wfn.org | Foundation Attorney Shoots Colleague and Former Girlfriend, Before

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

Killing Himself 
1-December-1999 
99401 
 
    Foundation Attorney Shoots Colleague and Former 
    Girlfriend, Before Killing Himself 
 
    Woman shot multiple times with high-powered rifle 
 
    By Evan Silverstein 
 
LOUISVILLE, KY - In what apparently started as a lover's squabble, ended in 
gunfire and death for a staff member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 
Foundation who took his own life after shooting a colleague he once dated. 
 
    John Stanley Keck, general counsel for the Foundation, used a 
high-powered rifle to fire multiple gun shots into co-worker and former 
girlfriend, Karen Adams, during an altercation at her suburban Louisville. 
Ky., home on Dec. 1 shortly after midnight. A second individual was wounded 
trying to flee the scene. 
 
    Adams, who works in the Foundation's Gift Administration Department, 
was later listed in fair condition at University of Louisville Hospital, a 
hospital spokesperson said. 
 
    Andrew Slentz, who was recently hired by the Foundation, but had not 
started his employment, was wounded as he attempted to escape through a 
window in the single-level ranch-style home, a police spokesman said. He 
was listed in fair condition at University Hospital. 
 
    News of the tragedy left employees at the Presbyterian Center in 
Louisville, and at the Foundation's nearby offices in Jeffersonville, Ind., 
shocked and dismayed. Prayer services were held for those involved and news 
of the shooting was announced through inner-office e-mail. 
 
    "This is a moment of tragedy and extreme sadness for the Foundation 
family," the Foundation's interim president R. James Henderson, said. "We 
invite your prayers for the staff and families in this time of grief." 
 
    Speaking from Austria, where she's visiting as General Assembly 
Moderator, Freda Gardner echoed Henderson's comments. 
 
    "On behalf of the whole church, I want to express my deep sympathy for 
all the people involved in this terrible tragedy _ for the two who were 
wounded and for John's family and especially for the people of the 
Foundation," she told the Presbyterian News Service. "I want them all to 
know that they will be upheld by the prayers of many people as they go 
through these next few difficult days." 
 
    Trouble started when Keck appeared at the woman's home. There police 
say he found Adams and Slentz inside. An argument between the three 
followed before Keck left and later returned with a .308 caliber rifle. 
 
    "He went in there and got into an argument with her and he didn't like 
the outcome, or whatever, of the decisions being made," said David Lehman, 
public affairs officer with the Louisville Police Department. "He went out 
and got a rifle, came back and started shooting." 
 
    Despite being shot multiple times, Adams was able to walk out of her 
home and to a neighbor's house where police were called at about 12:30 a.m. 
 
    Meanwhile, inside Keck apparently turned the rifle on himself, taking 
his own life, according to Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Carl Adams, who 
said Keck died of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. 
 
    Funeral arrangements for Keck are pending, according to Carl Adams, the 
deputy coroner who is not related to shooting victim Karen Adams.   

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