Legal Research

Tennessee Church Killer Sought Revenge For 'Liberal Ruination'

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: Crime and Justice News, July 29, 2008.

:A Powell, Tenn., man who went on a shotgun rampage at a church was prompted by a hatred of liberalism and Democratic leaders who he believed have hamstrung the nation's war on terror, reports the Knoxville New Sentinel. Jim David Adkisson, 58, is held on $1 million bail, charged with murder. Police said he has been frustrated by a lack of employment, a reduction of his food-stamp benefits and what he perceived as the liberal ruination of the United States. He killed two and wounded six Sunday at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville."

"Knoxville Police Chief Sterling P. Owen IV said police found a four-page, handwritten note in Adkisson's 2004 Ford Escape that was parked at the church. The letter written in ink on lined notebook paper was not addressed to anyone, but explained Adkisson's reason for targeting the church, Owen said. He said Adkisson targeted the TVUUC because the 'church had received some publicity regarding its liberal stance.' In March, TVUUC minister's wrote an article in the News Sentinel regarding tolerance of gay couples."

Knoxville News Sentinel

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on July 29, 2008 (boomark / email).