[Mark Tyson]

Woman shoots pastor, her mother and herself at Atlanta church

By MICHAEL PEARSON
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A woman killed her mother, her pastor and then herself before services today at a Kirkwood church, police said.

The motive for the shooting at Turner Monumental AME Church was unclear. But family members and churchgoers said the suspected shooter, Shelia W. Chaney Wilson, 43, had recently been released from a mental health facility.

Police identified the dead as Wilson, the Rev. Johnny Clyde Reynolds, 62, and Jennie Mae Robinson, 67, Wilson's mother.

The shooting happened inside the church sanctuary between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. shortly before services began.

No one else was in the church when the shots were fired, police Lt. R.C. Robinson said.

"We're pretty confident that it may have been a murder-suicide," Reynolds said. "We're not out looking for suspects."

Grieving parishioners who had been headed to church joined curious onlookers in crowding the residential street around the church for hours after the shootings, trying to understand what had happened.

Nearby churches and the Atlanta Police Department sent pastors and other officials to help minister to parishioners at Turner, where Reynolds had preached for 9 years, said his daughter-in-law, Geraldine Andrews.

"This is just an isolated incident that happened with a sick person that needed help," Andrews said.

Church officials declined to speak to reporters, but neighbors said Reynolds was a vibrant community leader.

"Everything a church should be, J.C. represented," Rosa Holmes said.

She recalled, under Reynolds' leadership, the church's drives to collect clothing and food for the needy, a scholarship program, and Christmas programs for underprivileged children.

"He never got too tired to do anything," Holmes said. "He had concern for the whole community."



Staff writer Jill Young Miller contributed to this report.


===========================================

[El Tejon]

Are houses of worship off limits for CCWers in Joejuh?

If so, looks like the perfect opportunity to repeal that!

[TarpleyG]

Shelia W. Chaney Wilson, 43, had recently been released from a mental health facility.
Wait, I thought mentally ill folks were prohibited from owning, touching, or shooting a gun. Isn't that a law of some sort? Maybe we need another law just in case. That'll work, yeah.

GT

[12-34hom]

10-96 subject.

Lucky for her; God's the forgiving type.

12-34hom.

[willyjixx]

thats touchy! it could be like texas where they have the 30:06 rule and can declare..........or they could be of the opinion of why do they need a weapon in the house of the lord.

i myself do not feel comfortable with my CCW in church (could be the pews) and in reality it is a sanctuary and should be treated as such.

touchy i dont know an its not something i would bring up with my pastor

[Standing Wolf]

She should have shot herself first, then her mother, then the pastor. Some people just can't seem to do anything right.

[El Tejon]

willy, how is it "touchy" to be against a governmentally-mandated slaughter pen?? Assuming it is the law, of course.

Don't see how this would be touchy with anyone. You may treat it as a sanctuary, but others intending evil just see it as a big room to do harm in.

[Quintin Likely]

"(a) Except as provided in Code Section 16-11-127.1, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor when he carries to or while at a public gathering any explosive compound, firearm, or knife designed for the purpose of offense and defense. (b) For the purpose of this Code section, "public gathering" shall include, but shall not be limited to, athletic or sporting events, churches or church functions , political rallies or functions, publicly owned or operated buildings, or establishments at which alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises."

I've never met Him, but I'm sure He doesn't want evil people doing their deeds in his house.

--Quintin

[Browns Fan]

The very people she killed are probably the only ones who has tried to help her... very tragic indeed.

:(

[MeekandMild]

churchgoers said the suspected shooter, Shelia W. Chaney Wilson, 43, had recently been released from a mental health facility This is the trouble boys and girls. For the last 35 years the liberal establishment has been carefully and methodically deconstructing the mental hospital system. Looking at the number of long and intermediate term beds in the US we find they are perhaps 10% of their 1970 level. Remember the guy who shot Reagan? He was an early graduate of the deinstitutionalization program.

I might point out this is an international phenomenom. Remember the infamous Tasmanian shooter was a nutball? :scrutiny:

[Kcustom45]

And some people wonder why I have been know to carry into churches. Some people need to realize that they are not safe ANYWHERE.

[MMcCall]

Religion has killed more people than guns ever will, and screwed up even more people than that. I'm suprised more people don't try to take out ministers.

[Orthonym]

The lady obviously thought the Rev. was a GOOD person: that's why she shot him. Right?:rolleyes:

[fallingblock]

Martin Bryant, the nutball whose 35 kills at Port Arthur National Park in Tasmania set off the great Australian compensated confiscation, was a nutjob of the first order. He was rich enough to have kept himself out of incarceration.

Early release of mental patients is a hugh problem in New Zealand as well, with several of the prominent shootings which lead to tighter gun laws having been committed by released nutjobs:eek:

[Hawkman]

It was reported on the radio this morning that the woman's mother checked her out of the mental facility. She was not 'released'.

Bet Mom was wishing she hadn't done that...:eek:

[El Tejon]

A308, thanks for the fyi on Joejuh law. I thought I remembered reading that it was illegal to carry in church there.

Need to change that right away.

[TonyB]

I always carry in church.......even God needs back-up.....:cool:

[Mark Tyson]

even God needs back-up

Sounds like a CCW good poster idea.

[Kamicosmos]

But, no one esle was in the church, so unless the pastor or the old mother was CCWing (which is probably doubtful), then allowing CCWs wouldn't have helped in this situation.

Let's not fall into the 'knee-jerk' repeal the law syndrome. That will be almost as bad as the 'knee-jerk' make a law syndrome.


(Much sarcasm applied to the above statements. :) )

[aerod1]

I am packing every day while at Church. It is legal to do so in Texas if you have a CHL and the Church has no 30-06 sign. The legal 30-06 sign is very big and must be in English and Spanish. It must have letters at least 1" tall on a contrasting background and posted in a conspicuous location. Most Churches do not want a sign such as this at the entrance to the building. If they do post the appropriate sign, find a new Church.
My Priest does not realize it, but he has never seen me unarmed. It is none of his business.

Jim Hall

[willyjixx]

El Tajon:

the legal part i give a S____ about. its the moral part of it.
its just my opinion that people shouldnt ( im not saying they cant! or trying to infringe on rights!!!) need to carry a weapon in the house of the lord.

sadly though its a sick world we live in so my vision is now screwed

an to those who do carry in church.........i could care less as long as they obey the first letter of CCW. CONCEALED!

Church should be the one place to go that is free from hate, violence, racism, and sadly it isnt

[BLiTzNicK]

If government keeps throwing around the seperation of church and state thing, which isn't in the constitution, by the way, how can they restrict carry in a place of worship. Isn't the government over stepping its bounds, by it's own standards?

[willyjixx]

hey quit makin sense you!!!!!!!!!

if we were fighting reasonable people that would win the arguement!:D :D :D

[S_O_Laban]

Well... some years ago, their used to be laws in this great country that required that men bring their guns to church. I say if it was moral back then, then it's still moral today.

[TonyB]

I carry at my church to ensure that it is violence and hate free........and it is concealed..even the huggers don't know I carry...:cool: :cool:

[El Tejon]

willy, I understand. I respect your views and acknowledge that religious freedom is what this nation was founded upon.

That said, if one takes this view, then that is his or his house of worship's decision. However, that is not my view nor my church's (life as a gift of God, must be defended against evil at all times). I resent the government telling me that it should be.

[one-shot-one]

MMcCALL :barf:
"Religion has killed more people than guns ever will, and screwed up even more people than that. I'm suprised more people don't try to take out ministers."
::banghead:

CAN NOT BELIEVE A GUN OWNER TYPED THAT.
GUESS YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THAT (T-SHIRT/BUMPER STICKER)
GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[willyjixx]

as far as CCW is concerned in church its nobodies business except for you, God an whoevers house your in.

i agree with you that the feds or the local politicians shouldnt have a say so. but if someone does not like the idea of concealed weapons in their house or business then its there right to prohibit that strictly to there property. for example. if i didnt like guns. dont bring a concealed gun in my house! however i do have an enjoy shooting so its not a dislike of guns issue. i plain an simple dont want Concealed GUNS that i dont know about in my house. fortunately i dont have to many people comin over that i wouldnt know about that problem

i know my state laws an i know there is not a prohibition of CCW in a church. i would not even want to be misunderstood by other folks as saying "You cant do that! its should be against the LAW". its between you the man an a pastor in a church. however one person brought it up.........
the Huggers an touchers in church.....could pose a mighty awkard situation

who here though has asked there spiritual leader about there feelings on the matter? govt be damned im more worried about how my preacher feels about it.

an thanks for the response El Tajon! its a thought provoker!!!

[DMK]

Church should be the one place to go that is free from hate, violence, racism, and sadly it isnt Sadly, there is no place in this world that one can go and actually be free from hate and violence. That is the reason for CCW laws. Violence can find you anywhere.

[willyjixx]

true, very true.

but we wouldnt need CCW laws if guns were not stigmatized as bad things like they are. we would carry them in the open

remember when rifle racks were cool an a shotgun or rifle was the usual site in a 4x truck? sadly i do an i dont see that anymore it is relegated to a fishing pole or walking stick


remember when sex was safe an motorcycles were dangerous?


remember when guns were good an the criminals were the bad ones?

[El Tejon]

willy, I'm happy it reached you. I'm sorry if I came across as strident on this subject (occupational hazard to say the least).

I'm not and was not trying to force my religious views on you or anyone else, but rather defending the notion that government has absolutely no business telling my church (or yours) on what to believe. I have asked men more knowledgable than I about this issue.

They confirm my belief that evil exists and as we must be ready for Him, we must be ready to confront evil at all times. Our life is not ours; we live to serve others. Being ready to defend ourselves and the innocent from malice aforethought is one of the higher services we can render.:)

[willyjixx]

that evil exists and as we must be ready for Him, we must be ready to confront evil at all times. Our life is not ours; we live to serve others. Being ready to defend ourselves and the innocent from malice aforethought is one of the higher services we can render.

that is a couraguos (sp?) an beutiful ode to live by! i will remember that

thank you Sir!


i dont know the term strident but you have used grace an wisdom in your words an i listen to that before spite insults