Chattanooga's Unitarian Universalist Church Has Also Been the Target of Violence

We know more now about the man who opened fire during a church service in Knoxville Sunday.

Two people died at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.

Monday mourners left flowers and other tokens at the site.

Police say 58 year old Jim Adkisson expected to keep firing until officers killed him.

Instead church members tackled him and held him for police.

Police also say they know from a four page letter he left... That Adkisson picked the church for it's social causes.. Like women's and gay rights.

Knoxville Police Chief Sterling Owen says, "It appears that what brought him to this horrible event was his lack of being able to attain a job.. His frustration over that. And his stated hatred for the liberal movement."

Police say they are investigating the case as a Hate Crime.

The shooting hits close to home for the members of one local church.

Shock and sorrow is the way Minister Jeff Briere of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga describes his initial reaction to the deadly shooting, "It does seem that it wasn't random. It does seem now, that it was not domestic. But, perhaps more theological in nature."

Less than three months ago the Chattanooga church bore the mark of a bullet, and the church was fire bombed twice during the Civil Rights Era.

Briere calls the congregation liberal and inclusive.

And he says, this isn't the first time that stance may have caused violence.

Church leaders say that won't silence opinions on social issues.

Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church President Ted Jones says, "We feel very strongly in those.... Standing for social justice, for equality, and we're proud to take a stand on those issues. And we're not gonna change."

Chattanooga native Amy Broyles says the shooting strengthened her belief in the church, "We're definitely committed to joining that congregation having gone through this with them."

Broyles and her family were in the congregation that day, "There's no excuse for it on any level, but it just makes it seem even worse that there were so many small children there."

Now Minister Briere advises caution, "When something scary like this happens you can't run away from it, you have to run towards it."

He says churches should be open and welcoming, but they must also be safe, "Those people in Knoxville thought, 'Oh my gosh. How could it happen here?' Well, you need to think about those things before it happens here."

Tuesday, Briere and the church's Board of Trustees will meet to form a security plan.

He recommends churches of all denominations should do the same.