Volunteer killed at Creflo Dollar's Georgia megachurch, police say

Editor's note: A former employee of televangelist Creflo Dollar's Atlanta-area megachurch is suspected of fatally shooting one of the church's volunteer staff members as the volunteer was leading a prayer service there Wednesday morning, police say. The suspect, Floyd Palmer, 52, was arrested hours later at an Atlanta mall, the U.S. Marshals Service told CNN. Below are developments as they come in; for more on the shooting and Dollar's church,check out this story, and CNN affiliates WXIA, WSB and WGCL.

[Updated at 4:27 p.m. ET] The suspect in the shooting, Floyd Palmer, 52, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at Atlanta's Lenox Square mall, the U.S. Marshals Service says.

Earlier, police said Palmer was an former employee of World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia, where the shooting happened Wednesday morning during a prayer service.

[Updated at 12:39 p.m. ET] The man who died was a volunteer staff member who was leading a prayer service for about 20 people at the church when he was shot, and investigators believe the gunman was a former church member and facilities maintenance employee, police said.

The suspect, Floyd Palmer, 52, is on the loose, according to police. The shooting happened at World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia, where Palmer worked until August, authorities said.

Police said the victim was 39, but his name hasn't been released. A police spokeswoman said she didn't know whether the victim was targeted specifically, and she didn't know whether Palmer knew the victim.

Police, citing witnesses, said Palmer entered the church calmly, shot the victim, and calmly left the building.

[Updated at 11:37 a.m. ET] A man has died after being shot Wednesday morning at the suburban Atlanta megachurch of televangelist pastor Creflo Dollar, a Fulton County Police Department spokeswoman says.

The shooter is on the loose, Fulton County police Cpl. Kay Lester added. The victim's identity hasn't been released.

[Posted at 11:04 a.m. ET] At least one person was shot Wednesday morning at the suburban Atlanta megachurch of pastor Creflo Dollar, and police are looking for the gunman, authorities say.

The shooting happened at a chapel in the World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia, a police spokeswoman told CNN. CPR was being performed on the victim, whose identity wasn't immediately released, CNN affiliate WXIA reported.

The church does have a morning service, but Fulton County police Cpl. Kay Lester said she didn't know whether the service was in progress at the time of the shooting.

The church claims about 30,000 members. Dollar is a high-profile preacher of the Prosperity Gospel, whose message in part is that God promised generosity in this life and that believers can claim it.

Since he started his ministry in an elementary school cafeteria in 1986, Dollar has received praise and criticism. Supporters say he has preached a message that's financially empowered his parishioners and challenged the idea that Christians should be ashamed to be rich. Critics call him "Cash-Flow Dollar" and say his message perverts the Gospel.

Dollar produces a "Changing Your World" TV program that is shown on various cable and satellite TV networks.

(RELATED)

Creflo Dollar megachurch gunman charged in ’01 mosque shooting

A former megachurch maintenance man accused of killing a volunteer leading a prayer service was charged more than a decade ago with a shooting at a mosque in Maryland, according to police documents.

Floyd Palmer was acting as security at a Baltimore mosque in June 2001 when he shot another man working with him, wounding him in the back, according to a police report obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday. Palmer tried to fire the gun again, but it jammed. When other people ran over to him, he turned the gun on them, but it again wouldn’t fire, according to the documents.

The report did not say why Palmer shot the man in the back.

Palmer faced attempted murder, assault and handgun charges, and he was committed to a psychiatric hospital in 2004 after pleading not criminally responsible to lesser charges. Court records show he was released the next year.

It’s not clear when he made his way south to Atlanta. He had been working at World Changers Church International, but quit in August for “personal reasons,” Fulton County Police Cpl. Kay Lester said.

On Wednesday, authorities said Palmer, 51, calmly walked into a chapel as Greg McDowell, 39, was leading a morning prayer service for a group of about 25 people.

Only McDowell was shot. Authorities are trying to figure out if the two men knew each other.

Palmer casually walked out of the chapel and police arrested him several hours later when they spotted his station wagon at a mall in suburban Atlanta. Police said they have not found the gun.

Visibly distraught members of McDowell’s family showed up at the Fulton County jail for Palmer’s first court hearing Thursday, but he waived his appearance.

Palmer faces murder and firearms charges. His next hearing is Nov. 8.

The Fulton County public defender is representing Palmer, but a representative said no one was immediately available to comment on the case.

Ken Terry, a church pastor acting as a spokesman for McDowell’s family, said the church family was distraught and trying to comfort McDowell’s family.

“He would be considered a model dad,” Terry said. “To have this happen is just devastating.”

Renee Sunshine Lewis of the Fulton County victim assistance program called McDowell “a very loving person, extremely loving” and said “the family is just asking for prayers at this time.”

Although the campus has security officers and surveillance cameras, Lester said the suspect was known to some at the service, so his presence wouldn’t have been unusual.

The violence upset members and neighbors of the church, which is one of the largest in the United States, claiming 30,000 members at the main campus and a ministry of satellite churches across the country.

World Changes is led by the Rev. Creflo Dollar, who was not there at the time of the shooting.

Along with Bishop Eddie Long, Dollar is one of the most prominent African-American preachers based around Atlanta who have built successful ministries on the prosperity gospel, which teaches that God wants to bless the faithful with earthly riches.

Dollar didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press, but he preached Wednesday evening at a Bible study in the campus’s larger World Dome sanctuary. He repeated the importance of having faith in God even when bad things happen and rejecting fear and doubt.

“We pray for this family,” he said, referring to McDowell. “We pray for both families and then we pray for every family that’s in here tonight.”

(AND)

Creflo Dollar asks members to donate $234K to church shooting victim's family

The Rev. Creflo Dollar on Sunday sought to pay all the bills for the family of the church employee shot and killed at his World Changers Church International on Wednesday.

“In my book, he’s a hero,” Dollar said of Greg McDowell, who was gunned down while leading morning prayer service at the church. “If those bullets hadn’t been trained on him, there would’ve been more people that would’ve died,” Dollar told the congregation.

Police have charged former church employee Floyd Palmer in McDowel’s death. Investigators say Palmer, 52, calmly walked into morning prayer service Wednesday and fired six shots at McDowell, killing the 39-year-old husband and father.

Dollar challenged church members to give as they left the College Park church, to make online donations and to give to a special fund the church has set up at a bank.

“The goal is $234,000,” Dollar said, telling the congregation he wanted to raise that amount by the end of the day Sunday. “We want to completely eradicate all debts in their lives … house, cars, everything. Let’s now show the world the power of a megachurch.”

Members told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution they expected Dollar’s response to the tragedy.

“It didn’t surprise me at all,” Juliet Hilton said. “He did tell us on Wednesday (night) that he was going to take up an extra offering.”

“He has a love for people,” Debbie Taylor said.

Mike Howard said Dollar’s actions, and the acquiescence of the church members was just part of belonging to the church.

“The McDowells are family,” Howard said. “We take care of each other here.”

Marcia Danielson said the gesture reflects Bible scripture that directs each church to take care of its members when the need arises.

“If it were me, I would’ve wanted that for my family,” she said. “That’s an incredible burden lifted.”

Indeed, Dollar highlighted such burdens when he asked the church to help McDowell’s family.

“It’s enough to have somebody torn away from you,” he said. “And at the same time have to be worried about all of the debts.”

Blue barrels were stationed near each of the exits and church-goers dropped cash and envelopes filled with checks and money as they departed.

It was unclear early Sunday afternoon, how much the church raised, but donations continue to be accepted.

Contributions can be made through the World Changers online, under the Gregory McDowell Family Fund .

An account has been established at Regions Bank for donations in the name of the McDowell Family, Dollar said.

Services for McDowell will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church at 2500 Burdett Road.

Return for updates.

Jer 12:10- Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Jer 12:11- They have made it desolate, [and being] desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth [it] to heart.

Jer 23:1- Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.