The Vestavia Hills church shooting occurred on June 16, 2022, at 6:22 p.m. local time in Vestavia Hills, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, United States. A man entered the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and opened fire during a potluck meeting, which the church had previously advertised. Two people were killed at the scene, a third died later in hospital, and the suspect was subsequently in custody. The suspect was a 70-year-old Birmingham man named Robert Findlay Smith (born December 23, 1951), a gun dealer. On May 2, 2023, Smith pled guilty in the shooting and was sentenced to life without parole.
Shooting The shooter opened fire, killing three, and was stopped when a 79-year-old male, later identified as retired investigator James W. Musgrove Jr., whacked him over the head with a folding chair, took his gun, and pistol whipped him, thus subduing the assailant. Musgrove was later awarded the Carnegie medal for his actions.
Victims Sarah Yeager, 75 Walter Rainey, 84 Jane Pounds, 84, initially reported injured, died at a local hospital. Her family requested that her name be withheld, but it was made public by the press.
Reactions Following the shooting, Alabama governor Kay Ivey issued a statement saying that the shooting is "shocking and tragic," adding that "this should never happen — in a church, in a store, in the city or anywhere."
During a Sunday morning service on June 19, 2022, the church gathered to honor the members who were shot and killed during the shooting.
See also Gun violence in the United States List of mass shootings in the United States in 2022
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