2022 St Stephen's Episcopal Church shooting
The 2022 St Stephen's Episcopal Church shooting was a fatal incident that took place on the evening of Thursday, June 16, 2022 at St Stephen's Episcopal Church in the Cahaba Heights area of Vestavia Hills.
On the night of the shooting, the church was hosting a "Boomers Potluck" dinner for approximately 25 people in the Parish Hall. A 71 year-old male, not known to those present, was observed sitting alone. A member invited him to join a table for the dinner. He identified himself as "Mr Smith" and claimed to have formerly been a member of the church, but declined the invitation.
Later he produced a handgun which had been concealed, and began shooting. Three people were struck before Jim Musgrove swung a chair at the gunman and managed to disarm him. One of those shot, Walter Rainey, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two female victims were transported to UAB Hospital with serious injuries. One of those, Sarah Yeager, died there from her wounds.
Police were notified of an active shooter at 6:22 PM and arrived in force. They took the suspect into custody without further incident. Among the agencies responding to the call were the Vestavia Hills Police Department, the Mountain Brook Police Department, the Hoover Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Rocky Ridge Fire District.
Context
The incident at St Stephen's Episcopal Church took place during a period of renewed public debate over gun control and public safety following a mass shootings at Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo, New York and at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas during the previous month. Members of the U.S. Senate were debating a framework for incremental changes to federal gun control and mental health legislation intended to reduce such incidents of deadly violence.
References
- Robinson, Carol & Howard Koplowitz (June 16, 2022) "Vestavia Hills church shooting: 2 dead, 1 injured at St. Stephen’s Episcopal, shooter in custody." The Birmingham News
- Smith, Ruth Serven (June 16, 2022) "Crowd mourns victims of Vestavia Hills church shooting: ‘I’m overwhelmed. And saddened.’." The Birmingham News
- Robinson, Carol (June 17, 2022) "Vestavia Hills church shooting: Victims identified, church member subdued gunman." The Birmingham News