Signal still in shock over shooting

A day after a Signal Mountain chiropractor was shot in his office, some people who live and work on the mountain still were trying to make sense of the violence that erupted in their small community.

"Everyone thinks something like this is impossible," said Tommy Lewis, a trainer at Signal Mountain Athletic Club. "It can happen anywhere, any time."

The athletic center is next door to the office of Dr. Terry Loher, who was shot Friday morning. His ex-wife Tina Loher had a head wound, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

Those who know Dr. Loher said he suffered a gunshot wound to an artery in his leg and was in critical but stable condition. Erlanger personnel said Friday afternoon they could not confirm he was a patient due to the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Ms. Loher was booked on charges of attempted first-degree murder and felony reckless endangerment at the Hamilton County Jail on Friday.

Her bond was set at $140,000 -- $100,000 for the attempted murder charge and $20,000 each for the felony reckless endangerment charges, according to jail records.

She was transferred from the jail to Silverdale Detention Center early Saturday morning. It was not immediately clear whether Ms. Loher had made bond.

She is scheduled to appear Friday in Hamilton County General Sessions Court in Judge Ronald Durby's courtroom.

Michael Valdez, a patient of Dr. Loher's, said he was driving to the chiropractor's office Friday afternoon when he saw the police in the parking lot. He had heard about a shooting but didn't know Dr. Loher was involved until he arrived.

"I was just stunned in disbelief," Mr. Valdez, of Hixson, said. "You just don't think that would happen to somebody like him."

Robyn Ledford, who's lived on Signal for three years, said the incident shook the community.

"It's scary that it happened so close to home," she said. "That's the big aftermath ... and how impressed everyone is with the Signal Mountain police."

Dave Phillips, general manager of the Signal Mountain Athletic Club, praised the quick response of law enforcement officers, emergency services personnel and town officials.

"They all just stormed in together, and seconds later the situation was under control," said Mr. Phillips, who made the initial 911 call at 9:33 a.m. Friday and saw officers at Ashley Plaza two minutes later.

When deputies arrived at Dr. Loher's clinic, they found he had been shot in the leg. The couple's two daughters, who rode with their mother to the office, were taken into the nearby Prudential office building with Town Manager Honna Rogers and kept busy coloring and eating fast food.

Prudential employees have said that Ms. Loher's daughters knew their mother had a gun and planned to assault Dr. Loher. The parents were battling over child support payments, according to court records from Knox County, where Ms. Loher lives.

Signal Mountain Police Department Capt. Gregg Hall said the department prides itself on its quick response time.

"We might be small, but we try to be professional," he said.