KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- There will be no trial for the accused man in the shooting at a Knoxville church.

Jim David Adkisson, 58, plead guilty Monday to killing Greg McKendry and Linda Kraeger, and attempting to kill 6 others who were injured in the July 2008 shooting at the Tennessee Valley Universalist Unitarian Church.

Part of the deal is life without parole, with the 8 counts against him served at the same time.

The courtroom was packed with church members, most of whom were there on that fateful day last July.

For many, Monday brings a lot of relief, and still a lot of emotion, but not from the man convicted for the shootings.

There were a lot of tears Monday from church members, mainly from relief, now that they know their friends and family will not have to relive that day during trial.

Vicki Masters directed the play the children were putting on when the shooting occurred. "This was probably the most traumatic thing that has ever happened in my life to have my children witness what happened in that church."

She's happy the plea hearing is the last time she had to see Jim David Adkisson.

Vicki says "when he first came out into the courtroom he had a look of shear evil on his face."

Dozens of church members lined the courtroom to hear what Adkisson had to say now that members know he targeted them because of his hatred for Liberals.

John Bohstedt was in church that morning and is one of the men that tackled Adkisson after the shooting started. "I am sickened that he shows no signs of remorse."

When given the opportunity to speak, Adkisson had nothing to say, but when it came to questions about his plea, his concerns were about getting out of town.

Adkisson said to Criminal Court Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz "when can I get out of the county jail because I'm starving up there." The judge responded with "We're going to work on that" and Adkisson said "Thank you."

Defense Attorney Mark Stephens said he wanted to pursue a trial, but Adkisson felt the "honorable thing to do" was to plead guilty.

Adkisson plead in court "I'm guilty as charged."

8 felony counts including two counts of first degree murder.

Looking back, some church members say if Adkisson had not been stopped from entering a different door to the sanctuary, there could have been more murder charges.

Vicki says "if he had come in the way he had wanted to, then he would have achieved what he says was his goal, which was to take as many lives as possible and to kill himself."

Instead he will spend the rest of his life in prison, "where he will live the rest of his life believing whatever he wants to believe and living out his demented fantasies." says Brian.

Reverend Chris Buice says the church members are relieved Adkisson plead guilty and this is just one more step towards closure, but they continue their personal and spiritual healing.

They celebrated the church's anniversary Sunday and memorialized Greg McKendry and Linda Kraeger, and they have set a charitable giving account at the church in Greg McKendry's name, since he loved to give back to the community.