Authorities have provided more details about the school shooting in Nashville that took place early Monday, reporting that aside from the three children that were fatally wounded, three adults were also killed making it a total of 6 from the school that have passed.
The shooter, who was killed by police and has been identified as a 28-year-old woman, bringing the death toll to 7, according to NBC News.
Nashville School Shooter ID’d As 28-Year-Old Woman Believed To Be A Former Student
The shooting occurred at The Covenant School on Burton Hills Boulevard, which serves preschool students through sixth graders. There, officers “engaged” the heavily-armed woman, whose name was not released as of Monday afternoon.
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The shooter, who police believe was a former student at the Christian grade school. was shot and killed by police on the school’s second floor, a police spokesperson said. Authorities added hat she had two “assault-type rifles and a handgun.”
Meanwhile, students at the school were bussed to nearby Woodmont Baptist Church to be safely reunited with their families.
Authorities Said Police “Response Was Swift,” With Only One Officer Injured From Shattered Glass
Police say the began getting calls about the shootings at 10:13 a.m. CT, while Nashville firefighters tweeted that they first reported sending out personnel for an “active aggressor” call shortly thereafter at 10:39 a.m. CT.
“The police department response was swift,” police spokesperson Don Aaron told reporters. “They heard shots coming from the second level. They immediately went to the gunfire. When the officers got to the second level, they saw a shooter, a female, who was firing. The officers engaged her. She was fatally shot by responding police officers.”
NBC News reports that five officers approached the shooter, when two opened fire at her. Authorities claim the shooter had entered the school through a “side entrance” on the first floor.
“By 10:27 a.m. the shooter was deceased,” Aaron said.
Only one officer was hurt by shattered glass, according to officials.
UPDATE: 3 students & 3 adult staff members from Covenant School were fatally shot by the active shooter, who has now been identified as a 28-year-old Nashville woman.
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 27, 2023
Names, Ages Of Victims Not Yet Released By Authorities As Of Monday Afternoon
Meanwhile, the names and ages of the victims have not been released as of Monday afternoon.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced “there is no current threat to public safety” minutes after police confirmed the shooter was dead,
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According to its website, the Covenant School employs 33 teachers with an 8-to-1 student-to-instructor ratio.
There are typically 209 students and 42 school staffers on a typical day of classes, Aaron added.
Later Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre commented on the mass shooting incident, and said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the tragedy.
Nashville Police Chief John Drake says, per initial probe, the 28-year-old who killed 3 adults and 3 kids at The Covenant School was a former student.
Police are investigating how the suspect entered the building, and Drake says the death toll “could have been far, far worse.” pic.twitter.com/JPVnYfCF4W
— The Recount (@therecount) March 27, 2023
White House Press Secretary Calls Mass Shooting “Heartbreaking” and “Unacceptable”
Jean-Pierre described the shooting “devastating,” “heartbreaking,” and “unacceptable,” while noting the executive actions President Biden has taken thus far to address the nationwide gun violence epidemic. She went on to highlight legislation he signed into law, but she added that more must be done.
“How many more children have to be murdered before Republicans in Congress will step up and act to pass the assault weapons ban, to close loopholes in our background check system or to require the safe storage of guns?” she said.
Jean-Pierre continued, “Our children should be able to go to school feeling safe, feeling protected. People should be able to go to the grocery stores feeling safe.”
This is a developing story. Be sure to check back in with The Shade Room for more updates as they come.
