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Parishioner shot dead and six others injured after masked gunman opens fire at Nashville church

The scene of the shooting - REUTERS
The scene of the shooting - REUTERS

A masked gunman killed an elderly woman and injured six other parishioners during a shooting at a church near Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday morning.

Among the wounded was the pastor of Burnette Chapel Church of Christ who was shot in the chest, according to his son. There was no further information on the extent of the injuries suffered.

Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said at a press conference: "A gunman wearing a neoprene mask arrived in the parking lot and one woman who was walking to her vehicle was immediately fatally wounded by the gunman."

Mr Aaron said the gunman, who is a 26-year-old African American male, then entered the church  and began firing multiple rounds.   

"At this juncture, six persons, six innocent persons were wounded by gunfire. They have been taken to area hospitals."

He added that the gunman - a 26 year-old African American - was wounded by a self-inflicted shot and is currently under police guard at a nearby hospital.

In June 2015, white supremacist Dylann Roof killed nine parishioners at a prayer meeting at the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. He was sentenced to death in January.