Two Church Shooting Victims Were Former Texans
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Two Church Shooting Victims Were Former Texans
Two of the victims of the deadly shooting rampage in the sanctuary of a Knoxville, Tenn. church had recently moved to Tennessee from Texas, according to a published report Monday.
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(July 28, 2008)—Linda Kraeger, 61, who died of wounds suffered when an angry gunman opened fire on a church congregation Sunday in Knoxville, Tenn., had moved from Denton 18 months ago, according to a report Monday in the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Kraeger was wounded in the Sunday morning shooting at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville and died Sunday night at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Kraeger was an author and retired professor, the newspaper reported.

The newspaper reported that Kraeger and her husband Duane moved to Tennessee from Denton 18 months ago with another couple from Texas, Joe and Mary Ann Barnhart.

Joe Barnhart, 76, was wounded in the shooting.

WVLT reported he was a former professor and author at the University of North Texas.

The paper reported Monday no information was available about his condition.

Barnhart’s brother and sister-in-law were also injured, the paper reported.

Betty Barnhart was treated and later released, but Jack Barnhart, 69, was in critical condition Monday, the paper reported.

Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen, IV said Monday the man accused in the attack that killed two and left five seriously wounded evidently selected the congregation because of its liberal social stance.

Owen said police found a letter in the vehicle of Jim Adkisson, who was tackled and held by members of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church after the Sunday morning attack.

Owen said Adkisson expressed frustration over being out of work and had a "stated hatred of the liberal movement."

The church is known for advocating women's and gay rights and founding an American Civil Liberties Union chapter.

Owen said the letter indicated Adkisson did not expect to leave the church alive and had 76 rounds of ammunition for his 12-gauge semiautomatic shotgun.

He managed to fire only three rounds before he was tackled.

He had carried the shotgun, which he bought a month ago at a pawnshop, in a guitar case.

The church’s congregation was watching the performance of a children’s musical when Adkisson opened fire around 10:15 a.m. Sunday.
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