

Emanuel Samson’s car was still running when officers arrived, and it appears that he had intended to flee the scene after his murder-spree; he did not intend on this hero taking him down.

All victims other than Smith survived their injuries and are in stable condition at the hospital.

Robert Caleb Engle released a statement about the incident which said:

“I’ve been going to this church my whole life, since I was a small child. I would have never, ever thought something like this would have happened.

I ask everyone to pray for the victims, family members of the victims, our church community. Please pray for healing. Also, please pray for the shooter, the shooter’s family and friends. They are hurting as well.

I pray that through all of this that people will come to know Christ and I ask our nation to reflect on Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

When complimented about his heroism he stated:

I do not want to be labeled a hero. The real heroes are the police, first responders and medical staff and doctors who have helped me and everyone affected.

My hope is for privacy for all involved.”

— Caleb Engle

Police disagree with Engle about who the true hero is. Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson said, “He’s the hero here, he’s the person who stopped this madness in its tracks.”

(previously published shooting story below)
Antioch, Tenn. – Seven people have been wounded, and one person has been confirmed to have been killed during a mass shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch outside of Nashville, according to Metro Nashville PD.

The shooter was stopped by a church usher who confronted the shooter and was pistol-whipped, causing a “significant injury to his head.”  During the scuffle the shooter accidentally shot himself in the leg. UPDATE: Injury is now reported to be left chest area.

Wounded, the usher then went to his car, grabbed his pistol, and returned to hold the shooter at gunpoint until police arrived.

There have been multiple reports that the shooter was wearing a clown mask during the shooting. Police have said that the shooter was wearing more of a ski-type mask.

Natalie Allison reports that prior to the shooting, the gunman went to the Sunday school classroom and told them to keep all of the children inside. He then went to the parking lot where he shot a female victim.

A witness said that he shot the female in the back, then rolled her over and shot her in the face.

Despite an earlier report that the suspect went in and sat down, current information indicates that he moved from the parking lot into the church with his gun ready to continue his killing spree.

The gunman entered the church and opened fire, shooting a total of three men and three women. All but one victim was over the age of 60.

Officials said that the suspect’s car was still running when police arrived, and it appears that he did not expect for a brave individual to confront him and stop him.

A bomb K9 has alerted on the vehicle and the bomb squad is currently working to clear the vehicle.

The gunman has only been identified as a “26-year-old African American individual.” There is no information at this time which indicates that this shooting was in any way racially motivated and information about the victims has not been released.

[previously published story]

Antioch, Tenn. – Seven people have been wounded, and one person has been confirmed to have been killed during a mass shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch outside of Nashville, according to Metro Nashville PD.

At around 11:15 AM, 911 calls started coming in about a mass shooting at the church at 3890 Pin Hook Road.

Officers responded and the gunman was “wounded,” believe to have been shot. It’s not clear at this time if responding officers are the ones who shot the gunman.

According to Natalie Allison, a former pastor at the church described the incident, “Fella walked in, sat down in a seat and pulled our a pistol and started shooting.”

The victims were reported that “all of the wounded except for one is over the age of 60.” It hasn’t been released if the wounded person that’s under the age of 60 was the gunman.

One woman was found dead in the parking lot. A witness said that she had been shot in the back and then the gunman rolled her over and shot her in the face.

Police are still on scene interviewing witnesses who weren’t wounded.

The gunman is in custody at the hospital.

This is a developing story and we will keep you updated. For all of our updates, follow us on Facebook and go to your news feed preferences under your settings, then select that you want to see more of Blue Lives Matter posts in your news feed. Otherwise, Facebook may not show you updates.