An unemployed man accused of opening fire with a shotgun and killing two people at a Unitarian church in Tennessee apparently hated the congregation�s liberal social policies, police said yesterday.

An unemployed man accused of opening fire with a shotgun and killing two people at a Unitarian church in Tennessee apparently hated the congregation's liberal social policies, police said yesterday.

Jim Adkisson, 58, left a signed letter in his vehicle.

"It appears that what brought him to this horrible event was his lack of being able to obtain a job, his frustration over that and his stated hatred of the liberal movement," said police chief Sterling Owen.

Authorities said Adkisson was an apparent stranger to the church, where children were performing a show. The church advocates rights for women and gays.

Greg McKendry, 60, an usher who died, was hailed as a hero for shielding others from gunfire on Sunday at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Witnesses said some men tackled a man who pulled a shotgun from a guitar case before at least three blasts rang out.

A second victim, Linda Kraeger, 61, died in hospital. Five of the seven people wounded remained in serious or critical condition.

Adkisson is in custody charged with murder. More charges were expected.