Gunman In Deadly Church Shooting Reportedly Had NJ Criminal Ties

NEW JERSEY — A gunman who walked into a church near Fort Worth, Texas, and fatally shot two parishioners had a criminal record in New Jersey – one that involved firearms.

The shooter, 43-year-old Keith Thomas Kinnunen, was shot dead by church security, according to reports. He was arrested in Linden in September 2016 after he was found taking photographs of an oil tank field while toting a .12 gauge shotgun, according to NJ Advance Media.

Police found Kinnunen had a contempt of court warrant in Oklahoma for felony aggravated assault, according to The Courier News. While checking his property, police also found a Mossberg .12 gauge shotgun and rounds wrapped in plastic, according to the report.

He was arrested and charged, according to the reports, but it was not immediately clear what happened next.

Kinnunen was wearing a beard and a disguise when he walked into West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday and opened fire, NBC DFW reported.

Officials say that the church was live streaming its service over its YouTube channel when the shooting occurred. Kinnunen could be seen running in and firing shots as people dove beneath their pews. The video has since been taken down.

Within seconds of the shooter's first shot, Jack Wilson, who is head of the church's security returned fire, killing Kinnunen. He was one of two church members who helped take down the shooter. Wilson, who is also running for Hood County Commissioner for Precinct 3 said Sunday's shooting placed him in a position he hopes no one has to ever be in.

"I am very sad in the loss of two dear friends and brothers in Christ, but evil does exist in this world, and I and other members are not going to allow evil to succeed. Please pray for all the members and their families in this time," he said on Facebook.

The gunman was struck at least three times and died at the scene, according to authorities.
Anton "Tony" Wallace, a deacon at the church, had just passed out communion when the gunman shot him, according to ABC 13. He died at the hospital. He was 64-years-old. Another churchgoer, Richard White, 67, also lost his life when Kinnunen opened fire.

White Settlement is a suburb of Fort Worth, Texas, in Tarrant County. The city is located 41 miles west of Dallas.

Police and other emergency crews from Fort Worth were in White Settlement assisting in the investigation.

Texas officials took to Twitter to express their thoughts.

"We are shocked and saddened to hear reports of a shooting at a church in White Settlement," state Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote.

Gov. Greg Abbott said that he and his wife "ask all Texans to join us in praying for the White Settlement community and for those affected by this horrible tragedy."

Patch editors Colin Miner and Nikki Gaskins contributed to this story.