Vestavia Hills church shooting

Church shooting in Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Vestavia Hills church shooting

Part of gun violence in the United States

Location of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Location| St. Stephen's Episcopal Church,
3775 Crosshaven Drive
Vestavia Hills, Alabama, U.S.
Coordinates| 33°28′8.472″N 86°43′50.412″W﻿ / ﻿33.46902000°N 86.73067000°W﻿ / 33.46902000; -86.73067000
Date| June 16, 2022 (2022-06-16)
6:22 p.m. – c. 6:30 p.m. (UTC−06:00)

Attack type

| Shooting, homicide, triple-murder
Weapons| Handgun[1]
Deaths| 3
Perpetrator| Robert Findlay Smith[2]
Verdict| Pleaded Guilty: Sentenced to life imprisonment without parole
Convictions| Capital Murder x3

The Vestavia Hills church shooting occurred on June 16, 2022 at 6:22 p.m. local time in Vestavia Hills, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. A man entered the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and opened fire during a potluck meeting, which the church had previously advertised. Two people were killed at the scene, a third died later in hospital, and the suspect is subsequently in custody.[3][4][5] The suspect was a 70 year old Birmingham man named Robert Findlay Smith (born December 23, 1951),[6][2] a gun dealer.[7][8] On May 2, 2023, Smith pled guilty in the shooting and was sentenced to life without parole.[9]

## Victims[edit]

* Sarah Yeager, 75[3]
* Walter Rainey, 84[3]
* Jane Pounds, 84, initially reported injured, died at a local hospital. Her family requested that her name be withheld, but it was made public by the press.[4][10]

## Reactions[edit]

Following the shooting, Alabama governor Kay Ivey issued a statement saying that the shooting is "shocking and tragic," adding that "this should never happen — in a church, in a store, in the city or anywhere."[11]

During a Sunday morning service on June 19, 2022, the church gathered to honor the members who were shot and killed during the shooting.[12]

## See also[edit]

* Gun violence in the United States
* List of mass shootings in the United States in 2022

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Alabama church shooter gets life for killing 3 at 'Boomers Potluck'". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023.
2. ^ a b Hernandez, Emily (June 18, 2022). "Police ID Suspect in Alabama Church Potluck Shooting as Robert Findlay Smith". The Daily Beast. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
3. ^ a b c Reeves, Jay; Chandler, Kim (June 17, 2022). "Gunman kills 3 seniors over potluck dinner at Alabama church". AP NEWS. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
4. ^ a b Hanna, Jason (June 17, 2022). "A third victim has died after a shooting at Alabama church where the suspect was an occasional attendee". CNN. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
5. ^ Santucci, Jeanine (June 16, 2022). "2 killed, 1 injured in Alabama church shooting, authorities say; suspected shooter in custody". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
6. ^ Robinson, Carol (June 17, 2022). "70-year-old man charged in Vestavia Hills church shooting that killed 3". Advance Local.
7. ^ Boniello, Kathianne (June 19, 2022). "Accused Alabama church shooter was gun dealer, had run afoul of ATF: report". New York Post. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
8. ^ Luperon, Alberto (June 19, 2022). "Defendant in Alabama Church Shooting Was Firearms Dealer Who Once Crossed Paths with Federal Authorities". Law & Crime. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
9. ^ Robinson, Carol (May 2, 2023). "St. Stephen's Episcopal Church shooter pleads guilty to murder of 3 at potluck supper". al.com. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
10. ^ "Suspect charged with capital murder after 3 people are dead in shooting at Vestavia Hills, Ala. church". WBRC. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
11. ^ Tanyos, Faris (June 17, 2022). "2 killed, 1 wounded in shooting at Alabama church; suspect in custody". CBS Interactive Inc. CBS News. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
12. ^ Nunnally, Diamond (June 19, 2022). ""They modeled unconditional love" : St. Stephen's Episcopal Church honor shooting victims". WBMA. Retrieved June 20, 2022.

*[c.]: circa