US: Services set to resume at church where shooting killed 3

Vestavia Hills, Jun 19 (AP) Worship services are set to resume Sunday at Alabama church where a gunman opened fire and killed three senior citizens at a potluck dinner earlier in week.

Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church announced that members will gar for morning worship “in wake of unfathomable loss and grief in hope of Christ's Resurrection.” Walter “Bart” Rainey, 84, of Irondale, Sarah Yeager, 75, of Pelham and a third person were killed in shooting attack Thursday night. Police did not release name of third victim, an 84-year-old woman, citing her family's request for privacy.

Robert Findlay Smith, 70, is charged with capital murder in deaths of three church members. Police have not disclosed a motive for shooting.

Susan Sallin, a survivor, told ABC 33/40 that group was having a “joyous” dinner garing when shots suddenly rang out. She said she dove to floor and realized two of her friends h been struck by bullets.

“I scooched my way over to my friends and one was unconscious and one was conscious. But I was able to pat m on shoulder and just keep saying, You're loved. You're loved. You're not alone,'" she told station.

Records from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives show Smith is a licensed firearm dealer whose business is listed at his home dress. He received a warning letter in 2018 from federal authorities for failing to keep a record of disposition of all firearms, according to reporting compiled by Trace and USA. That report said re were 86 firearms on hand in inventory during inspection period.

Rev. Doug Carpenter, a former pastor at church, said gunman h come to garing, refused an offer of a plate of food and n opened fire. Carpenter was not present at garing, but h spoken to people who were re.

Anor church member, a man in his 70s, grabbed a folding chair and charged gunman, according to Carpenter. “He hit him with a folding chair, wrestling him to ground, took gun from him and hit him in he with his own gun,” retired pastor said.