Christopher Sparkman, the security guard seriously injured during Tuesday's shooting at a FedEx facility in Kennesaw, "didn't stand a chance" when 19-year-old Geddy Kramer burst in, barrels blazing, the victim's father-in-law said.
"It's real unfortunate they didn't allow those security guards to be armed," Russell Brannen told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution during a Wednesday morning interview. "Chris didn't stand a chance. The guy blew through the back door. The scales are tipped in the wrong direction when the security guard can't carry a sidearm. Had he been armed, he might have been able to stop the other five from being shot."
Sparkman, 28, is still in critical condition at WellStar Kennestone Hospital where a total of six victims were taken after the shooting.
"He's not out of the woods yet," Brannen said. "We're cautiously optimistic."
Sparkman married Brannen's daughter, Jamie Lynn, in May 2013. The two are active members of West Ridge church, where Jamie Lynn sings in the choir.
"Chris and Jamie Sparkman are part of our West Ridge family," the church posted on its Facebook page. "Chris works as a security guard at the FedEx facility in Kennesaw and was involved in (Tuesday's) shooting. He is being treated at a local hospital and is now out of surgery, but the next 48 hours are critical for him. Jamie has asked us to be praying for Chris and their family. Please join us in lifting Chris up in prayer, especially through these next two days."
Click here for a photo gallery of the couple.
They got to know each other through a church youth group and he asked her out on her first date while deployed to Kuwait with the Army. He is now in the Army Reserves and had been accepted into the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control program, Brannen said.
"He was working this job to have extra money," he said.
The family got word of the shooting shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesdy.
"Chris was able to call my daughter. He said, 'don't worry, I need to tell you I've been shot. I'm headed to the hospital.'"
Sparkman has not been able to communicate with his family.
"They've got him on life support," Brannen said.
Relatives and friends are sustaining them as they await progress.
"I've got a wonderful family," Brannen said. "God has blessed us. I've got three wonderful kids. The family is strong. We're close. We're going to come through this." .
