Children reunite with families after mass shooting at The Covenant School, Monday, March 27, 2023. Photo Courtesy: Seth Herald/Getty Images
A 28-year-old woman opened fire from within Covenant Presbyterian School in Nashville, Tenn., killing at least three children and three adults before being shot dead by police.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department held a press conference Monday afternoon with spokesperson Don Aaron. Aaron provided an overview of the event saying "police response was swift."
The Nashville Fire Department responded to reports of an "active shooter" at the school Monday morning at 10:13 a.m. The woman entered the school through a side door and began opening fire on the second floor. A team of five officers responded and killed the shooter by 10:27 a.m. Aaron noted that the shooter was a female armed with "two assault-type rifles and a handgun."
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, wrote on Facebook reported earlier in the day that he was "closely monitoring the tragic situation at Covenant." Lee also wrote, "As we continue to respond, please join us in praying for the school, congregation and Nashville community."
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is also reportedly investigating.
****Update: What we know about the Tennessee shooter****
The Tennessee shooter was a woman who identified as a transgendered man. The woman was a former student of Covenant Presbyterian School. The child victims, all age nine, include Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney. The adult victims include Cynthia Peak, 61 (a substitute teacher that day) , Katherine Koonce, 60 (the head of the school), and Michael Hill (a custodian of the school), 61.
Police found a manifesto at the shooter's house, including blueprints of the targeted school.
Police do not believe anyone was specifically targeted however they do believe the location was a targeted attack.
****Update****
Graphic body cam footage has been released showing officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo (the two officers who shot the shooter) entering the school and hearing gunfire on the second floor. Five officers rushed upstairs and upon seeing the shooter fired four rounds, fatally shooting the perpetuator. The entire event from first call to the death of the shooter all happened in 14 minutes.
The shooter's manifesto and writings also showed she was possibly planning a second attack at a second location. She had drawn out maps of Covenant Presbyterian school as well as multiple round of ammunition, and a plan to confront police. The second location, the shooter deemed to have too much security.
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