Tennessee shooting: Church hero halts masked gunman in middle of deadly attack

A masked gunman suspected of killing a woman in the car park of a Tennessee church was halted in his attack by a hero usher who rushed to stop him.

Dressed in a ski mask, the intruder walked into Nashville's Burnette Chapel Church of Christ and opened fire on worshippers on Sunday morning.

Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, is accused of killing one person and wounding six worshipers before a church usher rushed to grab the weapon out of his hands.

In the struggle, the usher was struck in the head with the gunman's weapon before the suspect fired and wounded himself in the chest, police said.

Although injured, the usher, 22-year-old Robert Engle, retrieved a gun from his vehicle and held the suspect at bay until police arrived.

Metropolitan Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron praised Mr Engle as an “exceptionally brave individual”.

According to police, around 50 people were worshipping at the church when the gunman - armed with two pistols and with another handgun and a rifle in his car – stormed in.

Police had not determined the motive behind the shooting, but the spokesman said evidence was found that might establish why the man opened fire.

Samson, who is believed to have attended the church in the past, has been charged with murder and could face further charges.

Churchgoer, Melanie Smith, 39, of Smyrna, Tennessee, was fatally shot in the parking lot, where she was found lying next to the suspect's blue SUV.

All but one of the six people wounded by gunfire were 60 or older and were taken to nearby hospitals, and some are believed to be in critical condition.

The church's pastor, Joey Spann, was shot in the chest and was being treated at a hospital, WKRN television news channel reported. The Nashville Christian School, where Spann is a coach and Bible teacher, said Spann's wife also was injured.

Samson was treated at a hospital and transferred to a jail. In a photo released by police, he was shown walking in blue hospital garb, as police officers led him along a walkway.