Police are investigating a deadly shooting reported Monday morning (March 27) at a private, Christian school in Nashville. According to authorities, an armed 28-year-old woman entered the school and killed six people, including three children.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Audrey Hale. The victims were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9; Hallie Scruggs, 9; William Kinney, 9; Cynthia Peak, 61; Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, age 61.
The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee released a statement Monday afternoon calling for prayer:
“Join us in praying for the victims, their families, and all those affected by the tragic mass shooting today in Nashville.”
What happened?
Shortly after the shooting was reported at 10:13 a.m., police released on social media that there was an “an active shooter event” at Covenant School, located at Covenant Presbyterian Church. The suspect, who identified as transgender and a man, had been “engaged by MNPD and is dead,” police reported.
“An active shooter event has taken place at Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church, on Burton Hills Dr. The shooter was engaged by MNPD and is dead. Student reunification with parents is at Woodmont Baptist Church, 2100 Woodmont Blvd.,” police reported on Twitter.
The Nashville Fire Department also shared on social media, “We can confirm we have multiple patients … this is an active scene.”
As news of the shooting broke, police urged parents to reunite with students at nearby Woodmont Baptist Church.
The school, which is pre-kindergarten through 6th grade, is located nine miles southeast of downtown Nashville.
