These Are The 6 Victims Of The Nashville School Shooting And The Timeline Of Tragic Events
On Monday, a private Christian school was attacked by a 28-year-old woman who murdered six innocent people in cold blood. Three young children and three adults were shot to death.
The Covenant School is nestled in Green Hills, an affluent area of Nashville that has long been known as a safe place to live. But on Monday, a tremendous tragedy struck the community when a 28-year-old woman broke into the school with multiple firearms and shot six innocent people to death. The murderer was identified as Audrey Hale, a woman who identified as a trans man; she reached out to an old classmate just moments before she entered the school and said that she wanted to die. It wasn't enough to stop her, though. Law enforcement responded quickly and apprehended Hale after she opened fire, and she died on site. Three children and three adults lost their life that day at the hands of Hale's violent actions.
The 6 Victims of the Nashville School Shooting
The Covenant School educates students between preschool and 6th grade, and three of the young students were killed on Monday. Hallie Scruggs, 9, was a third grader and the daughter of Covenant Presbyterian Church's pastor, Chad Scruggs. He and his wife also have three sons.
Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9, is being hailed as a hero because she pulled a fire alarm to protect her classmates when she heard the shooter coming. Her family issued a statement: "Our hearts are completely broken. We cannot believe this has happened. Evelyn was a shining light in this world. We appreciate all the love and support but ask for space as we grieve."
William Kinney, 9, was also a student at the Covenant School who was killed by Hale.
Katherine Koonce, 60, was Head of School at the Covenant School and was loved by many parents and children. Koonce grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and had been working at the Nashville school for seven years. One mother said that she "knew every single student by name" and did everything she could to help families who were struggling financially.
One of Koonce's former students, Joe Fiser, has learning disabilities and told WSMV4, "There (are) too many people that encounter special needs and then think that kid is lazy, and they give up,. There (are) too many educators that give up. There is not enough of people like her."
Mike Hill, 61, was a custodian at the school who loved his job. His daughter wrote a message on Facebook about the tragedy. "I have watched school shootings happen over the years and never thought I would lose a loved one over a person trying to solve a temporary problem with a permanent solution. I will not say her name because I will not glorify her actions. I wish the media would not say her name ever again," she said. "I am so sorry for the loss of those children seeing there name not called out safe was devastating as well as the Chaplin telling me and my siblings and family this god awful news."
Cynthia Peak, 61, was substituting as a teacher on Monday, according to the police. She had a husband, a daughter, and two sons.
The Timeline of the Shooting at The Covenant School
At 9:53 a.m., Hale pulled into the parking lot driving a Honda Fit. Less than 10 minutes later, she entered the school in a side door by breaking the glass. She was carrying two assault rifles and a handgun. At 10:13 a.m., the Metro Nashville Police Department got the first call about Hale's presence at the school.
At 10:23 a.m., law enforcement already arrived on the scene and bodycam footage shows them inside the building. Hale opened fire on police vehicles and they could hear shots coming from the second floor. Just a couple minutes later, police apprehended Hale on the second floor and she was fatally shot. Her death was confirmed at 10:27 a.m.
Around 11 a.m., all three children and two adults were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but they were all pronounced dead. One hour later, the children were taken to Woodmont Baptist Church by buses to meet their parents. They were led off the bus holding hands with each other to meet their families.
By 4 p.m. that afternoon, Hale's identity was confirmed. Multiple vigils throughout the city were planned and executed, leaving the whole city in mourning.