Another American community is in shock after a gunman at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville killed three 9-year-olds and three adults.
According to CNN, Monday’s incident was the bloodiest school shooting in the United States in almost a year, and the 19th shooting at a school or institution in 2023 that injured at least one person.
Since 2008, there have been 562 similar shootings.
“Our community is heartbroken,” the Covenant School, a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church, said in a statement. “We are grieving tremendous loss and are in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church. We are focused on loving our students, our families, our faculty and staff and beginning the process of healing. …
“We appreciate the outpouring of support we have received, and we are tremendously grateful to the first responders who acted quickly to protect our students, faculty and staff. We ask for privacy as our community grapples with this terrible tragedy – for our students, parents, faculty and staff.”
Here’s what we kno
Mike Hill
Hill, 61, worked as a custodian at the school, according to authorities.
According to its website, which went offline immediately after the slaughter, he was a member of the facilities/kitchen crew.
Katherine Koonce
According to the website, Koonce was 60 years old and the head of the institution.
She attended Vanderbilt University and Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville before earning a master’s degree from Georgia State University, according to the report.
Hallie Scruggs
According to a statement issued by Dallas’ Park Cities Presbyterian Church, Hallie was 9 years old and the daughter of Covenant Presbyterian Church Lead Pastor Chad Scruggs.
“We love the Scruggs family and mourn with them over their precious daughter Hallie,” the Texas congregation’s Senior Pastor Mark Davis said. “Together, we trust in the power of Christ to draw near and give us the comfort and hope we desperately need.”
