3 children, 3 adults killed in shooting at Christian elementary school in Nashville
Three children and three adults were killed Monday by a shooter at the Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville which serves students from preschool through sixth grade.
The suspected killer—identified by police as Aubrey Hale, a 28-year-old transgender woman—was “engaged by police” who arrived at the scene Monday morning, and was reported dead, according to The Tennessean.
Speaking to reporters, Nashville Police Chief John Drake said a clear motive has yet to be confirmed, but he did reference a map and manifesto by the alleged shooter and confirmed the shooting was a “targeted attack.”
In an earlier news briefing, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department spokesperson Don Aaron said the shooter was armed with at least two assault rifles and a handgun.
Geoff Bennett of PBS Newshour reported the suspect entered the school through a side entrance.
Police responded to a call at 10:13 am regarding an “active shooter.”
The Nashville Fire Department reported on Twitter that officials had set up a family reunification center at a nearby church at 2100 Woodmont Boulevard.
As Fox News covered the police department’s press conference, a woman stepped up to a microphone on camera and asked the assembled news team, “Aren’t you guys tired of being here and having to cover all of these mass shootings?”
“How is this still happening?” said the woman, who said she was from Highland Park, Illinois and survived the mass shooting there last summer. “How are our children still dying and why are we failing them?”
Shannon Watts, founder of gun control group Moms Demand Action, took aim at Republican lawmakers in the state including Rep. Andy Ogles, who posed with his family holding assault rifles in front of their Christmas tree last year. Ogles represents the district where the Covenant School is located.
Watts also condemned Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who said he was “praying for the school, congregation, and Nashville community.”
Lee signed legislation in 2021 to allow most adults in Tennessee carry a handgun without a permit.
Originally published at Commondreams.org.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
