Emanuel K. Samson's father begged police in Middle Tennessee to take his son's guns away months before he was arrested as a suspect in a mass shooting at an Antioch church that killed one woman.

In court Wednesday, Vanansio Samson described talking to police in 2017, after he got a text message from his son, in which his son expressed a desire to kill himself. He said he was concerned about Emanuel Samson's mindset and was worried he would harm himself.

But, he said, the police would not take Emanuel Samson's guns.

“They said no, it was his sacred right and they cannot do it,” Vanansio Samson said during questioning in his son's trial on 43 counts related to the September 2017 shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ.

Vanansio Samson said that, if they had taken the guns, “this tragedy would have not happened.”

Vanansio Samson was questioned extensively Wednesday without the jury present while prosecutors and defense lawyers argued over what parts of the father's testimony would be allowed in the trial.

Prosecutors said Vanansio Samson could not testify about his son's mental health conditions because he was not a medical expert. Judge Cheryl Blackburn agreed.

At a previous hearing, a psychiatrist brought by the defense said Emanuel Samson had schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. Samson later confirmed the diagnosis during testimony in front of the jury.

But Blackburn would not allow Emanuel Samson to use an insanity defense.

To use an insanity defense, defendants must show they were unable to understand the consequences of their actions. The defense's psychiatrist did not say that definitively.

Blackburn said she expects the jury will begin deliberating Thursday, but the state has asked to present new evidence before that happens.

Police say Emanuel Samson, 27, fatally shot Crow while she was headed to her car and then opened fire on a crowd of congregants as they were leaving Sunday service.

Emanuel Samson's defense team has not contested the fact that he was the shooter, but they have disagreed with the prosecution's framing of his planning and motive. Defense attorney Jennifer Thompson said Samson had not gone to the church to kill multiple people, but to commit suicide.

Blackburn did allow Emanuel Samson's ex-girlfriend Maya Hill to testify about a "suicide note" he left at her home on the day of the shooting.

Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 and atamburin@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @tamburintweets.