At a vigil for the victims, according to the Tennessean, her two-years-older sister was seen crying and saying: I dont want to be an only child., Hallie Scruggs, nine, was a student in the third grade and the daughter of Chad Scruggs, the senior pastor of Covenant Presbyterian church, the schools sponsor. The world is missing a sweet soul who cared about people, Owen said. The authorities were reviewing writings, and had made contact with the shooters father, Chief Drake said. The shooting shattered the wealthy enclave of Green Hills, a few miles south of downtown Nashville, where the small school and stone church sit atop a hill, nestled in a residential neighborhood filled with stately homes and lush landscaping. "If there was any trouble in that school, she would run to it, not from it," Jackie Bailey said of her friend Katherine Koonce, head of The Covenant School. She just believed that I have more to give and I did, he said. We have a map drawn out of how this was all going to take place, he said. "Our hearts are completely broken," the Dieckaus family said in a statement. Covenant School student William Kinney was "quick to laugh" with an "unflappable spirit" and a gentle, "unfailingly kind" spirit, Kinney family friend Rachael Freitas wrote, on a verified GoFundMe website published Tuesday. The other two were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus and William Kinney. "We are grateful for the hope of Heaven. How many children have to be murdered before Republicans will support passing an assault weapons ban, she asked. On its Facebook page on Tuesday, The Covenant School said the community is in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church. Previous posts show snapshots of students smiling on field trips, performing in Christmas plays and celebrating basketball wins. The Nashville shooting was the 129th mass shooting in the US so far this year, according to the non-profit Gun Violence Archive, and the 13th school shooting this year that caused injuries or death, according to Education Week. The Covenant School, a private Christian school for children in preschool through sixth grade, has about 209 students and 40 to 50 staff members. Evelyn was a shining light in this world.". She was the youngest and the only daughter out of the Scruggs four children, said Mark Davis, senior pastor at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, where Scruggs used to work. "Our hearts are completely broken," the Dieckaus family said in a statement. The Associated Press also contributed. When Caudill launched her nonprofit advocating for special education resources and other support, she said Koonce was one of the first to donate financially to it. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Three students and three staff members were shot and killed at the Covenant School in Nashville on Monday morning. Three. Three students and three staff members were shot and killed at the Covenant School in Nashville on Monday morning. News Sports Counties Business Music Advertise Obituaries . Police have identified the victims as Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9; Mike Hill, 61; William Kinney, 9; Katherine Koonce, 60; Cynthia Peak, 61; and Hallie Scruggs, 9. I want a politician to sit in a church with families and 250 kids downstairs that are white as a sheet and trembling and gray and yellow and green and blue because of the shock., Speaking of the students, she added: They started this morning, they had their cute little uniforms on, they probably had some Froot Loops. Children and teachers descended one by one from the steps of three school buses into a church building two miles from the Covenant School to reunite with parents. She was so professional, so prepared, so committed to her faculty and those sweet children of hers, and it's just such a loss. Chief Drake said it was too early to discuss a possible motive for the shooting, though he confirmed that the attack was targeted. These are the. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) The parents of two child victims killed during The Covenant School mass shooting have issued letters to the Court as the legal battle for the release of writings left . Mourners will gather on Friday for the first of six funerals in the wake of Monday's mass shooting at The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. Evelyn was a shining light in this world. "It is our privilege to honor Katherine's legacy and to celebrate her remarkable spirit," they said. Koonce, Covenants head of school, was described by former students as a champion to all children, whether they faced learning difficulties or were gifted and needed extra challenges. I never would have imagined this.. Rachel Dibble, whose children attend a different private school in Nashville, had also visited with Covenant families, some of whom she knew through youth sports. Last month, the Justice Department announced a $200 million program to fund state crisis intervention programs in an effort to reduce gun violence. ", "Cindy was a pillar of the community, and a teacher beloved by all her students," her family told ABC News in a statement. The president calls on Congress to do something before another child is senselessly killed in another act of gun violence, Ms. Jean-Pierre said. They worked really hard on Hamilton, Riegal said, adding that all of the children proudly learned 20 minutes of the popular show. Sweet Will knew no strangers, and our hearts our broken for his family as they try to find their way forward. He liked to cook and spend time with family.". One of the videos shows a Covenant School staff member meeting Officer Rex Engelbert at the school's main entrance, telling him: "The kids are all locked down, but we have two kids that we dont know where they are." "You just wonder: when is the call coming for you? The serene sense of safety inside The Covenant School in Nashville was shattered Monday when a former student burst into the private Christian school wielding an assault-style rifleand. a fatal shooting at a private Christian elementary school in Tennessee's capital city. People saw her as a remarkable woman with a bright spirit, according to ABC News. Details are still emerging about the six people killed in a mass shooting on Monday at the Covenant School in Nashville. I just know what kind of guy he was. 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. She then is seen using a key to unlock the door so officers could go inside. Shootings at elementary schools are also relatively uncommon, making up less than 20 percent of all incidents of gun violence on school grounds, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. It is unthinkable that this has happened in our little town.". The shooter, identified as Audrey E. Hale, was killed by police officers who responded to the shooting at the Covenant School, a small, private Christian school that is attached to a church and serves children from pre-school through sixth grade. Part of the training, she said, is to throw students out of windows and run away as far as possible. ", According to Peak's brother Bill Broyles, "She had an unwavering faith in Christ. She had a husband and three children. FILE - A woman prays near the likeness of four of the victims as she visits a memorial at the entrance to The Covenant School on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne . Our hearts go out to all the victims' families as we grieve this horrific tragedy.". "We know how important it is that each and every childbe known,be loved, andbe preparedfor all that God has for them moving forward. I think thats the best way to honor her memory.. She loved people and students and children and families in a way that she would describe as loving them through Gods eyes, he said. "We cannot believe this has happened. Take them to the playground? How did a teen sleepover turn into a murder investigation? Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, told reporters at a news briefing on Monday that there were no plans for Mr. Biden to address congressional Republicans directly on the issue. Drake said she knew Koonce had made her mark when she saw the footage that police released from two of the responding officers' body-worn cameras. "We cannot believe this has happened. David Begnaud is the lead national correspondent for "CBS Mornings" based in New York City. Calling the Nashville shooting sick and a familys worst nightmare, President Biden again pushed Congress on Monday to enact gun-control legislation. Theres right now a theory that we may be able to talk about later but its not confirmed, so well put that out as soon as we can.. In a statement to ABC News, her family described her as "devoted to her family, her friends and especially the children she cared for.". Two buses carried a total of 108 children and staff members to a nearby church, Woodmont Baptist, where parents had been asked to reunite with their children, Ms. Loney said. Mr. Biden has repeatedly called for such a ban in recent public speeches and visits, including during a recent visit to Monterey Park, Calif., where a gunman killed 11 people at a dance studio in January. Still, the shooting in Nashville was just one of several instances of gun violence on school campuses in the last week alone. Highland Park shooting survivor asks: How is this still happening?. Cynthia Peak was a substitute teacher at the Covenant School, according to police. Mourners gather at memorial outside The Covenant School and in other Nashville churches, Biden on Nashville shooting victims: They should still be with us. He liked to cook and spend time with family.". You know? 'Unwavering faith in Christ:' Covenant victim's focus God, family, positivity. ", He loved baseball:Covenant student William Kinney was 'unfailingly kind' and 'knew no strangers'. Three 9-year-old children and three adults were killed Monday in a shooting at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee, police said. Suspect in custody after 2 people reportedly shot in Santa Monica, 6 people injured during shooting at El Paso party, Texas police say, PetSmart to pay $1.46M to resolve suit alleging overcharging customers. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The head of the school and the daughter of the churchs pastor are among the dead. She had a key, what her headcount was, she knew exactly where the students would be, she was prepared," Drake told ABC News. Covenant Presbyterian Church is part of a conservative evangelical denomination. The ban blocked the sale of 19 weapons similar to those used by the United States military, including semiautomatic rifles and certain types of shotguns and handguns, and it was opposed by Republicans and the National Rifle Association. "Her favorite roles in life were being a mom to her three children, a wife to her husband, and an educator to students. At least seven prayer vigils were organized to honor the victims of the Covenant School shooting, three of whom were children age 9. 2023 www.tennessean.com. Surveillance video released by the police on Monday night showed the shooter drive up to the school in what the police described as a Honda Fit. Of the three 9-year-old children whose lives were abruptly ended, one was Hallie Scruggs; she was the daughter of Chad Scruggs, the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church, according to a biography published online by his former church in Dallas. Founded in 2001 as a ministry of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, the Covenant School bills itself as intentionally small with about 200 students, according to its website, and a student-to-teacher ratio of 8 to 1. It recently added a second full-time security officer and locks all its doors during the day. The tragic incident marked America's 129th mass shooting of 2023, according toGun Violence Archive, a nonprofit which tracks gun violence data. Officers went there, saw the assailant shooting, and two officers opened fire, killing the shooter at 10:27 a.m. in a lobby-type area on the second floor, Mr. Aaron said. following a mass shooting at the school in Nashville, Tennessee, March 27, 2023. Mike Hill was a custodian at the Covenant School, according to police. The Scruggs Family will hold a funeral service for Hallie on Saturday, April 1 at Covenant Presbyterian Church. Parents of students at the Covenant School were asked to come to the Woodmont Baptist Church, nearby, to reunite with their children, the authorities said. And a school leader who was determined to help every child, no matter what challenges they faced. A person kneels in front of an entry to Covenant School which has become a memorial for shooting victims, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis) Nashville School . ", "We will never stop missing her," they added. ", "We are heartbroken," he told ABC News in a statement. "I was just telling my friends, 'I'm sure Katherine will come out. "Please continue to respect our privacy as we mourn the loss of our sweet Evelyn.". Katherine Koonce was the head of the Covenant School. All rights reserved. On Monday night, Maria Lee was set to have dinner with Peak, an old colleague from her teacher days. As a senator in 1994, Mr. Biden negotiated a 10-year assault weapons ban as part of a broader crime bill. Officials used she and her to refer to the shooter, but, according to a social media post and a LinkedIn profile, the shooter appeared to identify as male in recent months. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Tennessee lawmakers on Monday will honor those killed in the Covenant School mass shooting. He said Peak was one of his wife's best friends and she had plans to see Peak later that day. Three children and three adults were killed Monday at the Covenant School a private Christian elementary school, according to police. "Cindy was supposed to come over to have dinner with Maria last night after she filled in as a substitute teacher yesterday at Covenant.". She was a devout follower of the Lord, Jesus. A school custodian who loved students like they were his own kids. Many of the highest-profile school shootings in recent years have taken place at public schools, in part because there are far more public schools in the United States: Nearly 100,000, compared to about 30,000 private schools. A few blocks from the Covenant School, parents and neighbors trickled out of their homes in disbelief as they waited for news about the shooting or word that their children at neighboring schools had been released from lockdown. The attacker was an illustrator and graphic designer who had studied at the Nossi College of Art and Design, according to a former teacher and an online portfolio. Mike Hill, one of the three adult victims of the shooting, was The Covenant Schools beloved custodian who had been employed at the school for over a decade. Her LinkedIn profile says she has led the school since July 2016. The two share a location. Enough is enough, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, said Monday. In a statement for the national denomination, a spokesman, Bryan Chapell, said, We grieve the loss and trauma associated with this horrible tragedy. Deon J. Hampton is a national reporter for NBC News. 10:25 a.m.: Two officers engaged the suspect, and the suspect is . A few women clustered around a livestream of the news conference, where they gasped in horror and shook their heads, wondering out loud how this could have happened in Nashville. Here's what we know about Monday morning's mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. The Covenant School in Nashville is a small, private Christian school, with an enrollment of around 200 students in preschool through sixth grade. We have to do something, she added, urging people to call their representatives. The kids loved him too.. She said Koonce loved her job at Covenant and she was loved by students and their families. "Evelyn was a shining light in this world. She recalled Dr. Koonces passion for education, her sense of humor and love for adventure. Barrett Severance, a former student of Koonce's at another school, described her as "a champion for all students" and someone full of life who "had a lot more to give.". A first-grade teacher hugged her fianc outside the church building, and elementary-age children, dressed in red and black polo shirts, plaid skirts and khaki pants and shorts, held hands to form a chain as they walked from the bus into the church building while escorted by the police. Kristin Mumford, a police spokeswoman, said that the shooter had been born female but listed male pronouns on a LinkedIn profile, which suggested that the suspect was a transgender man. ", "We will never stop missing her," they added. Mr. Bachmann said he decided to open the school in part because parents in the church lamented the difficulty of getting their children into other private schools in the area, which were already full. On Tuesday, Gov. William Kinney, 9, was identified by police as one of the children killed in the Nashville school shooting. Marlene Lenthang, Antonio Planas and Daniella Silva in New York and Jake Lubbehusen in Washington contributed reporting. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department identified the victims as. The assailant was prepared for a confrontation with law enforcement and prepared to do more harm before being killed, Mr. Drake said. The Green Hills community is. Peak's family said their "hearts are broken," confirming the loss "of our beloved Cindy Peak. He remembered her going carefully through each page of a math lesson, making sure that he understood every problem. William Kinney, 9, was identified by police as one of the children killed in the Nashville school shooting. according to the K-12 School Shooting Database. A GoFundMe has been set up by friends of Hill's family,with the original goal of raising $25,000 for funeral expenses. Koonce was described by loved ones as a "remarkable woman" with a "bright spirit," ABC News reported. Every year, the faculty nurtures relationships and purposefully encourages healthy bonding between students, so they may . More on Peak:'Unwavering faith in Christ:' Covenant victim's focus God, family, positivity. Authorities identified Cynthia Peak as a substitute teacher who was working at The Covenant School. Authorities identified the victimsas 9-year-olds Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, as well as 61-year-old Cynthia Peak, 61-year-old Mike Hill and 60-year-old Katherine Koonce, who was the head of The Covenant School. William Kinney, nine, was a student at the Covenant school. Friends and family of . It just took the wind out of me. Later on Monday, President Biden issued a proclamation in remembrance of those killed on Monday, ordering flags to be lowered to half-staff at the White House, at public buildings and at all military station until Friday at sunset. The Associated Press also contributed. As for the church and its teachings, Mr. Bachmann said, we were known to be conservative and biblical., You try to be loving of everybody, but the position of the Presbyterian Church in America is that homosexuality is a sin, he said. "I don't know the details yet. "She was trying to protect those kids That's just what I believe.". Louisiana state Rep. Charles Anthony Owen grew up in Leesville, Louisiana, with Peak. Mr. Scruggs was raised Catholic in Hendersonville, Tenn., according to a biography published online by his former church in Dallas, but became active in a Presbyterian campus ministry in college. The victims identified by police are children Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney . Joseph Fisher, a truck driver, learned of Dr. Koonces death while driving between Arizona and Utah. He was a father of seven children and 14 grandchildren. Here's what we know about the three students and three staff members who were shot and killed at the Covenant School in Nashville. And they're babies. His remarks on Monday once again highlighted not only the scourge of mass shootings in America, but also the limits of his power to address them. Chief Drake said the shooter identified as transgender. The police in Nashville identified the six victims as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all 9; Cynthia Peak, 61, a substitute teacher; Mike Hill, 61, a custodian; and Katherine Koonce, 60. Bill Lee said his wife, Maria, was friends with Koonce and Cynthia Peak, who was also killed. IE 11 is not supported. The school was founded in 2001 as a ministry of the church, according to the school's website. Bill Lee said his wife, Maria, was 'best friends' with Cynthia Peak. "You don't expect something like this. Our hearts go out to all the victims' families as we grieve this horrific tragedy.". "We ended up using the same active shooter training at the school where I was also a head. She could be heard saying through tears, I dont want to be an only child, The Tennessean reported. Youve got it.. "She was an absolute dynamo and one of the smartest women I'll ever know," said Caudill, recalling how Koonce excelled at her day job while parenting her children, pursuing her masters and then her PhD, and writing a book. For Caudill, who grew up in several male-led Christian denominations, Koonce had remarkable leadership skills and was the first woman in such a setting to encourage her to keep learning and pursuing her life goals. Onlookers visit the makeshift memorial on Thursday for the six victims killed in The Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tenn., on March 27, 2023. . "Her favorite roles in life were being a mom to her three children, a wife to her husband, and an educator to students. The shooter, who the police identified as Audrey E. Hale, had entered the building by firing through a side door, armed with two assault-style weapons and a handgun, according to John Drake, the chief of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and went to the second floor, firing shots before being killed by the police. But the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group that tracks gun violence using police reports, news coverage and other public sources, defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are killed or injured. Hill was said to have "loved his job" and saw workers and school kids "as his family," ABC News reported. When Caudill launched her nonprofit advocating for special education resources and other support, she said Koonce was one of the first to donate financially to it. Three children and three staff members were killed at the Covenant School. She did everything to help them when families couldnt afford things, it didnt matter. Three nine-year-old children and three adults arrived at the Covenant School, a small, private Christian academy in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday for what appeared to be a normal day of.
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