A church member says that as the gunman made his way down the aisle, the pastor started shouting, "'Run! Run! Gunshots!'" The shooter said nothing as he fired.

Police have identified the suspect as 25-year-old Emanual Kidega Samson, who had attended the church within the last two years. The suspect was shot during the incident but is alive and in custody.

Metro Nashville PD:
"Gunman in church shooting is Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25. He has been released from hospital and will be charged with murder and attempted murder."

The shooting took place at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch just outside of Nashville.

Police say 39-year-old Melanie Smith was shot dead while leaving the church, walking through the parking lot as the shooter arrived.

A church usher, 22-year-old Robert Engle, was pistol-whipped when he confronted Samson. The gunman was shot during that struggle. Then Engle managed to get [to] his car and retrieve his personal firearm to confront the shooter again.

Witness Minerva Rosa said the usher was "a hero."

"He's amazing," said Rosa, a member of the church for eight years. "Without him, I think it could be worse."

A police spokesman called Engle, "an extraordinarily brave individual."

Nashville's Fire Department reports all of the wounded except for one are over the age of 60.

"This is a mass casualty situation. All of the wounded have been transported to area hospitals. The majority are older adults." (Photo: Burnette Chapel Church of Christ will hold a prayer vigil at 7pm, and asks for prayers for the family of Melanie "Smith" Crow who was killed in the shooting/via Facebook)

There is no word yet on the shooter's motive. Police say he had two pistols when he entered the church. Samson reportedly came to the United States from Sudan in 1996 and was a legal U.S. resident "but not necessarily a U.S. citizen."

Nashville Christian School released a statement requesting prayers for two of their teachers who were shot during the rampage.

Please pray boldly for NCS Coach and Bible teacher Joey Spann and his wife Peggy who were injured in a church shooting this morning.

The Burnette Chapel Church of Christ describes itself on its website as a "friendly, Bible based group of folks who love the Lord and are interested in spreading His Word to those who are lost."

Photos on the church's Facebook page show a diverse congregation with people of various ages and ethnicities.

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