KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Neighbors, parents and even one of his own students paint a picture of Mark Foster as a caring gentleman.

Knoxville Police say the fourth grade teacher at Inskip Elementary school opened fire Wednesday. Foster now faces two counts of attempted first degree murder.

"He told me he was a teacher," says neighbor Sheila Jennings, "I thought he was in a very good profession, very fitting."

"He was good," said fourth grader Michael Browning.

"He just seemed like a great teacher," said Michael's mother, Betty Browning.

But it wasn't that simple. Family members say Foster was unstable.

"When it's a close family member, it just throws you in shock, you just don't know what to think," said sister-in-law Laura Foster, "This is not supposed to happen."

Foster grew up in Anderson County, on Mountain Road, where he still lives. His brother Anthony Foster, Laura's husband, filed an order of protection against Mark last spring.

In the order of protection he wrote, "I am afraid of what he might do to me or my family. He suffers from mental illness and has been treated for it for several years."

"I'm still in shock, I don't really, I haven't taken everything in," said Laura.

Family says Foster worked odd jobs until getting his teaching certificate. Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre says Foster had been teaching at Inskip for a few years, but, "Our intent was not to have him back next year," he said.

Wednesday his family is just thinking of others. "The victims, our thoughts and prayers are with them and their family, and we really pray and hope that they recover. And that they'll be okay," said Laura.