GARDENDALE — The Rev. Dr. Terry Greer is charged with one count of murder and another count of attempted murder, as a result of the shooting Thursday afternoon that left Greer’s wife Lisa dead, and his daughter Suzanna injured from gunshot wounds.
Greer remains in UAB Hospital Friday afternoon, but his condition has been upgraded from critical to stable, according to Gardendale Police Chief Mike Walker.
Walker held a press conference at the Public Safety Center Friday afternoon to give updates on the case, as well as release some details of the incident, which took place at the parsonage of Gardendale-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church. The parsonage is located on Country Meadow Drive in Mt. Olive, near the Mt. Olive Road exit on Interstate 65.
Walker said that Terry Greer shot his wife and daughter with a pistol, but Suzanna was able to wrest the gun away from her father and flee. Suzanna Greer then ran to a neighbor’s house, who then reported the incident to police.
Terry Greer then stabbed himself several times in the chest and neck. Responding officers stopped Terry Greer from further injury and restrained him.
All three were transported to UAB Hospital. Lisa Greer died between 12:30 and 1 a.m. Friday morning, Walker said.
When Terry Greer is released, he will be turned over to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. He will face bond of $135,000 total.
Walker refused to speculate on a motive, but did say that his department had no history of incidents with the Greer family or their address, to his knowledge.
Walker had words of condolence for Suzanna Greer, and for the Gardendale-Mt. Vernon church family.
“Our hope is that the church and community will support Ms. Greer during the aftermath of this tragic incident and beyond,” Walker said, reading from a prepared statement.
Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, the North Alabama Conference presiding bishop for the Birmingham area, will offer the message in both morning worship services this Sunday. The conference will also offer counselors for children and young people that morning.
Terry Greer took over the pastorate at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon in June, after transferring from First Methodist Church in Decatur. He swapped pastorates with Dr. Randy Guess, the longtime senior pastor at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon.
By Robert Carter, North Jefferson News