Updated story: More details in the deadly shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville.
Metro Nashville Police say the 28 year-old suspect planned to attack multiple locations.
Police Chief John Drake says they found a manifesto from the shooter, who was a former student at the private Christian pre-K through sixth grade school.
Drake says it was the only school that was targeted and another location in Nashville was mentioned but because of a threat assessment by the suspect of too much security, they decided not to follow through.
Police shared video of the suspect shooting out locked doors of the school in order to gain access. Police say the two A-R-style weapons, one, a rifle, another, a pistol, and a handgun were bought legally and the suspect also had significant ammunition with them.
Drake says the suspect fired at them through an upstairs window when they arrived at the scene, a bullet hit the windshield of a police cruiser.
Five police officers responded inside, the suspect was shot and killed 14 minutes after the initial 911 call. Five others were wounded: three children and two adults, no word on their conditions.
The victims have been identified as
Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9
Hallie Scruggs, 9
William Kinney, 9
Cynthia Peak, 61
Katherine Koonce, 60
Mike Hill, age 61
“I was moved to tears to see this as the kids were ushered out of the building,” MNPD Chief John Drake said. “I said if this ever happened: we would not wait. We would go in and engage the person. That’s all I can say.”
TBI director David Rausch says they are investigating the officer-involved portion of the situation. MNPD will investigate the homicides of the shooting.
Original story: Seven people are dead, including the shooter, following after an “active shooter” situation at a private Nashville school.
Nashville Metro Police responded to an “active shooter event” at the Covenant Presbyterian School this morning.
Police say the shooter, a 28-year-old Nashville woman, was engaged by officers and died. Multiple rifles and a handgun were used in the shooting.
A spokesperson at Vanderbilt hospital confirmed three children were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds, but have died from their injuries. Three adults were killed in the shooting as well. A police officer was also injured and cut by glass from a broken window in the shooting.
Nashville Fire Department confirmed there were multiple patients.
Students at the Covenant School range from preschool through sixth grade. This story is ongoing and we will update you as we learn more.
