The masked gunman who opened fire at a Nashville church killing one and injuring six others has been charged with murder.

Melanie Crow Smith, 39, of Smyrna, died and another six were injured when Emanuel Kidega Samson, 25, opened fire at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, 30 minutes southeast of Nashville in Antioch, as services let out at 11.15am.

The attack only stopped thanks to the brave actions of an armed church usher and Samson, a Sudanese-born bodybuilder, was arrested at the scene.

Robert Engle, 22, identified by friends on social media, had ran up to confront Samson and despite being repeatedly pistol-whipped in the head, was able to force Samson to shoot himself in the leg.

Engle then went to his car, grabbed his own pistol, and returned to hold the shooter at gunpoint.

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Emanuel Kidega Samson (pictured being arrested) has been charged with one count of murder after the deadly shooting in Antioch, Tennessee

Samson is a Sudanese born body builder, who graduated from Smyrna High School and studied Psychology at Mott Community College

Police confirmed that the church goer shot dead by Samson was Melanie Smith, 39, of Smyrna (left and right)

Church usher Robert Engle, 22 (pictured) has been hailed as a hero after he stopped the shooter

Family members and church parishioners said pastor Joey Spann and his wife Peggy Spann were also both shot. Married mother-of-two Smith died at the scene.

Police say that Samson, originally from Khartoum, Sudan but who now lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was spotted in the parking lot wearing a mask before he shot dead Smith.

Alleged church shooter Emanuel Kidega Samson

'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,' Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said at a press conference.

'This particular church member has a handgun carry permit.

'The usher went to his vehicle, got his gun, came back inside and made sure the gunman didn't make anymore movements until the police department arrived.'

The gunman, who went to Smyrna High School before studying psychology at Mott Community College, then entered the church through a main sanctuary door and began firing multiple rounds.

He appears to have made a number of cryptic Facebook posts on Sunday morning, moments before his rampage, writing: 'Everything you've ever doubted or made to be believe as false, is real. & vice versa, B.'

In another, he wrote: 'Become the creator instead of what's created. Whatever you say, goes.'

Samson's public records do not list any criminal charges against him. He had lived in Rutherford County and in South Nashville near Burnette Bethel Church of Christ

A mass shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ (scene above) in Nashville on Sunday left one woman dead and eight people wounded, including the gunman, who is in police custody

In a series of tweets, the Nashville Fire Department said those injured, including the 26-year-old African American male shooter, were being treated at area hospitals around Nashville (scene pictured above)

The fire department called it 'a mass casualty situation' as emergency personnel were still on the scene (above) interviewing witnesses

Earlier reports from local media said the shooter was wearing a clown mask. But Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said that is false and the gunman wore a neoprene ski mask. Above police check the shooter's SUV for explosives

The shooter Samson's condition is not life-threatening and he is under police guard at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Pictured above is the scene after the shooting

A spokesman for Vanderbilt University Medical Center said two of the victims are critically injured, with four others in stable condition, The Tennessean reported. All six patients are adults - three men and three women.

'The two critical patients suffered gunshot wounds to (their) chest and torso,' John Howser, spokesman for the hospital, told the newspaper.

'The four other patients suffered gunshot wounds to their extremities.'

Engle, whose two passions appear to be God and guns, according to his Facebook page, was taken to TriStar Skyline Medical Center along with the last shooting victim.

The church usher, a former warehouse worker, lives in Mount Juliet, Tennessee.

Pastor Spann reportedly teaches Bible classes at the Bellevue school. The school released the following statement: 'As you may already know, one of our Bible teachers, Joey Spann, and his wife were both injured in the church shooting this morning at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch.



Family members and church parishioners said pastor Joey Spann and his wife Peggy Spann (together above) were both shot

The pastor teaches Bible classes at the Bellevue school. The couples' (above) family members and friends posted on Facebook requesting prayers for them following the shooting

Kaitlyn Adams, a member of the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, hugs another church member at the scene after a deadly shooting at the church on Sunday

Engle (left and right) was pistol whipped by Samson while wrestling with the shooter for the gun. He is currently in hospital

Samson's (pictured) condition is not life-threatening and he is under heavy police guard at Vanderbilt Medical Center

Police have identified the masked gunman behind the fatal mass shooting at a Nashville church on Sunday as Emanuel Kidega Samson (left and right)

'We do not have any additional information at this time but want to boldly ask you to pray. Please lift up Coach Joey Spann and his wife Peggy and all who have been injured or impacted by this tragic event.

'We will keep you informed when we have more information. Thank you for being a part of our family of faith and for interceding on behalf of the Spanns.'

The couples' family members and friends posted on Facebook requesting prayers for them following the shooting.

Earlier reports from local media said the shooter was wearing a clown mask. But Aaron said that is false and the gunman wore a neoprene ski mask.

Police are not aware of any relationship between Samson and the church or parishioners, Aaron said during the first press conference.

Approximately 50 people were inside the church at the time of the shooting, officials say.

Police have not released a motive for the shooting and are still investigating the incident. Pictured above is a police officer at the scene

Police are not aware of any relationship between Samson and the church or parishioners, Aaron said during the first press conference. Pictured above is police tape lines outside of the church on Sunday

All of those wounded in the shooting at the church (file above) except for one person is over the age of 60. Pictured above are police tape lines at the scene

The shooter arrived to the church in a blue SUV and police are working to secure the vehicle, as the bomb squad is on the scene.

Earlier in the day, Nashville Fire Department tweeted that it was a 'mass casualty situation.'

'This is a mass casualty situation. All of the wounded have been transported to area hospitals. The majority are older adults,' the fire department tweeted.

All of those wounded in the shooting except for one person is over the age of 60.

Former Burnette Chapel Church of Christ pastor Bill Hunter said: 'I'm just absolutely stunned, I can't believe that someone would come in off the street and start shooting.'

The church hosts weekly service at 10am and is located on Pin Hook Road.

Church members who were not injured were still being interviewed by officers as of 1pm.

An area was also set up for family members to meet up with the relatives who were at the church at the time of the shooting.

This area was set up at Beautiful Gate Church located at 12316 Old Hickory Boulevard.

Authorities are advising for residents to stay away from Pin Hook Road.

In response to the shooting, U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper tweeted: 'Horrified by the killing in Antioch. Following reports and hopeful that injured victims recover quickly.'

Mayor of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Megan Barry issued the above statement about the shooting

Mayor of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Megan Barry issued a statement about the shooting.

'This is a terrible tragedy for our city. My heart aches for the family and friends of the deceased as well as for the wounded victims and their loved ones,' her statement reads.

'Their lives have been forever changed, as has the life of their faith community at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ.

'My administration, especially the Metro Nashville Police Department, will continue to work with community members to stop crime before it starts, encourage peaceful conflict resolution, and promote non-violence.'