Updated at 7:40 p.m. ET: Minutes after Pastor Kenneth Samuel finished a eulogy about how life is fleeting, shots broke out in the church parking lot. Two people were confirmed dead; their identities were not released. Two or three others were injured, police told msnbc.com, although it was unclear whether those wounded were shot.
About 500 people had come to Victory Church in Stone Mountain, Ga., on Thursday afternoon for the funeral of Ryan Guider, 19, of Decatur, who was killed May 26.
As they filed out, Samuel went to his office to change his shirt before heading to the burial site. Minutes later, the area erupted into chaos.
“The first thing I thought to myself was, ‘My God, was anybody listening to what I was trying to say?’” Samuel said. “I think many people were. Unfortunately, not enough. The police told me even the shooter might have been in the service.”
DeKalb County spokeswoman Mekka Parish said police were trying to figure out what prompted the shooting.
"With hundreds of people there it quickly became a chaotic scene," she said.
Police initially believed that Marcus D. Ventress, who is suspected of killing Guider, was among the dead. Ventress allegedly killed Guider in retaliation for punching Ventress's mother during a home invasion. It has been confirmed that he was not among the dead, and it is unclear whether he was at the funeral, Parish said.
U.S. Marshals and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Deputies had been looking for Ventress in connection with Guider’s death. They told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Ventress is also suspected of shooting into an apartment, looking for Guider.
Five or six people are at the DeKalb County Sheriff headquarters for questioning, Parish said.
"Something of this nature is not a common occurrence," Parish said. Top police officials met with the pastor of the church and planned to hold a forum to discuss the violence, she said.
"These are individuals who know each other, but it appears to be spilling out into a public forum," she said. "This is not a situation of individuals firing in the crowd."
Pastor Samuel, who founded the church 25 years ago, said other members of his congregation have lost their sons to violence. But a shooting after a funeral left him stunned and saddened.
“We’re at the point now where the sanctity of the gathering means nothing to people,” he said.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:


Thanks for the full detailed story!
It had all the detailes needed. Sides, the good part is that they could just have the minister come back over and say a few more prayers, and inter the people shot. That saves money in this downed ecconomy. So there is a silver lining here.
Seems to me there area lot of dead people at funeral homes...........coincidence?
The guy for whom the funeral was being held (Guider) was thought to have been killed in retaliation for having robbed and assaulted the suspected killer's mother (Ventress). According to the article on the AJC's website, Ventress had a significant criminal record -- including assault, attempted murder and drug-related offenses -- well before he allegedly killed Guider. Talk about the proverbial "vicious cycle" of violence . . .
Crappy reporting as usual. DOn't know what Chris is going on about.
They simply mention that one of the suspects in the murder actually attended the funeral and then follow with a line that said the US Marshals are looking for him? HE WAS AT THE FUNERAL!!!!!!
So... did they find him and take him downtown??? That is kind of a BIG detail to leave out!!!!
Lolly1192, that is exactly what I was thinking!!!! No doubt that was a BIG part to leave out. I even said "He was at the funeral!!!" Why are they "looking" for him? LOL
That's whats wrong with America.........quality of work.
This has got to be one of the worst reportings ever written. Obviously from the posts I've read here, I'm not alone.
gtouch, excellent comment. LOL
Crackers anyone?
just send flowers...and stay home and troll...don't want'a risk... get'n the type'n finger shot...
Get your Gunn
G*ddamn your righteous hand!
grmasissa
Lolly1192, that is exactly what I was thinking!!!! No doubt that was a BIG part to leave out. I even said "He was at the funeral!!!" Why are they "looking" for him? LOL
Why dont you think about your own question. Duh he ran off after the shooting, NOW they are trying to find him. What did you think the marshals were at the funeral and he walked up and said ok we can go downtown now???
Stone Mountain is noted as the home of the second-largest rock in the world. You can take a cable car to the top, say, "Damn, this is a big rock." and then take the cable car back down.
"Police initially believed that Marcus D. Ventress, who is suspected of killing Guider, was among the dead. Ventress allegedly killed Guider in retaliation for punching Ventress's mother during a home invasion. It has been confirmed that he was not among the dead, and it is unclear whether he was at the funeral, Parish said."
"THERES NOTHING WORSE THAN A BUNCH OF SMART DUMB MUTHAF@CKA$."
"A funeral was being held for Ryan Devon Guider, 19, of Decatur, who was killed May 26, when gunfire rang out"
I wonder if he had died at a funeral too. Leason, don't go to funerals.
Lesson,stay in school...Leason?...really?
ECKY-504.....
pretty macbre picture to use for your profile.
@ECKY-504
Seriously... We know EXACTLY what was meant by "Leason". A-holes will find the smallest mistake and make it a big deal! -_______________________________________________-
@ECKY-504 - Seriously, you wanna be that guy? No wonder, you have no friends.
But wait! Hold 2 funerals for those 2 killed and bam bam bam bam 4 more down! Then on and on then next thing you know the system gets a break and then theres money for the old folks who need it for meds and food, not booze and crack...
No,No.No,,,this where y'all got it wrong,,,there really isn't anything else to report,,once you've have said,,that the incident occured in Dekalb county,,thats all you have to say."Not a common occurrence",,my foot,,,this is Dekalb county everyday.We get up every morning and take bets on how many killings took place over night,,in Dekalb county,,or Gwinnett,,this is VERY common behavior in those counties.A lot of people make not like my post,,however,,the truth hurts,,and the truth is,,those counties,,here in Atlanta,,,are nothing more than war zones,,with rival gangs,,blastin' the hell out of eachother,,on a daily basis.And not just Blacks,,it's the Asians,and the Hispanics thrown in for good measure.
Per WSBTV Guider was killed in retaliation for a home burglery. Not sure why his funeral was shot up, but you can only assume that the violent crime statistics are correct in this case as pertains to a description of the suspect.
Wow...it only took three posts to get to our first racist one. You even note the very tired statistics. Congratulations you are the winner! Too bad there is no prize. But I suppose all of your feelings of superiority are enough prize for you.
Yeah, is silly to assume such things, after all, it's such a rarity.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/two-fatally-shot-two-1454103.html
This guy posts statistical reality and you call him a racist! We all know now who the real racist or at least the possible member of that race at play here. Bury you head back in the sand and it will all go away or doing something about it without blaming anyone for the way things are. Please drive you comments toward what we all want things to be. Fair, equal, and without bias!
DLux: What's "raaacist" about the facts?
Stating stats isn't racist. What's racist is that as soon as I read the teaser "Two dead, others wounded at Georgia funeral" I knew where the shooting was. Atlanta may be too busy to hate, but Tucker isn't
It may not be 'PC' to say but that doesn't make it any less true. It's a sad fact that there are stereotypes and yet some are rightfully deserved, that doesn't make a person racist for pointing out a fact you may not like. For shooting to occur at a funeral is disgusting show of what humanity is slowly degrading to. I hope the families of those killed find peace and the killer is brought to justice.
Need more funerals!
I don't mind tellin' it like it is......Ni$$ers don't know how to behave...PERIOD. They go to da club...someone gets shot. They have a childs birthday party.....someone gets shot. Walk down da screet someone gets shot. Go to the Mall...someone gets shot and lets not forget about the church shootings. Of all the different ways on the planet to be human....Ni$$ers are definitely a strange breed. They're the only ones whom gather in groups of 20 or more , walk into a convience store , hold it hostage and walk out with half of it "in dey draws". They gather in droves ( a hundred or more) outside big department stores and riot over $200 sneakers. They drive tricked-out pimp mobiles yet live in shizit houses in shizit neighborhoods. A few ni$$ers in state prison figured out how to prepare phony tax returns and now every ni$$er neighborhood in the country is doin it....and what they can't get for free...they'll steal . Ni$$ers will be Ni$$ers plain and simple...a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. Call these life long observations racist ...call it what you want.....But what kind of person fires a weapon at funerals,birthday parties , club scenes or churches.....?
DLux - here's the definition of "racism" according to Merriam-Webster (that's a book called a dictionary if you've never held one):
rac·ism noun \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
Now that you are armed with the facts, please tell us what makes Dawgfan's post "racist." I get so sick and tired of you hysterics throwing around that word and others that you clearly don't even know the true meaning of. I'll bet you believe that anyone who is against Obama's policies is a "racist" as well.
Now regarding this story, at funerals everyone is high strung and on emotions. But you have to ask yourself this question: how come you never hear about rednecks shooting each other up at funerals?
I agree the original post was not raciest.
John Dalton's post however is. It is extremely ugly, detestable, and offensive in so many ways. It seems the amount of positive contributions made by the black community, and the amount of positive steps forward the community has taken as a whole, will always be overshadowed by people who think like him.
I ask you please take your hate-filled vitriol, and disgustingly bigoted name calling elsewhere please. It is not will here John Dalton.
Who cares? It's just black people being black people...it's what they do.
John Dalton-3455991, don't make racist remarks please. You are suspended for a day for violating rule # 5 of the Code of Honor.
Tell the truth as bad as it sounds and you get shut down. How about that.
10tacle,
Try to refrain from confusing some types of people with the facts, it could be considered prejudice against those who want to blather ignorance to further a specific agenda.
Hey they have photos and DETAILS here
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/two-fatally-shot-two-1454103.html
Dang that's some serious Black on Black crime!
When is Jessie and Al going to show up?
SallyAnn-4595694
Why would they show up? Black on Black crime is ordinary. Unlike the RARE event of Non Black on Black. Move along. Nothing to see here.
I think Jesse and/or Al would show up simply b/c they are self-aggrandizing attention whores. I don't think they give a hoot about anyone but themselves, and they are smart enough to know how to manipulate people of their own race/color into believing that they're something they're not. IMO, Jesse and Al are the worst racists on the planet, duping and taking advantage of their own.
Can't wait to see how many gets shot up at Als and Jesse's funeral...
Where is Barack, "If I had a son he would look just like these guys".
Sad part is, Jesse and/or Al get their name thrown around and highlighted by more people not of their color than anyone else. If they are manipulating anyone, it's those people who are not of their color. They do it by stirring your hate, animosity, and indignation.
As they say, bad press is still press. Whether they are heroes or villains, as long as you continue to say their name and remind people of their existence they will continue to have power.
They save on the hearse since at the grave yard already.
Actually, the one detail that is clear from this article is that the funeral/shooting happened at a church.
Just drag them out the front door and toss them in the same hole they dug for the one they were burrying! Better yet just hold more funerals and we can rid ourselves of gangs really fast!
"A funeral was being held for Ryan Devon Guider, 19, of Decatur, who was killed May 26, when gunfire rang out."
So Ryan Devon Guider, 19, died as a result of the sound of gunfire, or gunfire rang out on May 26, or....
Nice dangling modifier. Please go take 9th grade English.
ok s l o w l y ... this ryan was killed may 26 during the funral sat. the homies decided to pay there respects .
So, one thug (thug 1) got whacked because he stole another thugs (thug 2) stuff, including jewelry, money and drugs, and while he stole that stuff from thug2 he smacked the thug2s mother. (Per the story on the link trust-verify provided in post #4.)
At the funeral for thug1 that got whacked, the other thug2 comes along and wants to exact some additional retribution on the dead thugs (thug1) family and friends because killing thug1 that did the crime wasn't sufficient.
Yeah, that's rational thinking for thugs... isn't it?
LOL
here a thug, there a thug...... everywhere a thug.
so lets do some math....
funeral for 1 dead thug leads to 2 more dead thugs....
give it two weeks.. and we will have 4 more bodies? so that makes something like 4096 thugs will die in 6 months for a total of 8190 give or take?
That about sums it up, XD
why do you assume it was more thugs that were killed? it could have been innocent family members or friends.
@ Trust_Verify .... lol .... let's hope the trend continues. I freaking LOVE these stories where the bad guys just whack each other back and forth, saving the government a lot of resources (although if innocent bystanders are harmed that's another story ..... but IMO most of the family members know of and condone the bad behavior that got the deceased(s) in trouble to begin with, so .... most, IMO, are not so innocent). Live by the sword die by the sword.
two dead thugs dont make a thound
Lesson for future thugs. When robbing thug 2's crib make sure that you steal the guns too.
Bassai.... Thug1 couldn't steal Thug2s gun. Thug2 was out at work robbing and plundering and needed his gun for protection from "the man", or other carry permit holders.
Darn! Well on to plan B take thug 2's momma hostage.
sounds like more senseless gang violence....send them all to LA...
In the last week there has been so much violence. Forty people shot in Chicago during the Memorial Day weekend and 10 of them died. In LA the young father who was standing in his own front yard holding his 14 month old baby was shot because he was wearing a purple tee shirt, and the baby died. Now this, a couple of murders at a funeral? I'm starting to think some humans are mutating back into animals. No work ethic, refusing any and all education, chosing to steal and killing for amusement. Certainly they have something abnormal about them, they can't just all be sociopaths. Maybe the killers are all gang bangers (terrorists, really). I hope its something that simple, that can be acted on by making gang banging a federal crime with the punishment an extended stay in a federal supermax prison. No cushy state prison, a supermax has no parole, no contact visits, usually hundreds or thousands of miles from friends and family, no free college courses, no weight rooms, no recreation. Maybe facing something like that will stem the violence.
Gangbangers are nothing more than local terrorist. They should get there butts sent to Gitmo, Guantanamo Bay and anywhere else that seems fit.
A .22 round behind the ear will stem violence also. Everyone they catch, no prison, just a round behind the ear. Never have a repeat offender, and saves the taxpayers money.
make it a .44 caliber, they might survive a .22
Due process? Oh, wait, the Constitution is just a piece of **&%$%^ paper.
Funny, I live in West Central FL and we haven't had much gang violence, but at least six murder suicides, all my men, most were comfortable financially, but there wives were leaving. One happened right down the street from me. Even the newscasters can't believe the horrible rash of killing of wives by their husbands. Yes, gang violence is bad. Very bad. Mostly in larger cities. They mostly kill their own.....and I guess the husbands killed their own too. their own wives.
8000 people each day are killed by gang violence. 56000 people are directly affected each day by gang violence. I made these stats up but it just goes to show you; this may be a bigger problem than we first thought
louis magoois
Mind either correcting your numbers or providing a link? There are roughly 16000 homicides a YEAR and of those 9600 are by firearms. Even if we include Mexico in those numbers, about 8800 a year, your numbers still don't add up.
Trust: Can't you read? Rehtorical question.
Rasputin-2589057
Trust: Can't you read? Rehtorical question.
riiiiiggggttttt.. seems they may have done an EDIT after I replied.
we need the senseless violence to escalate in order to match or exceed the number of unwanted children born and trim the bulging population
LAS VEGAS ODDS HAVE IT AS:
.
- They were German-American Families 1,000 - 1
- They were Hassidic Jews 3000 - 1
- They were "People of Color"*** 3 - 2
'
***Not to offend, the term "Afro-American" or "People of Ethnicity" may be substituted.
Well my grandmother died at the funeral for her sister but that was a heart attack.
If and when they find the person responsible, just put a bullet in their head. Quit screwing around.
The NRA is running out of shooting places, so a church is as good a place as any other.
Rasputin-2589057
I am sure that ALL the guns were legal and everyone was a registered member of the NRA. (sarcasm)
Or perhaps one of your family members' houses would suffice...or your particular place of worship. I was wondering how long before the first anti-Christian scum spouted a snide remark.
Well trust, I would be willing to bet a whistle that those guns were legally made and sold at one time. More guns sold equals more guns on the street. Your statement that ALL guns were legal is invalid as your statemnt that they are members of the NRA. The facts are the NRA is a gun lobby not a public interest group.
Sweet zombified Jesus! Lighten up MrShin. A little overly protective of your invisible friend, don't ya think?
I was wondering how long it would take before some anti-gun zealot would blame the evil NRA. Are they responsible for global warming too?
I have to agree with JMcCranky on this one MrShin. Lighten up.
John in Battle Creek
You do know the word sarcasm? Notice it at the end of the sentence?
While the guns may have been legal at one point my point stands that none of those doing the shooting were members of the NRA nor likely to have legal possession of the guns they used. The statement was made in response to #15 - Thu Jun 7, 2012 4:52 PM EDT
Can you show us where the guns used in this past time were legally owned at the time of the shooting or that those shooters were EVER registered with the NRA?
A total lack of respect for the law, the lives of others, or the sanctity of a funeral. Punks like this are beyond rehabilitation. Same thing happened in Miami a couple of months ago. Sickening and saddening. My thoughts are with the innocent victims. I hope they get justice.
sounds like the killers are killing the killers.
So who cares?
lets cull the herd
That would be a good idea except they can't shoot straight and take innocent lives.
If it was just the killers killing the killers, I could accept that as a form of rough justice. "What goes around comes around." Of course, the problem, as HadEnoughOfIt points out, is that there are almost always innocents in the crossfire. Not long ago, a girl in Miami was hit while just sitting in her bedroom. Just minding her own business, and bang, a bullet sails in and hits her. She survived, thankfully, and went back to school. If only these thugs could hit what they were aiming at and not the innocent bystanders who have no part in their juvenile feuds and vendettas.
sounds like the killers are killing the killers.
That's alright, it's an all black funeral. FIRE AWAY !!!
It was Bush's fault(Sarcasm). There hasn't been anyone saying that yet, so.......
I would guess that it is Bush's fault indirectly as he created the worst economy since the great depression. That probably led to the break in that ended in this shooting. So while your feeble attempt at sarcasm may be correct in your little mind it is probably closer to the truth then you could ever think.
Bush was too stupid to be at fault. He couldn't speak in public without screwing up. He was a puppet as are most heads of state now days.
So, according to this article, "They say Marcus D. Ventress, who was at Guider's funeral, is suspected of killing Guider on May 26 as revenge" and that "U.S. Marshals and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Deputies had been looking for Ventress". I guess they missed him again? Seems like violence breaks out wherever this young man shows up.
What I'm trying to understand is, If Ventress is/was suspected of the shooting of Guider, why in the world would he be at his funeral? Was he trying to make sure he was dead/buried, I mean, how dumb could you be to show up at the man's funeral you are suspected of killing? And I was actually getting off work and traveling in this direction, and saw all the commotion at the church, and had to be turned around because they had blocked the street off, it's just awful, to know that innocent people were hurt because of stupidity, and stupidity has no color!
Maybe Ventress thought his absence from the funeral would have been suspicious. Maybe he went there to gloat. Who knows with these punks.
I was dying to go to a funeral, but not my own.
Another win for the NRA, they won't be happy until everyone owns a 30 shooter so we can have Gunsmoke in the street type shoot outs. Oh, we are doing that. WTG NRA.
TROLL
Blaming the NRA....are you serious?!? What are the chances that this fine young killer registered his gun with the proper authorities? or took an NRA or police sponsored safety course? Shut your liberal fargin mouth and admit where the blame lies! You're an idiot with your head in the sand!
Hey John,
That's it. Blame the organization that protects the rights of millions of lawbiding citizens (a majority) rather than the lack of morality exhibited by gang-banging thugs (a minority). Blowmeyoudouchebagphuck!!
You are really going out of your way to show how big an Idiot you are.
John,
You are ignorant to the actual facts regarding the possession of firearms by criminals. If someone steals your car and kills a family in an accident can we sue you and make cars illegal?
These young "thugs" seem to be enjoying killing each . Just so they keep it in the family.
Self defense?
I guess not.
Have gun - will shoot.
Considering a citizen is murdered by firearm at a rate of more than one-an-hour in the United States, wouldn't it be fair to state that it's part of the American culture? Understand, "murder" is not the same as "self defense", and that average doesn't include "accidental" shootings or murder by other means - strictly murder by firearm - one-an-hour in the U.S.
I own a Winchester SX3 btw, simply because I can, but I understand the implications.
HRDawg... only anSX3?
Great as long as you don't want to carry it. It might get a little awkward trying to pull that out of an Inside The Waistband (IWB) hoslter. Of course you might get a lot of girls chasing you!!
How many of those "murders" were committed with a legally possessed firearm?
Negroes.....
Those who live by the sword....
... are ninjas.
or pirates matey...
or sword makers...
"Ninja" is the new "N" word. P.C.
Those that live in the trees.....
. . . will leave.
Yard Apes