In a devastating incident, three children and three adults lost their lives in a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville.
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The shooter, identified as a 28-year-old white individual assigned female at birth who used he/him pronouns, entered the school through a side entrance, firing multiple shots as he made his way to the upper floors. The shooter had two assault-style rifles and one pistol, and was prepared for a confrontation with law enforcement, according to Nashville Police Chief John Drake.
The victims of the shooting were staff members and students at the private religious school, which serves students from preschool through sixth grade. The Covenant School is associated with the Covenant Presbyterian Church and has around 209 students and 42 staff members on a regular day. The shooter was a former student of the school, but authorities have not yet determined a motive for the attack.
The shooting began at 10:13 a.m., and by 10:27 a.m., the shooter was dead after exchanging gunfire with two police officers. The shooter had maps of the school and its entry points, and had obtained two of his guns legally. The tragic incident has left the city of Nashville reeling, with Mayor John Cooper expressing his condolences to the victims’ families and the entire community.
In the aftermath of the shooting, five victims were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where three children and two adults were pronounced dead. A reunification center was set up for parents and students, with mental health specialists available to help those affected by the tragedy.
The Nashville shooting is the latest in a string of school shootings that have plagued cities and towns across the United States. President Biden called the shooting “sick” and “heartbreaking,” urging the nation to take action to stop gun violence.
As the nation mourns the loss of innocent lives, the investigation into the Nashville shooting continues. Our hearts go out to the victims’ families, and we join the city of Nashville in standing together during this difficult time.
