Search warrant: Adkisson admits church shooting, motives

More details are becoming known about the man accused of opening fire in a Knoxville church Sunday.

Documents reveal Adkisson is a veteran with a mostly clear prior criminal record but a troubled personal life. His ex-wife claimed he spoke of plans to kill her and himself.

Adkisson's Army records indicate he enlisted in Dec. 1974 and made the rank of Private (E-2) in May 1977. He was released from active duty in December of that year.

His military occupation specialty was as a helicopter repairman, and he was stationed with the 163d Aviation Company at Fort Campbell.

In 1990, he would get married to Liza Alexander. A decade later, she would file for divorce, which was granted in June 2000.

In the divorce filing, Alexander claimed Adkisson drank heavily every day and threatened her. In the divorce filing, she said he had told a friend he might kill her and then himself.

The search warrants indicate intense anger against liberal ideas.

"During the interview Adkisson stated that he had targeted the church because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were a ruining the country, and that he felt that the Democrats had tied his country's hands in the war on terror and they had ruined every institution in America with the aid of major media outlets. Adkisson made statements that because he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement that he would then target those that had voted them in to office. Adkisson stated that he had held these beliefs for about the last ten years. Adkisson made statements that he had pre-planned this shooting and had began writing the letter for the last week," the search warrant reads.

It also indicates he waived his Miranda Rights and admitted shooting Greg McKendry.

The search warrant also indicates he sawed off the shotgun used in the TVUUC shooting, and that he intended for police to kill him in apprehending him.

Investigators said Adkisson told them he left a letter explaining his motives at his home and even left the house unlocked for police to find it.