Cops have disclosed that the suspect in a shooting at an Alabama church that resulted in the deaths of two elders was a regular visitor to the church.
According to authorities, the gunman was present at the little church when the incident occurred on Thursday, at a gathering promoted as a ‘Boomers’ Potluck.’
The suspect, identified as a 71-year-old Caucasian man named Frida who was an “occasional member of the church,” pulled out the gun about an hour into the 5 p.m. event and shot three people, two of whom died.
According to authorities, a ‘hero’ Good Samaritan who was also present at the incident detaining the perpetrator at the site, tackling and holding him to the ground until police came avoided additional injuries.
Vestavia Hills police gave few facts about the shooting at a press conference Friday morning, including the identities of the victims – but no name or motivation for the jailed suspect, who faces capital murder charges if convicted.
Walter Rainey, an 84-year-old Irondale man, was died at the scene, according to police.
Sarah Yeager, a 75-year-old Pelham lady, died at UAB Hospital. The gunshot injured an 84-year-old Hoover lady, who is still in the hospital.
The shooting occurred soon after 6 p.m. on Thursday at an Alabama Episcopal church in Vestavia Hills, a suburb of Birmingham, injuring one other congregant.
The gunman has been apprehended, according to Captain Shane Ware of the Vestavia Hills Police Department, but the motivation for the attack has not been revealed.
The injured person was sent to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama’s sole level one trauma center.
‘The Vestavia Hills Police Department responded to Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church located at 3775 Crosshaven Drive Vestavia Hills, AL on a complaint of an active shooter at about 6:22 PM Central Time,’ the police posted on Facebook.
Several law enforcement agencies and fire departments were on the site late into the night on Thursday.
‘The VHPD confirms many persons were shot,’ according to a statement from police. ‘The suspect has been apprehended.’
‘There were folks at church. There has been a shooting, and there are folks that have been injured,’ she said.
‘We are working to get more information, to take care of the people who were there..
‘We are praying for healing and safety for all of those who have been impacted and affected.
‘We are praying for everyone involved and we are trying to get as much information about what happened as we can get.’
Hudlow said it was ‘a scary thing’.
She urged the community to ‘do what this community is really good at – and that’s coming together, through prayers and thoughts and anything else.’
On Thursday night, well-wishers gathered in the church parking lot in a prayer circle, holding hands.
‘What you’re witnessing, folks, is hope,’ said WBRC anchor Jonathan Hardison.
‘With those people standing together, you’re witnessing healing.’