Former Creflo Dollar Employee Sought After Man Shot to Death at Megachurch
Police in Georgia are seeking gunman after a man was shot and killed.
Oct. 24, 2012 — -- Police in Georgia are seeking the man who allegedly shot and killed a volunteer leading a prayer this morning at the megachurch led by famed Georgia televangelist Creflo Dollar.
The shooting broke out at the World Changers Church International in the Atlanta suburb of College Park at 10:30 a.m., officials said. The victim, who had not been named, was sent to South Fulton Hospital in critical condition, but later died, according to ABC affiliate WSB-TV.
Authorities identified the suspected gunman as Floyd Palmer, a 52-year-old former facilities maintenance employee at the church. About 20 people were at the church when Palmer allegedly opened fire, killing the 39-year-old volunteer, and quickly left the scene, according to The Associated Press.
"He left as calmly as he came," Fulton County Police Cpl. Kay Lester said.
Police said Palmer is considered armed and dangerous. Investigators are still trying to determine whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
Pastor Dollar was not at the church at the time of the shooting, Lester told the AP. Security officials at World Changers Church International told ABC News today that they have no comment on the shooting.
Police in Fulton County are seeking a black Subaru in connection with the shooting.
Karen Webb told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the victim was shot six times.
"I brought my mother up here to go to church, every Wednesday she attends Bible study," Webb said. "As soon as we get here, I'm told someone has been shot. He was one of the praise leaders."
The 30,000-member World Changers Church International was founded in 1986 by Dollar, the son of a policeman and a school cafeteria worker. It grew from a modest first service in front of eight people to having thousands of followers in satellite churches across the country.
Dollar, 50, was arrested this summer after police received a domestic violence call from the pastor's 15-year-old daughter. A fight over whether the daughter could attend a party turned physical, authorities said. Dollar has denied the allegations that he beat his daughter.