Mass shooting at elementary school, at least 7 dead

On Monday, seven people, including three children, were killed after a transgender woman fired shots at a Christian elementary school in Nashville.

Police responded to the call of an active shooter at the Covenant School at 10:13 a.m., and when they arrived, they encountered the 28-year-old female who was armed with two assault rifles and a handgun.

The female shooter had already killed three students and three staff members before the police fatally shot her at 10:27 a.m.

The identity of the perpetrator, who was white, and the victims is still unclear. Initially, the police thought the killer was a teenager before confirming her age. They later found out that the shooter was a former student at the school, but the motive for the shooting remains unknown.

The police found a vehicle near the Covenant School and used it to identify the shooter. Metro Nashville Chief of Police John Drake also said that the school had an active shooter protocol and that they were trying to figure out how the shooter was able to access the school. He stated, “All doors were locked, to our understanding and how exactly she got in, is still under investigation.”

The only other injury at the scene was an officer who cut his hand on broken glass. Three pediatric patients were taken to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, but they were all pronounced dead after arrival.

The Covenant School was founded in 2001 and has about 200 students enrolled, with tuition fees ranging from $7,250 to $16,500. The school focuses on biblical theology and has the motto, “Shepherding Hearts, Empowering Minds, Celebrating Childhood.” It is located in the affluent Green Hills area of Nashville.

In response to the tragedy, President Biden mentioned he had been briefed on the overall situation and called the shooting “heartbreaking,” adding that the nation needs to “stop gun violence” and he is committed to gun reform efforts.

Nashville Councilman Freddie O’Connell expressed his support for the families affected by the shooting and vowed to revisit prevention efforts. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and US Sen. Bill Hagerty also offered their condolences and assistance.

The FBI and Nashville branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have deployed agents to help investigate the attack.