State, Local Leaders Send Support After Tennessee Church Shooting; Trump Silent

NASHVILLE, TN — A host of leaders from across Metro, Tennessee and around the country issued statements following the shooting at Antioch's Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, though President Donald Trump has remained silent on the tragedy.

Metro Police say Samson shot and killed 39-year-0ld Melanie Smith in the parking lot of Burnette Chapel Church of Christ on Pin Hook Road in Antioch as services were letting out. He then went into the sanctuary and wounded several other people before he was subdued by 22-year-old Caleb Engle, investigators say.

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In the aftermath, Metro Mayor Megan Barry issued a statement:

This is a terrible tragedy for our city. My heart aches for the family and friends of the deceased as well as for the wounded victims and their loved ones. Their lives have been forever changed, as has the life of their faith community at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ. My administration, especially the Metro Nashville Police Department, will continue to work with community members to stop crime before it starts, encourage peaceful conflict resolution, and promote non-violence.

Statements then poured in from across the state and country, but, as of mid-morning Monday, President Donald Trump has kept his peace on the incident. The White House has issued no statement and though the president has been active on Twitter, he has sent no public condolences. In the first 24 hours after the shooting, the president has tweeted about NFL player protests nine times (including three re-tweets) with single tweets about a visit from the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, NASCAR, the Graham-Cassidy Obamacare repeal effort, tax reform and a revamped travel ban.

Here's a rundown of statements and tweets that were made:

Praying for the victims and the congregation at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ
— Jason Powell (@JasonLPowell) September 24, 2017Just learned a longtime family friend's cousin, Melanie, was the fatality in the church shooting. So senseless and tragic.

— Jason Powell (@JasonLPowell) September 25, 2017

Please join my family in praying for those affected by the tragic events this morning at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch.
— Beth Harwell (@BethHarwellTN) September 24, 2017

Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot during a meeting with constituents at an Arizona grocery in 2011, also issued a statement:

“I’m heartbroken to hear that once again a place for peace and prayer became a scene of horror and fear. My heart is with the people of Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, their families, and the first responders who rushed to the scene. Places like churches, schools, and neighborhood parks should always be safe spaces, where families and friends can gather without fear of violence. But that’s not the America we’re living in today. Shootings like the one that happened at the church in Tennessee this morning are occurring at an alarming rate: already this year there have been 264 mass shootings in America. This is not normal. This needs to stop. We’ve got to find the courage to face our nation’s gun violence problem together and demand a safer future for our children.”

Councilmember-elect Antoinette Lee, whose 33rd District includes the church and who was elected in a special election last week, said “My heart and my prayers are with our neighbors at Burnette Chapel. I am available to help this family of believers in any way I can as they now begin the difficult process of putting the pieces of their lives back together.”

At-large Councilman Bob Mendes, who has been representing the 33rd during the sede vacante, said “I send my thoughts and prayers to the Burnette Chapel family. None of us can imagine the kind of terror that these worshippers must have suffered. We must rededicate ourselves as a city to stand for non-violence.”

Other Antioch-area councilmembers issued statements of their own:

Council Member Tanaka Vercher, District 28: “A tragedy like this shakes a community to its very core, and my heart and prayers are fully with those who worship at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ. We join with you in your sadness, and we are united with you to stop this kind of violence.”

Council Member Karen Johnson, District 29: “The Antioch community today comes together to embrace our friends at Burnette Chapel and to mourn with them and to pray with them. We join Mayor Megan Barry when she calls on the Nashville community to work and put a stop to this kind of violence."

Council Member Jason Potts, District 30: “My family and I send our heartfelt condolences and our prayers to the members of the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ. Our hearts ache at the thought of our neighbors being subjected to such terror. We stand ready to help any way we can.”

Council Member Fabian Bedne, District 31: “Once again, a house of faith is targeted by violence, and worshippers are terrorized, with one losing her life. We stand and we mourn with the Burnette Chapel community. But we also call on all of Nashville to come together and work for real ways to stop gun violence.”

Council Member Jacobia Dowell, District 32: “To our friends and neighbors at Burnette Chapel, we offer our thoughts and prayers as you deal with this horror in your midst. We in Antioch are a community rich in worship and faith, and while we grieve any violence, this hurts us deep within our hearts and souls.”

Image via Charlie Saunier, used with permission