The man who fatally shot two people at a White Settlement Church on Sunday before being killed by church security has been identified as a 43-year-old Keith Thomas Kinnunen, a River Oaks man with a long criminal history and described by his ex-wife as “battling a demon” and “not nice to anyone.”
Kinnunen was identified as the shooter Monday morning by two law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation. NBC 5 has learned his criminal past included charges of assault, theft, arson and possession of an illegal weapon in Texas, Oklahoma and New Jersey.
Kinnunen was believed to have been wearing a disguise, including a fake beard and wig, when he stood up from a pew during communion, pulled a shotgun from his clothing and opened fire inside a North Texas church, killing 64-year-old Anton Wallace, a church deacon from Fort Worth, and 67-year-old Richard White, of River Oaks.
Volunteer church security immediately approached Kinnunen and returned fire, killing him.
“I was so surprised because I did not know that so many in the church were armed,” Isabel Arreola said, telling the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that she was sitting near the gunman, had never seen him before, looked like he was wearing a disguise and that he “made her uncomfortable.”
The FBI is working to identify the shooter’s motive. Matthew DeSarno, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Dallas field office, said the gunman was “relatively transient,” but had roots in the area.
Britt Farmer, senior minister at West Freeway Church of Christ, confirmed Monday that the church had provided Kinnunen with food on multiple occasions, but wasn’t sure of the date of the most recent gift. The church also confirmed Kinnunen had asked for money, but was not given any.
Church leaders said they did not recognize Kinnunen on Sunday morning because he was in disguise, confirmed the son of the church’s senior minister. In fact, many lifelong church members said they immediately noticed the strange man because it appeared he was wearing a large, fake beard.
Kinnunen’s ex-wife, Cindy Glasgow-Voegel, filed for a protective order in January 2012 in Grady County, Oklahoma. In her statement in the order, she wrote, “Keith is a violent, paranoid person with a long line of assault and batteries with and without firearms. He is a religious fanatic, says he’s battling a demon. He is not nice to anyone.”
In that same 2012 document, Glasgow-Voegel said Kinnunen showed up at her home in October 2011 unannounced, with no money or vehicle, asking to see his son. She said she got him a trailer and a job and that he quit the job, assaulted a man in Tuttle, Oklahoma, and was in the county jail. She said their 15-year-old son was “terrified” of his father and that he threatened her should she try to keep them apart.
In the protective order, the woman said her son was visiting his father when he set several fires around Tuttle and that her son recorded the arson but didn’t saying anything out of fear of retaliation. An arrest warrant affidavit filed in December 2011, that included a statement from his teenage son, said Kinnunen set a cotton field on fire using lamp oil, tampons and a lighter. His son also said his father liked to play “fire football,” where he soaked a football in a flammable liquid, lit the ball on fire and then they’d toss it back and forth. The teen told police he thought it was unsafe but that he was “afraid he might get mad at me if I asked to stop.”
Read the rest and see the pics and videos here: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/river-oaks-man-identified-as-shooter-in-white-settlement-church/2283777/
Unfortunately he could not possibly be guilty of possession of an illegal weapon… Since such things can’t exist in America.
Show me the Law where these things derive their illegality and I’ll show you a law that is repugnant to our bill of rights… There can be no such laws. That is why there will be a bloodletting the likes never seen as soon as these punks find the balls to try and take our arms…
This Scumbag got his dues and was lucky enough to get a couple rounds off. But one thing he did not do, is break any laws in regards to guns. He could carry that shotgun into church no matter, the second he pulled it out to use it and did, that is when he became a criminal, essentially committing suicide anyway.
THEM DAMNED WHITE SETTLEMENTS! I TELL YA!
THEY OUGHT TO BE GETTIN RID OF!
Yeah, that’s kind of still sitting in my craw…of all the places?
Smells psyopsy buuut, you know. We’re all just damn conspiracy theorists here, ya know?
The govt would never have a hand in ANYTHING nefarious!
Just smile and wave, brother. smile and wave.
🙂
Beware of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Churches, They are uninspired and severely restrict guns in their churches, even though their hierarchy are getting the best security their members money can buy.
They fought Texas in the quest to arm religious people attending church. Under the new Texas law, it is legal to carry concealed weapons in places of worship. However, churches can bar weapons on religious premises by giving “effective notice” verbally or thorough building signs. “The decision has been made not to place written signs on our buildings,” an Aug. 22 letter to leaders in the church’s Southwest area states. Rather, “we are asking all bishops in Texas to read the following statement in the sacrament meetings of all units to give effective oral notice to members of the church and visitors that weapons are not permitted.” The announcement “constitutes effective notice that it is not permissible to enter the premises of Latter-day Saint buildings with open or concealed weapons except as permitted by the church’s policy.” If those not in attendance Sunday to hear the policy ever show up at church carrying a gun — open or concealed — “the priesthood leader should read the approved statement,” the letter says, “and kindly ask them to comply by removing the firearm from the building.” Ty Andersen, a Latter-day Saint in Fort Worth, was among those who heard the announcement. “I respect the church’s decision to not allow firearms in buildings,” he wrote in an email. “I’m a gun owner myself and grew up in a rural area where gun ownership was very common. But I feel strongly that private entities should have the right to place limitations on people carrying firearms on their property. I attend a ward [congregation] where police officers are present, and I feel reasonably safe at church.” Andersen is “hopeful,” he said, “that the policy will help other church members and visitors feel welcome and safe as well
how would anyone know you are carrying concealed?..( its concealed ..hence cant see it dont know about it, the main purpose.. duh__)
I look at it like this
Its my Right
so fck off..dont care about what story book you read or worship ..i worship living first
My pastor read the news about the White Settlement church shooting, and is asking for volunteers for security. Thinking about volunteering. Most churches are like sitting ducks for this kind of trouble.
I ask you please to do this
The life you save , could be your own
I’ve always carried everywhere I go for over the past 24 years
Yes I attend church.. ( I know to some here that might be a surprise with my gator mouth )
And yes I take it with me there also
I’m no stranger to the congregation ,(same church since a child) and they very well know my stance on everyone of their lives being worth defending , I’ve not had a negative thing ever said to me about it in all the years of me standing up for my personal right to protect myself or others with a firearm
Good on ya man
I pray you never have to use it , but will rest better knowing you have it , and are there to safeguard those unwilling