Sudanese immigrant arrested for church shooting in Tennessee

Police have arrested a 25-year-old immigrant on Sunday after he opened fire at a Tennessee church, leaving one woman dead and at least six others wounded.

Emanuel Kidega Samson, who immigrated from Sudan two decades ago, is suspected of bringing at least two pistols and a mask to the predominantly white Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, southeast of Nashville, Fox News reported. Another handgun and a rifle were found in his sports utility vehicle.

According to a police statement, around 50 people were at the church when Samson entered the building.

An usher, identified as Robert Engle, confronted the gunman, but he was struck with a pistol, causing "significant injury around his head."

The 22-year-old usher then retrieved a gun from his car, re-entered the church and held the suspect at bay until the police arrived, according to Reuters.

The gunman reportedly fired his weapon and wounded himself in the chest during the scuffle with Engle, but police said that it is unclear whether he shot himself or his weapon unintentionally discharged.

A churchgoer, identified as 39-year-old Melanie Smith, was reportedly walking to her car in the church parking lot when she was shot by Samson.

The suspect then entered the back of the church and shot three women and three men, who were later rushed to the hospital.

Parishioners have said that Samson had attended the church about one to two years ago, but noted that he had not shown up for services "in quite a while."

David Spann, a pastor at the Burnette Chapel, was one of the wounded who are being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He has been listed as in critical but stable condition.

Samson was treated at Skyline Medical Center for his wound but was later transferred to a jail. Police said that he had been charged with murder, and additional charges will be brought against him.

The FBI announced that it will be conducting a civil rights investigation regarding the incident.

"The Memphis FBI Field Office's Nashville Resident Agency, the Civil Rights Division, and the US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee have opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee. The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence," FBI Memphis told Fox News.

Megan Barry, mayor of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, said that the shooting "is a terrible tragedy for our city. My heart aches for the family and friends of the deceased as well as for the wounded victims and their loved ones."