Two people were killed and one person injured in a shooting at a church potluck dinner in Alabama with the suspect taken into custody, according to police.
The Vestavia Hills police department said the violence unfolded at St Stephen’s Episcopal Church in the suburb of Birmingham on Thursday evening.
Officials initially reported one dead and two hurt, but the death toll later rose as one of the injured died at the hospital. The two people killed were identified Friday morning as 84-year-old Walter Rainey of Irondale and 75-year-old Sarah Yeager of Pelham.
Police have yet to release the name of the suspect, but said he was a 71-year-old man who occasionally attended services at the church.
Gunfire erupted at around 6.22pm at a “Boomer’s Potluck” dinner hosted in the church’s Parish Hall, according to AL.com. The Rev Doug Carpenter, who founded the church in 1973, told the outlet that a man calling himself Mr Smith was sitting alone at the event when a fellow congregant invited him to their table.
Mr Carpenter said the man refused before pulling out a handgun and opening fire.
The shooter was subdued by church member Jim Musgrove, who struck him with a chair and wrestled the gun away.
Mr Carpenter said “Mr Smith” was not known to any of the roughly 25 people at the dinner, which began at 5pm, and that he had claimed to be a former member.
“We’re trying to figure out who he is,” the reverend told AL.com.
Officials have not officially confirmed the account given by Mr Carpenter.
In an initial statement, police said: “Three persons at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church were shot. Two victims are at a local hospital being treated. Sadly, one victim has died from their injuries. Again, the suspect is in custody. There is no additional threat to the community. The VHPD would like to express our gratitude to the numerous local and federal agencies that are providing assistance to us.”
“I do want to reiterate to you that the suspect involved in this event is in custody, and that we know of no additional threat,” Vestavia Hills police captain Shane Ware told reporters at the scene.
Authorities have not made public the nature or severity of the injuries suffered by the surviving victim, who is said to be an 84-year-old woman.
Reverend Kelley Hudlow with the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama spoke to WVTM 13 at the scene of the shooting.
“We’re gonna need a lot of love,” Rev Hudlow told the station.
“We’re kind of like with everyone else, just waiting to learn more,” she said. “Currently we are praying for healing and safety.”
“You don’t think it’s going to happen here, and it’s scary.”
Police said numerous law enforcement agents, along with emergency crews, were at the scene and that more information would be made available later.
Vestavia Hills is a city of around 39,000 southeast of Birmingham.
Mayor Ashley Curry reacted to the shooting in a statement, saying: “With the tragic news that has broken this evening, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the victims of this evening’s shooting at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.
“I would also like to offer thanks on behalf of myself and our Vestavia Hills residents to the first responders from all agencies who have worked tirelessly since this incident began.”
Governor Kay Ivey also said she was monitoring the situation.
“As we are learning about the shocking and tragic loss of a life at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia, we want to offer our prayers for the victim’s family, the injured and the entire church community. I am glad to hear the shooter is in custody,” she said.
“This should never happen — in a church, in a store, in the city or anywhere. We continue to closely monitor the situation.”
