Killer In Tennessee Church Shooting Had Note About Revenge For Charleston

Emanuel Kidega Samson (left) was possibly motivated to murder people by Dylann Roof’s (right) domestic terrorist attack.

Note Gives Hint To Emanuel Kidega Samson’s Motives

Antioch, Tenn. – Emanuel Kidega Samson, the killer in the recent Burnette Chapel Church of Christ shooting, had a note in his car that made reference to revenge for the Charleston church shooting committed by Dylann Roof.

June 17, 2015, Roof murdered nine black people during a prayer service at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in hopes of sparking a race war.

The Associated Press released the information on the note, saying that while their reporter had not seen the note, they had spoken with two law enforcement officials who had seen the note.

A police report said that, “in sum and in no way verbatim,” the note made reference to retaliation for the actions of Dylann Roof, according to New York Times.

The church targeted by Dylann Roof was predominately black, but the church targeted by Samson had a mixed congregation and Samson had attended the church years ago.

On September 24, Emanuel Samson opened fire in the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ on, murdering Melanie Smith, 39, in the parking lot.

A witness said that Samson shot Smith in the back and then turned her over and shot her in the head.

Samson then entered the church and opened fire on the people inside, hitting Joey Spann, 60, William Jenkins, 83, Marlene Jenkins, 84, Peggy Spann, 65, and Linda Bush, 68.

An unarmed church usher, Caleb Engle, tried to stop Smason. They got into a struggle and Engle sustained a severe injury from getting pistol whipped in the head. During the struggle, Samson was shot with his own gun.

Engle went to his car and obtained his own pistol, then returned and held Samson at gunpoint until officers arrived.

Emanuel Samson’s car was still running when officers arrived, and it appears that he had intended to flee the scene after his murder-spree; he did not intend on this hero taking him down.

Samson is being held on murder charges with no bond. More charges are expected to be added later.

Samson is a legal U.S. resident who immigrated from Sudan in the 1990s.

Nothing on social media appeared to show any signs of extremism, or obsession with racial issues. Just before the shooting he made four posts to his Facebook page saying:

Everything you’ve ever doubted or made to be believe as false, is real. 
& vice versa, B.

Become the creator instead of what’s created . 
Whatever you say, goes

You are more than what they told us.

In June, Samson had threatened suicide in a text to his father, saying “Your phone is off, I have a gun to my head.”

Just days before the shooting, Samson had attended a class for unarmed security officers at the Academy of Personal Protection and Security in Nashville.

Owner and instructor, Buford Tune, told New York Times, “It was ‘yes sir, no sir’ and he was nothing but very pleasant. There was absolutely nothing that seemed odd. This is a real Jekyll and Hyde thing.”

Samson was then hired by Crimson Security Service and he attended their first day of training on Saturday. The next day, Samson texted them to say that he would not return to work.

The company’s lawyer told the Times, that “there was no incident or indication of any problem with Mr. Samson at any time during his shift.”