WASHINGTON, July 27: One person was killed and several wounded on Sunday when a man armed with a shotgun opened fire in a church in Knoxville, Tennessee, local television reported.

One person died and five were in critical condition after a man with long blond hair who appeared to be in his 40s indiscriminately opened fire on parishioners at a Unitarian Church service Sunday morning, Knoxville City Councilman Joe Hultquist told WBIR television.

A group of children were singing for parishioners when the gunman opened fire, the local television station reported, but no children were among the injured.

WBIR said two members of the congregation tackled the gunman and held him until he was taken into custody by police.

WVLT TV said the man fired around 13 shots around 10:15 am (1415 GMT) before being overpowered.

He was not believed to be a member of the church and a motive for the rampage was not immediately known.—AFP