A tragic shooting at a Christian school in Nashville has left three children and three adults dead. The shooter, a 28-year-old white woman, was shot dead by police. The incident occurred at Covenant School, a private religious school, and the victims were students and staff members. The shooter had two assault-style rifles and at least one pistol and opened fire in a lobby area on the upper floor of the school. Police believe she was a former student but have not disclosed a motive.
The shooting occurred on Monday morning, and the first call came in at 10:13 a.m. The shooter entered the school through a side entrance and began firing multiple shots. By 10:27 a.m., the shooter was dead. Five victims were transported to the emergency department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where three children and two adults later died. A responding officer also suffered a wound from cut glass.
Covenant School is a private school affiliated with Covenant Presbyterian Church and serves students from preschool through sixth grade. On a regular day, there would be around 209 students and 42 staff members at the school, according to Nashville police spokesperson Don Aaron.
The shooting has shaken the community, and a reunification center has been set up for parents and students with mental health specialists available. Tennessee state Rep. Bob Freeman, whose district includes the school, called it “an unimaginable tragedy.”
President Biden has called for action to stop gun violence, saying, “It’s ripping our communities apart, ripping at the very soul of our nation.” According to the National Gun Violence Archive, there have been 128 mass shootings in the U.S. this year.
The tragic events in Nashville serve as a reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence in the United States. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, and we join together in mourning this devastating loss.
