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Man Convicted in Deadly Tennessee Church Shooting Man Convicted in Deadly Church Shooting in Tennessee
(about 2 hours later)
A jury in Nashville on Friday convicted a man of first-degree murder in a deadly shooting at a Tennessee church in 2017 that prosecutors suggested was motivated by revenge for the church massacre carried out by a white supremacist in Charleston, S.C., in 2015.A jury in Nashville on Friday convicted a man of first-degree murder in a deadly shooting at a Tennessee church in 2017 that prosecutors suggested was motivated by revenge for the church massacre carried out by a white supremacist in Charleston, S.C., in 2015.
The man, Emanuel K. Samson, was found guilty on all 43 counts in the indictment, said Steve Hayslip, a spokesman for the Office of the District Attorney General in Nashville. The case will enter its sentencing phase on Tuesday, he said. Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence without parole.The man, Emanuel K. Samson, was found guilty on all 43 counts in the indictment, said Steve Hayslip, a spokesman for the Office of the District Attorney General in Nashville. The case will enter its sentencing phase on Tuesday, he said. Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence without parole.
Jurors deliberated less than five hours before finding Mr. Samson guilty in the Sept. 24, 2017, shooting, which left one person dead and seven others wounded.Jurors deliberated less than five hours before finding Mr. Samson guilty in the Sept. 24, 2017, shooting, which left one person dead and seven others wounded.
Citing a judge’s order for both sides to refrain from publicly speaking about the case until the jurors reach a sentencing decision, Mr. Hayslip and Mr. Samson’s lawyer, Jennifer L. Thompson, declined to comment on Friday evening.Citing a judge’s order for both sides to refrain from publicly speaking about the case until the jurors reach a sentencing decision, Mr. Hayslip and Mr. Samson’s lawyer, Jennifer L. Thompson, declined to comment on Friday evening.
Mr. Samson, 27, is black and the victims are white. He left a note in his car about a 2015 shooting massacre by the white supremacist, Dylann S. Roof, at a South Carolina black church that left nine dead, and said that he planned to kill at least 10 white churchgoers in revenge, the deputy district attorney, Amy Hunter, said during the trial, The Associated Press reported.Mr. Samson, 27, is black and the victims are white. He left a note in his car about a 2015 shooting massacre by the white supremacist, Dylann S. Roof, at a South Carolina black church that left nine dead, and said that he planned to kill at least 10 white churchgoers in revenge, the deputy district attorney, Amy Hunter, said during the trial, The Associated Press reported.
About 50 people were in the Antioch, Tenn., church, the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, at the time of the shooting. Mr. Samson, a legal resident of the United States who immigrated from Sudan in the 1990s, had attended the church a year or two before the shooting, the police said.About 50 people were in the Antioch, Tenn., church, the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, at the time of the shooting. Mr. Samson, a legal resident of the United States who immigrated from Sudan in the 1990s, had attended the church a year or two before the shooting, the police said.
Less than an hour before the shooting, three cryptic posts were made in quick succession on a Facebook page associated with him.Less than an hour before the shooting, three cryptic posts were made in quick succession on a Facebook page associated with him.
“You are more than what they told us,” read one.“You are more than what they told us,” read one.
Four minutes later: “Become the creator instead of what’s created. Whatever you say, goes.”Four minutes later: “Become the creator instead of what’s created. Whatever you say, goes.”
And finally: “Everything you’ve ever doubted or made to be believe as false, is real. & vice versa, B.”And finally: “Everything you’ve ever doubted or made to be believe as false, is real. & vice versa, B.”
Mr. Samson pulled up to the church in a blue sport utility vehicle that he left running. He was wearing a neoprene mask similar to what a skier would wear, officials said. Because of the mask, churchgoers did not immediately recognize him, the police said.Mr. Samson pulled up to the church in a blue sport utility vehicle that he left running. He was wearing a neoprene mask similar to what a skier would wear, officials said. Because of the mask, churchgoers did not immediately recognize him, the police said.
The rampage killed 38-year-old Melanie L. Crow of Smyrna, Tenn. She was shot in the church parking lot while she walked to her car to get a cough drop, dropping her Bible and notes.The rampage killed 38-year-old Melanie L. Crow of Smyrna, Tenn. She was shot in the church parking lot while she walked to her car to get a cough drop, dropping her Bible and notes.
Mr. Samson testified that he did not remember the shooting and that his mental health disorders caused him memory lapses, while shifting his feelings from ecstasy to thoughts of suicide. He said he was on medication now in jail and his thoughts had “slowed down drastically.”Mr. Samson testified that he did not remember the shooting and that his mental health disorders caused him memory lapses, while shifting his feelings from ecstasy to thoughts of suicide. He said he was on medication now in jail and his thoughts had “slowed down drastically.”
Looking to undermine his testimony, prosecutors replayed jail calls after the shooting in which Mr. Samson and his ex-girlfriend laughed about the victims and bragged about how good he looked in media coverage, The A.P. reported. Prosecutors called his spotty memory a convenient way to avoid answering hard questions on the witness stand.Looking to undermine his testimony, prosecutors replayed jail calls after the shooting in which Mr. Samson and his ex-girlfriend laughed about the victims and bragged about how good he looked in media coverage, The A.P. reported. Prosecutors called his spotty memory a convenient way to avoid answering hard questions on the witness stand.
Church congregants testified about the hail of bullets and the bloody scene that unfolded in front of them just after their service had concluded. After the verdict was read on Friday, they poured into the hallway, cried and hugged each other.Church congregants testified about the hail of bullets and the bloody scene that unfolded in front of them just after their service had concluded. After the verdict was read on Friday, they poured into the hallway, cried and hugged each other.
The church’s minister, Joey Spann, remembered Mr. Samson as a different man years ago when he was a member of the congregation. Mr. Spann, who lost a finger in the shooting spree, could not be reached to comment on Friday night.The church’s minister, Joey Spann, remembered Mr. Samson as a different man years ago when he was a member of the congregation. Mr. Spann, who lost a finger in the shooting spree, could not be reached to comment on Friday night.
“I hope that that other Emanuel Samson comes back,” he said after the verdict, The A.P. reported. “I also hope he comes back to him in jail for the rest of his life. But I hope there’s no punishment after that.”“I hope that that other Emanuel Samson comes back,” he said after the verdict, The A.P. reported. “I also hope he comes back to him in jail for the rest of his life. But I hope there’s no punishment after that.”