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][10][11]
| Vestavia Hills church shooting | |
|---|---|
 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′8.0″N 86°43′50.5″W / 33.468889°N 86.730694°W |
| Date | June 16, 2022 6:22 p.m. – c. 6:30 p.m. (UTC−06:00) |
Attack type | Shooting, homicide, triple-murder |
| Weapons | Handgun[1] |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Injured | 0 |
| Perpetrator | Robert Findlay Smith[2] |
| Verdict | Pleaded Guilty: Sentenced to life imprisonment without parole |
| Convictions | Capital Murder x3 |
Victims
editReactions
editFollowing 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."[13]
During a Sunday morning service on June 19, 2022, the church gathered to honor the members who were shot and killed during the shooting.[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Alabama church shooter gets life for killing 3 at 'Boomers Potluck'". NBC News. May 3, 2023. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Robinson, Carol (June 17, 2022). "70-year-old man charged in Vestavia Hills church shooting that killed 3". Advance Local.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Schladebeck, Jessica (May 3, 2023). "Alabama man gets life in prison for shooting 3 during church potluck dinner". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Coote, Darryl (May 3, 2023). "Man who killed three in Alabama church shooting sentenced to life". UPI. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ "Suspect charged with capital murder after 3 people are dead in shooting at Vestavia Hills, Ala. church". WBRC. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Nunnally, Diamond (June 19, 2022). ""They modeled unconditional love" : St. Stephen's Episcopal Church honor shooting victims". WBMA. Retrieved June 20, 2022.