July 28th, 2008
More details continue to emerge about Jim David Adkisson, the Knoxville shooter responsible for killing two and injuring seven at the gay-affirming Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church yesterday. The Knoxville News Sentinal, which is doing quite a bang-up job in covering this story, has more from people who know him:
“He always had the attitude the government was trying to get him,” [Carold] Smallwood said. “He disliked blacks, gays, anyone who was a different color or just different from him.”
Smallwood also described Adkisson as an accomplished guitarist with “a heart of gold when he’s good.” Adkisson carried the 12-guage shotgun into the church hidden in a guitar case.
It has also been revealed that Adkisson’s ex-wife had taken out a restraining order against him in 2000 after he put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her. She filed for divorce a few days after the incident.
See also:
Knoxville Gays On Edge; Local MCC Church Wants To See Letter
Relief Fund Set Up for Knoxville Churches
Thoughts and Prayers for Knoxville Shooting Victims
Knoxville Shooting Witness’s First-Hand Account
Knoxville Shooter Hated “Blacks, Gays, Anyone Different”
AFA Approved Comments: Knoxville Church Doing “Satan’s Work”
Knoxville Shooter Hated “Liberals,” Gays
Just Concluded: Knoxville Press Conference
Knoxville Shooter’s Manifesto Found
Gunman Opens Fire On Gay-Friendly Church, Two Killed
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David
July 28th, 2008
Hmm… hates gays, blacks, and anyone different. Thinks the government is out to get him. I wonder what his screen name at FreeRepublic.com is?
NG
July 28th, 2008
Funny you mention FR, David; someone has been posting the following on a bunch of websites, including QUEERTY:
“Is that Adkisson “Improbulus Maximus†the Knoxville blogger who rants about his guns, killing and liberals?”
Regan DuCasse
July 28th, 2008
And this bonehead was able to own a gun without restriction? How long did anyone think it would be until he blew?
A simmering pot like this was going to boil over.
And of course, I suppose because the object of his hatred was the reason why no one cared or did anything to prevent this?
Bruce Garrett
July 28th, 2008
David: Good one!
tristram
July 28th, 2008
This from the Knoxville News Sentinel website (they downplay the gay angle, but have published a lot of interesting, if not surprising, details):
“Knoxville Police Department Investigator Steve Still wrote in the search warrant that Adkisson “admitted to shooting McKendry and several others at the church.”
Adkisson went on a rampage at the church, Still wrote, “because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country, and that he felt that the Democrats had tied his country’s hands in the war on terror and they had ruined every institution in America with the aid of major media outlets.”
Adkisson, who had served in the military, said “that because he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement he would then target those that had voted them in office,” the search warrant states.
Still noted Adkisson had sawed off part of the barrel on the shotgun and had left his home unlocked to provide police easier access after he was killed during the attack.
Still seized three books from Adkisson’s home, including “The O’Reilly Factor,” by television commentator Bill O’Reilly; “Liberalism is a Mental Disorder,” by radio personality Michael Savage; and “Let Freedom Ring,” by political pundit Sean Hannity.”
Jason D
July 29th, 2008
Still seized three books from Adkisson’s home, including “The O’Reilly Factor,†by television commentator Bill O’Reilly; “Liberalism is a Mental Disorder,†by radio personality Michael Savage; and “Let Freedom Ring,†by political pundit Sean Hannity.â€
Isn’t it the conservative and or republican camps who blame the musician if a kid shoots up his school and they find out the kid listened to Marilyn Manson? So wouldn’t the logical extension mean that in this case, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, and Michael Savage are to blame?
It’s interesting to note that Ellen, Oprah, and Howard Stern don’t have fans that run around killing people.
David
July 29th, 2008
How ironic that this murderously deranged ultra-conservative was reading a book titled Liberalism is a Mental Disorder.
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