Police are looking for a gunman after the shooting at the Georgia megachurch of televangelist Creflo Dollar.

October 24th, 2012

11:04 AM ET

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. Police say suspect Floyd Palmer, 52, is on the loose. Below are developments as they came in; for more on the shooting and Dollar's church, check out this story, and CNN affiliates WXIA, WSB and WGCL.

[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 if 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 earned both 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.

Post by: CNN's Jason Hanna, CNN's Mariano Castillo, CNN's Melanie Whitley, CNN's Nick Valencia Filed under: Crime • Georgia • Religioncopy http://news.blogs.cnn.com