A tragic school shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville left seven people dead, including three children and the teenage female shooter. Three adult staff members also lost their lives in the horrifying event that occurred on Monday morning at 10:13 a.m. The shooter, armed with two assault rifles and a handgun, entered the private Christian school through a side entrance before moving from the first to the second floor.
The Nashville Metro Police Department (MNPD) spokesperson, Don Aaron, stated that a five-member unit engaged the shooter on the second floor, and by 10:27 a.m., she was dead. Five others were injured in the shooting, including three children and two adults. The Covenant School, which serves students from PreSchool through 6th grade, had held an active shooter training program last year.
Nashville in Mourning: Seven Lives Lost, Including Three Children, in Tragic School Shooting
In the aftermath of the tragedy, a reunification area was established at Woodmont Baptist Church for parents to meet their children. Mental health professionals and the Red Cross were present at the reunification site, and a hotline for parents was set up.
Various Nashville and Tennessee elected officials expressed their devastation following the incident. Nashville Mayor John Cooper, Gov. Bill Lee, Sen. Bill Hagerty, and other prominent figures offered their condolences to the families of the victims and praised the first responders and medical professionals for their swift action.
Nashville Council member Tonya Hancock called for action from Gov. Bill Lee and U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, urging them to pass stricter gun laws in Tennessee and at the federal level to prevent future senseless tragedies. Sen. Marsha Blackburn tweeted that she and her husband were heartbroken, and her office was prepared to assist federal, state, and local officials.
As the community continues to reel from the tragic loss of life, attention turns to providing support to the families affected and determining the necessary steps to prevent such devastating events in the future.
