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Church Shooting Victims Continue Recovery

Posted at 7:49 PM, Sep 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-25 20:51:40-04

Several of the victims in the deadly church shooting in Antioch continued to recover at Vanderbilt University Medical Center the day after the deadly attack.

Five of the victims including the preacher of Burnette Chapel Church of Christ and his wife were in stable condition as of early Monday evening. 

The victims who remained hospitalized are Joey Spann, Peggy Spann, Linda Bush, William "Don" Jenkins and Marlene Jenkins.

Katherine Dickerson and Caleb Engle were treated at TriStar Skyline Medical Center but were later released. Engle is the 22-year-old usher being credited for helping stop the gunman by getting into a scuffle and holding him down at gunpoint. 

Officials with the Metro Nashville Police Department said Melanie Crow Smith of Smyrna was shot and killed by Emanuel Smith in the parking lot of the church. 

Family Remembers Woman Killed In Church Shooting

"You don't forget something like that. People say close to home, that's close," Neighbor Tommy Goad told NewsChannel 5. 

On Monday, a lot of the attention was focused on Samson's vehicle. 

Bomb squad members were scouring it because investigators had initially thought Samson may have had some explosives inside. 

Police said the 25-year-old suspect had another gun with at least a half dozen magazines inside the coat he was wearing. In addition, Samson reportedly had a hunting knife strapped to his leg. 

Police: Suspected Gunman Admits To Firing Upon Antioch Church    

Many loved ones and community members continue to extend their prayers and support for all the victims and their families. 

The principal and staff at Nashville Christian School spoke to NewsChannel 5 since Spann is a girls basketball coach at the school. 

"He was just concerned about everybody else. H was trying to protect the others in the room and ran towards the man when he was wounded," said NCS Principal Brian Bishop.

Spann has been a minister and involved in Christian education for more than 40 years. 

A few years ago, Bishop said Spann essentially died of a heart attack on the court but was revived. Spann uses the experience to help teach people how they should live their life.

"There are probably people across the city who would tell you that he changed their lives in some way," added Bishop.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center officials said the victims and their families chose not to speak with media at this time.

The church had since been boarded up. Shattered glass and blood was still scattered on the floor. People have made a memorial with flowers in front of the church.

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