A Horrific Day in Nashville
On a tragic day in Nashville, three children and three adults were killed in a shooting at Covenant School, a private religious institution. The shooter, a 28-year-old woman from Nashville, was shot dead by two officers. This heartbreaking event raises questions about safety in schools and the ever-present issue of gun violence in the United States.
The Deadly Incident Unfolds
At 10:13 a.m., the first call about the shooting came in. The shooter entered through a side entrance and proceeded from the first floor to the second floor, firing multiple shots. Armed with two assault-style rifles and at least one pistol, she carried out the shooting in a lobby area in an upper part of the school. By 10:27 a.m., the shooter was dead.
Victims and Hospital Response
At least five of the victims were transported to the emergency departments at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Tragically, three children and two adults sent to the hospital succumbed to their injuries. According to Nashville police spokesperson Don Aaron, no other gunshot victims were reported from the shooting. However, a responding officer sustained a wound from cut glass.
A Community Comes Together
Following the tragic incident, a reunification center was set up nearby for parents and students, with mental health specialists available to provide support. Covenant School, associated with the Covenant Presbyterian Church, serves students from preschool through sixth grade. On a typical day, the school would have approximately 209 students and 42 staff members present.
The Unrelenting Reality of Gun Violence in America
As a result of the Nashville shooting, the city joins the “dreaded, long list” of communities affected by school shootings, as stated by Mayor John Cooper. According to the National Gun Violence Archive, there have been 128 mass shootings in the U.S. this year alone. The incident highlights the devastating effects of gun violence on our nation and the urgent need for change.
A Nation Mourns and Calls for Change
President Biden expressed his condolences and called the Nashville shooting “sick” and “heartbreaking.” He emphasized the need for more action to stop gun violence, which is tearing communities apart and damaging the soul of our nation. As the country mourns the lives lost in this senseless act, it is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against gun violence and the importance of addressing this critical issue.
A Call for Unity and Action
The Nashville shooting at Covenant School has left the city and the nation reeling from the tragic loss of three children and three adults. As we grieve together, it is essential to recognize the urgent need for change and continue working toward a safer future for all.
UPDATE 3/28 11PM:
The tragic events at the Covenant School on Monday resulted in the loss of multiple lives, including Katherine Koonce, the head of the school. Koonce had taken great strides to prepare everyone for active shooter situations and showed immense bravery when she immediately confronted the shooter, who was a former student.
Councilman Russ Pulley revealed that Koonce was in a virtual meeting when the shooting began. Upon hearing the first shot, she quickly ended the call and went straight toward the shooter. Pulley praised Koonce for protecting her students and staff and implementing advanced active-shooter training protocols that ultimately saved countless lives.
Although the details of the confrontation are unknown, Nashville Police Chief John Drake revealed that Koonce was found lying in a hallway by herself. John Bourgeois, the pastor at Koonce’s church, announced her death and hailed her as a hero who gave her life in defense of the children under her care.
Tragically, two other school employees, Cynthia Peak and Mike Hill, were also murdered in the shooting. Tim Dunavant, a pastor who hired Hill 13 years ago, expressed his belief that Hill’s sacrifice saved lives and spoke to the type of person he was.
The shooting prompted an immediate response from police officers, led by Rex Engelbert, a brave officer who quickly entered the school and started clearing classrooms with a group of officers. After a few minutes, the shooter opened fire on the responding officers from the second floor. They ran towards the sound of gunfire and took out the shooter, armed with two rifles and a handgun.
Following the incident, teachers and administrators calmly led students to a reunification area at a nearby church, where they were eventually reunited with their parents—National Police Association spokesperson Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith praised the teachers for their bravery and resilience during the incident, highlighting their calmness in handling the children.
The shooter, Audrey Hale, conducted surveillance of the school before driving there on Monday morning and opening fire. Police found hand-drawn maps with detailed entry points to the building and a manifesto that may reveal the motive. In addition, Hale purchased seven firearms from five local gun stores in Nashville legally, three of which were used during the shooting.
While the motive of the shooting is not yet clear, it is believed that Hale targeted the Covenant School, which she attended years ago, and not individual victims specifically. Nevertheless, the tragedy at the Covenant School serves as a reminder of the importance of active shooter training and the bravery of those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others.
Biden Addresses the Nashville Shooting:
@all_things_politics BREAKING NEWS: Biden on the Nashville shooting: “It’s sick … we have to do more to stop gun violence … we have to do more to protect our schools, so they aren’t turned into prisons … I call on Congress again to pass my assault weapons ban.” #assaultweaponsban #nashvilletn #nashvilleshooting #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #democratsoftiktok #presidentbiden #joebiden #massshooting ♬ original sound – Augustine Almazi
Videos on the shooting:
@rileylively Replying to @rileylively Our youngest members of society should never worry about this 😓 #ripangels #nashvilleshooting #tennessee #truecrime #fyp ♬ Ambient-style emotional piano – MoppySound
Nashville Shooter Looks To Be A Transgender by the name of Audrey Hale
It has been reported that the suspect behind the school shooting is a transgender woman named Audrey Hale. According to her Twitter account which has now been taken down, she had made statements about taking violent actions against people who she though would be against the LGBTQ+ community.
