Vestavia Hills church shooting victims identified, suspect facing capital murder charges

Police in Vestavia Hills, Alabama said a 71-year-old man opened fire on a potluck dinner group at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Thursday afternoon, killing a man and two women. Learn more in the video above.

Vestavia Hills Police Captain Shane Ware identified the deceased victims as 84-year-old Walter Bartlett Rainey of Irondale and 75-year-old Sarah Yeager of Pelham. Ware said Rainey died at the scene and Yeager died at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. An 84-year-old Hoover woman whose name hasn’t been released was injured in the shooting but died Friday at the hospital.

Police shared this update Friday afternoon: “It is with great sadness that the Vestavia Hills Police Department reports the passing of the third shooting victim from Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church. An 84-year-old white female was transported, from the scene, to UAB hospital for treatment on the evening of June 16, 2022. The family of the victim asks that we do not release her name for reasons of privacy.

Our thoughts and prayers continuously go out to the victims, their families and all who are affected by this tragic event. ” Ware did not identify the suspected shooter but said he was a 71-year-old white man who was an occasional attendee of the church. Ware said another church member subdued the suspect after the shooting until police could arrive and take him into custody.

The suspect is being held in the Vestavia Hills city jail and is facing capital murder charges, Ware said. Police said the man’s identity will be released once warrants are signed. Authorities believe he acted alone and there is no threat to the community.

Get the WVTM 13 app for the latest updates on this developing story. Follow WVTM 13 on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and YouTube . — The family of the Irondale man killed in the shooting released the following statement on Friday: “The family of Walter Bartlett Rainey (Bartlett) wishes to thank every person who has reached out to offer prayers and a thousand different kindnesses to ease the loss we all feel acutely today while still finding it so hard to believe.

Bartlett was a husband of 61 years to Linda Foster Rainey, and we are all grateful that she was spared and that he died in her arms while she murmured words of comfort and love into his ears. We also feel a sense of peace that his last hours were spent in one of his favorite places on earth, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, a place that welcomes everyone with love.

We are proud that in his last act on earth, he extended the hand of community and fellowship to a stranger, regardless of the outcome. Bart Rainey was strong in faith and secure in the love of his family and friends. He made everyone he encountered feel special.

We hope you will honor him by extending your hand to those around you who are in need. We—his wife, children, and grandchildren — will miss him. ” — Friday, 10:10 a.

m. “On Thursday, June 16, 2022, at approximately 6:22 PM the Vestavia Hills Police Department and The Vestavia Hills Fire Department were dispatched to the Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church located at 3775 Crosshaven Drive Vestavia Hills, AL in the Cahaba Heights Community on a call of an Active Shooter. “The church was hosting a small group meeting, referred to as a Boomers Pot Luck dinner.

“Our investigation, while ongoing, has revealed that an occasional attendee of the church that I will only identify as a white male aged 71 was at the dinner. At some point he produced a concealed handgun and began shooting striking the three victims. “The victims are identified as: “Another attendee at the event subdued the suspect and held him down until law enforcement arrived.

“The suspect is currently in custody at the Vestavia Hills Police Department and will remain there while warrants for Capital Murder are issued by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office later today. “The suspect acted alone, there is no threat to the community. “Detectives with the VHPD and other agencies are still actively investigating this case and remain on-scene at the Episcopal Church.

“The VHPD would like to thank our local and federal partners that assisted in this investigation. “All subsequent updates will be released via the VHPD Facebook page and press release. “.