Tennessee Church Shooting: 22-Year-Old 'Hero' Usher Asks For Prayer

ANTIOCH, TN — During Sunday's deadly attack near the end of worship services at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, a young usher at the Tennessee church became a hero.

After allegedly shooting and killing 39-year-old Melanie Smith in the church parking lot, 25-year-old Emanuel Samson entered the sanctuary, where parishioners said he once worshiped, and began "firing indiscriminately." It was then that 22-year-old Caleb Engle, a lifelong member of the congregation and an usher, stepped up, confronting Samson. Samson, an avid bodybuilder, then "viciously pistol-whipped" Engle, according to police, causing serious injuries to his head and face. Undeterred, Engle, a handgun-carry permit holder, rushed to his car in the parking lot to retrieve his own gun, police say.

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With six of his fellow church members, including minister Joey Spann, injured in the shooting, Engle came back inside and was able to subdue Samson and hold him at bay until help arrived, according to police. Sometime during this struggle, Samson himself was hurt, struck in the chest by an apparently accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In the shooting's aftermath, Engle was lauded as a hero by Metro Nashville Police Chief Steve Anderson, who said the young man saved lives. He was called "extraordinarily brave" by MNPD Spokesman Don Aaron. Before his release from the hospital, Engle said “I do not want to be labeled a hero. The real heroes are the police, first responders and medical staff and doctors who have helped me and everyone affected.”

After his release — he is now resting at home with his family — Engle issued a statement calling for prayer.

I’ve been going to this church my whole life, since I was a small child. I would have never, ever thought something like this would have happened.

I ask everyone to pray for the victims, family members of the victims, our church community. Please pray for healing. Also, please pray for the shooter, the shooter’s family and friends. They are hurting as well.

I pray that through all of this that people will come to know Christ and I ask our nation to reflect on Romans 8:31: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Samson is charged with homicide with other charges likely, according to Metro Police.

Image via Charlie Saunier, used with permission