Fatal shooting stuns church members

The World Changers Church community is devastated over Wednesday's deadly shooting. Many members say they can't believe such a horrible crime happened inside the place where they worship.    

Police say that Floyd Palmer, a former church maintenance man, walked into a church chapel and shot and killed Gregory McDowell as he led prayer services. McDowell later died of injuries suffered in the shooting.

Authorities arrested Palmer just before 4 p.m. at Lenox Square in Buckhead. Palmer waived his first court appearance on Thursday, and remains in the Fulton County. He is facing four charges, including Homicide and Felony Murder in connection with the shooting.

Dozens of children were at a daycare on the World Changers Church south Fulton campus when gunfire rang out in the church sanctuary around 10:30 a.m. Frantic parents raced to the church as news of the shooting spread.

• PHOTOS FROM THE SCENE

Several staff and church members were also at the megachurch, many attending the 10 a.m. worship service.

Rachel Alexander's sister works in the church daycare. Alexander was unable to reach her by phone, so she rushed to the scene to make sure her sister was OK.

With little information released in the first hours after the shooting, concerned church members watched police work and wondered how something like this could happen there. Congregants say that there is a generally a heavy security presence at the church.

Services will take place Wednesday night at the church, according to a public relations firm representing World Changers Church.