Listen to this article Nashville School Shooting: 3 Children And 3 Adults Dead
Introduction
Gun violence has once again struck the United States, this time in the form of a tragic shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department reported that on Monday, a 28-year-old woman opened fire at The Covenant School, killing three children and three adults. Police officers shot and killed the shooter in response.
Nashville School Shooting: Shooter Used Semi-Automatic Rifles and Handgun
The shooter, who remains unidentified, was armed with at least two semi-automatic rifles and a handgun, which she used to carry out the attack. The police received calls at 10:13 a.m. of a shooter at The Covenant School, which teaches children up to sixth grade (around 12 years old). Upon arrival, officers could hear gunfire coming from the school’s second floor.
Police Respond Swiftly and Shoot the Attacker
As soon as the shooting was reported, police officers quickly arrived at the scene. Upon arrival, a five-member team, including two officers, immediately confronted the shooter who was located in the lobby area. Without hesitation, the two officers discharged their weapons, resulting in the death of the shooter, which was officially declared by the police at 10:27 a.m.
Female Attacker Highly Unusual in Mass Shootings
Unfortunately, mass shootings have become all too common in the United States, but this particular incident is notable because a female attacker carried it out, which is highly unusual. The Violence Project, a nonprofit research center, reports that out of the 191 mass shootings since 1966, only four were executed by a female attacker.
Victims of the Shooting
After arriving at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with gunshot wounds, medical personnel pronounced three students dead. Additionally, the shooter killed three adult staff members. Don Aaron, a police spokesperson, confirmed that no one other than the deceased had been shot. Authorities instructed the parents of the students to convene at a nearby church.
School Holds Active Shooter Training Program in 2022
Covenant Presbyterian Church in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville founded the Covenant School in 2001. The school’s website reports an enrollment of approximately 200 students. The school serves preschool through sixth graders and held an active shooter training program in 2022, as reported by WTVF-TV.
89 School Shootings So Far in 2023
This incident marks the 89th school shooting in the US in 2023, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database, a website founded by researcher David Riedman. Last year saw 303 such incidents, the highest of any year in the database, which goes back to 1970.
Mayor of Nashville Expresses Sympathy for Victims
Nashville Mayor John Cooper conveyed his sympathy for the victims of the recent school shooting. In a message shared on social media, he acknowledged that his city had sadly become another addition to the long and tragic list of communities that have faced such a devastating incident.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this latest mass shooting serves as yet another reminder of the devastating toll that gun violence continues to take in the United States. While the shooter’s motives remain unknown, the tragedy highlights the urgent need for action to address this ongoing crisis.
