A woman was shot and killed in the parking lot of the church. She has been identified Melanie Smith, 39, of Smyrna.
The shooter has been identified as 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson. Police have said he previously attended the church but had not been there in more than a year.
About an hour before the shooting, Samson had made several cryptic Facebook posts.
After killing the woman in the parking lot, Samson entered the church and began firing. Several people were wounded.
A churchgoer, 22-year-old Robert Engle, confronted Samson as he entered the church. Samson pistol-whipped Engle who struggled with him. During the struggle, Samson shot himself.
After Samson shot himself, Engle ran out to his vehicle, retrieved his own weapon, went back into the church and subdued Samson until police arrived.
A 10-year-old boy was among a group in a separate room in the church. He helped barricade the door to protect the group.
In addition to the shooter, several other people were hurt, including one who was critically injured. As of Monday five remained hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in stable condition.
Nashville Megan Barry called the shooting a "terrible tragedy for our city." President Donald Trump had yet to make a statement on the shooting at about 12:45 p.m. CT Monday.
Nearly three months before Samson went on the shooting rampage at the church he threatened to kill himself. In addition he had two domestic disputes with a woman that resulted in calls to Murfreesboro police.
A police affidavit states Samson told police in an interview that he "fired upon the church building."
A motive in the shooting has not been released.
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