A Tennessee church is in mourning after the death of their pastor, who was caught up in a domestic dispute.
Rev. Kenny Cook, 58, the pastor at Mosheim Church of God in Tennessee, and two others have all been killed after a deadly shooting last week in the parking lot of a gas station in White Pine.
According to Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Coffey, the shooting was the result of a custody drop-off between two parents, who were meeting to change custody of their teenage child. The biological father, 48 year-old Christopher Ray Welch, of Harriman, Tennessee, was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the White Pine Police Department, while his daughter and Rev. Cook were injured.
WVLT News reported that Rev. Cook was previously in a critical condition and on life-support at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. However, he and his step-daughter, 16 year-old Teagan Welch, have both since passed away.
All three died of gunshot wounds, but police won’t say who was the perpetrator.
A fourth family member at the scene was not injured. It is believed she is assisting police with their investigation.
The investigation is being led by the White Pine Police Department, Sheriff Coffey said. The incident occurred around 3:45 PM Monday in the parking lot of the Pilot gas station near the exit 4 on ramp to Interstate 81.
Danielle Jarvis
Soul Purpose
Matthias Browning
