Nashville school shooting updates: School employee says staff members carried guns

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Nashville school shooting updates: School employee says staff members carried guns

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Recap: Three children and three adult staff members were killed Monday at Covenant School in one of Tennessee's deadliest school shootings. Audrey Hale, 28, entered the school at about 10:11 a.m. armed with a rifle. Officers who responded to the scene killed Hale about 10 minutes later. Video footage shows a timeline from when Hale first got to the school until police fired the fatal shots.

A citywide vigil was held in Nashville on Wednesday and included remarks from Mayor John Cooper, other state and local officials and clergy, and songs performed by Sheryl Crow, Margo Price and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show. First Lady Jill Biden also attended.

We are learning more about the victims killed on Monday. Mike Hill, 61, was Covenant School's janitor for the last 13 years. Cynthia Peak, 61, was a close friend of Tennessee First Lady Maria Lee and was filling in as a substitute teacher at Covenant on Monday. Katherine Koonce, 60, was the head of school at Covenant who her family said "gave her life to protect the students she loved." Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all 9, were students at the school.

Follow along here for live updates as we learn more about Monday's shooting.

REMEMBERING HALLIE SCRUGGS: Family of 9-year-old Hallie Scruggs mourns their loss: 'We are heartbroken'

HONORING EVELYN DIECKHAUS: Covenant school student Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9, was 'a shining light in this world'

REMEMBERING WILLIAM KINNEY: Covenant student William Kinney was 'unfailingly kind' and 'knew no strangers'

Covenant School employee on 911 call says school staff members carried guns

A person calling 911 from under a desk inside The Covenant School during Monday's shooting told police dispatch that the school had staff that carried firearms.

"We do have a school person, or two ... I'm not sure ... who would be packing, whose job it is for security," the woman said. "We don't have security guards, but we have staff."

It was unclear if those staff members were at the school at the time of the shooting.

Read more about the call here.

911 CALL: Covenant School employee said staff members carried guns

Shooter was 'obsessive' about former middle school basketball team, teammate says

Audrey Hale messaged Averianna Patton minutes before stepping into The Covenant School on Monday, killing three adults and three children. Hale and Patton were teammates on the 2008-2009 Isaiah T. Creswell middle school girls basketball team.

Hale's focus on the team and former teammates resulted in awkward and strange interactions with those teammates in recent years, a teammate said.

Mia Phillips was on the team with Hale in the same grade. Phillips said the team thought Hale was shy, so the team befriended Hale.

After middle school, Phillips and Hale attended different high schools and drifted apart. Hale reached out to Phillips periodically on social media, often about their time on the middle school basketball team.

Phillips shared a story about attending Middle Tennessee State University, and how Phillips had already received an email from Hale as Phillips set up a university email account. Hale also sent Phillips memorabilia related to their middle school basketball team, despite Phillips not knowing how Hale had Phillips' address.

“I’m trying to be as respectful and also as honest as possible,” Phillips said. “It felt obsessive. It felt like stalkerish behavior.”

Read more about Hale's relationship with teammates from her middle school basketball team here.

'IT FELT LIKE STALKERISH BEHAVIOR': Nashville school shooter was ‘obsessive’ about former middle school basketball team

Led by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, the Tennessee delegation led the House in a moment of silence in remembrance of those affected by Monday's shooting, according to the House Press Gallery.

.@RepCohen and the Tennessee delegation are leading the House in a moment of silence in honor of those who died in the Nashville school shooting. — House Press Gallery (@HouseDailyPress) March 30, 2023

A resolution introduced by Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Sen. Bill Hagerty honoring the victims of Monday's shooting passed the Senate unanimously, C-SPAN reported.

Tennessee Congressional delegation this morning led the House today in a moment of silence to honor the victims of the Nashville Covenant School shooting. Later in the day, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring the memories of the victims of that "senseless attack." pic.twitter.com/rcmGXZCRQI — Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) March 30, 2023

Metro police release 911 calls from inside Covenant School during Monday's shooting

MNPD released on Thursday 911 calls from inside The Covenant School during Monday's shooting.

Three calls were released. The first call came at 10:12 a.m. from a man who was walking with a group of children.

Another caller, a woman calling from inside an art classroom closet, was speaking as gunshots were being fired and children's hushed voices were heard in the background.

"Please hurry," she said. "I'm hearing more shots."

The third caller came from a man hiding in a room inside the school.

24 calls came in total during the shooting, according to Emergency Communications Director Steve Martini. The remaining calls should be released by the end of the day on Thursday, Martini said. Read more about the 911 calls here.

911 CALLS: 'I want to go home': Nashville shooting 911 calls capture terror inside Covenant School

The Care for Covenant Fund has raised $474,254 as of 11:45 a.m. Thursday, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee said to The Tennessean.

The fund will be "directed to The Covenant School to support the healing of those affected by this tragedy," the foundation's website said.

There are many ways to donate in support of those affected by Monday's shooting. A verified GoFundMe fundraiser in support of the family of Mike Hill, the 61-year-old victim who was The Covenant School custodian, has raised $536,850 as of Thursday afternoon.

Outside the Tennessee State Capitol, it was noisy as some protestors were leaving from inside and others stood outside.

The House galleries were cleared of protesters as of about 11:30 a.m., and a five-minute recess took longer as protesters attempted to talk to lawmakers. It took about 50 minutes for remaining protesters to leave the Capitol rotunda. At one point, protesters in the rotunda silently held up six fingers, representing the six victims killed in Monday's shooting.

Protestors have gone quiet some holding up 6 fingers for the 6 victims of the Covenant shooting pic.twitter.com/Q1cnFklpDi — Kirsten Fiscus (@KDFiscus) March 30, 2023

Belmont University student Amelia Gould said legislators were being asked about gun legislation and “they were smiling and smirking at us.”

State trooper removing signs left behind by protestors pic.twitter.com/Ocv1j4ibBq — Kirsten Fiscus (@KDFiscus) March 30, 2023

Hundreds of protesters huddled together in the morning cold at Legislative Plaza on Thursday, amped to march to the Tennessee State Capitol. They buzzed with chatter and held signs of protest aloft. At 8:05 a.m. they stopped traffic on Charlotte Avenue and the mass moved as one across the street.

Funneled down into a single file line, about 200 people managed to get through security at the Capitol building and congregated in the rotunda outside the chambers for state representatives.

“The time is now. It’s time. We’re here for change,” a protester yelled from the middle of the congregation.

State representatives cut down the middle of the group, making their way to the chambers.

“Red flag laws! One thing you can do, representative. One thing you can do,” another protester said, grasping onto the corner of a representative’s suit jacket.

“Do something!” the crowd started chanting.

Other chants during the rally included: “This is what democracy looks like," "protect our kids," and “ban assault weapons.”

Sarah Braam, Davern Cigarran, Alexine Stewart and Sullivan Strobel, all juniors at Harpeth Hall School, huddled together ahead of the protest.

“We’re like one of several carfuls coming,” Braam said. “Our dean said we could have an excused absence to be here today.”

Junior year is a busy time in a high schooler’s career getting ready for the next steps in their lives, but all four students felt it was vitally important to represent children their age at the Capitol on Thursday.

“I feel like it's an issue that needs to be seriously addressed,” Cigarran said. “I also feel like the Covenant shooting is something that impacted a lot of people in our community very directly. I think this is something that can’t just be ... ignored or, you know, protested for four days and then forgotten about.”

The crowd was largely younger, with several students from local Nashville high schools including Hillwood High, Martin Luther King Jr. High, Hume-Fogg Academic High and McGavock High.

Chloe Spangler, a 16-year-old McGavock student is trying to organize a group of Nashville students for change.

“We don’t usually get a platform in our state to talk about issues that directly affect us,” Spangler said.

There were some tensions in the crowd, with differing views on how to address the issues at hand.

Sarah Astor, 24, and Sean McGill, 25, had a sign that read: “The only thing stopping a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” Astor and McGill were approached by several people who ripped up the sign.

The crowd started to disperse around 10:30 a.m.

As hundreds chanted outside the House chamber on Thursday morning, Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville, addressed his colleagues with a plea for "common sense" gun reforms. His address was backed by the Nashville delegation.

"They're out they're right now, they're begging for us to do something," said Freeman, who represents the district where The Covenant School is located.

Freeman said a shooting victim attended the same Sunday school class as his young daughter.

"I honestly struggled to find the right words, as I'm sure many of you have had, in the last couple of days. What's the right way to help a child grieve the loss of a friend and the loss of innocence?" Freeman said.

After Freeman's speech, the House appeared to proceed with its calendar as usual, even as shouts and chants from the waiting crowd ring through the chamber.

On the House floor this morning, Representative Bob Freeman will address the House on the school shooting. Freeman, backed by the Nashville delegation, will speak on the impact on his district and steps that can be taken by lawmakers.

Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9, will be laid to rest by family and friends at 3 p.m. Friday in the Covenant Presbyterian sanctuary. Overflow for the services will be in Carpenter Chapel and the Gathering Hall.

Funeral arrangements for Mike Hill, 61, were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Stephens Valley Church.

A celebration of life will be held for Cynthia Peak, 61, at noon on April 1 at Christ Presbyterian Church.

Funeral arrangements for the other victims are still pending.

Doctor-driven petition with 200K signatures seeks stricter gun control

A petition organized by doctors with more than 209,000 signatures calls on lawmakers to implement stricter gun control laws.

Dr. Emma Taylor and a group of physicians launched the petition after the American Medical Association stated gun violence was a public health crisis in 2016. The petition is recirculated each time a public shooting occurs for the past six years on change.org.

The shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville is cited in the present version of the petition.

“As doctors, we are on the front lines of these horrific events,” the petition states. “No amount of training can prepare you to see a child after they’ve been attacked with an assault rifle. Our nation’s best physicians are no match for the damage done by an AR-15.”

March for our Lives, a nonprofit organization created after the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school shooting is asking Nashville schools to walk out of class and to the state Capitol to demand gun safety at 10:13 a.m. on April 3.

That time marks when the first 911 call came into the Metro Nashville Police Department about the Covenant School shooting on March 27.

Sandy Hook Promise mourns Nashville shooting victims

Sandy Hook Promise, a national nonprofit organization founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. is speaking out on the gun violence that killed three children and three adults in Nashville.

"We mourn with the loved ones of 3 children and 3 adults murdered in the tragic mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville. We know the years of unspeakable pain their families and community will face. We must #HonorWithAction and #EndGunViolence."

Mother of Waffle House shooting speaks out

Shaundelle Brooks was frozen in fear after hearing of Monday's Covenant School shooting. Brooks is the mother Akilah Da Silva, one of four fatally shoot in a Nashville Waffle House in April 2018.

Following Monday's school shooting, the Moms Demand Action member released a statement:

"The team at The Akilah Da Silva Foundation is sickened, saddened, and outraged about the shooting at The Covenant School in Green Hills this morning. To the families who are grieving, we stand with you. We know your pain. And we are here for you. We now have confirmed evidence from MNPD that assault style rifles and a handgun were in the hands of someone who should not have been in possession of them. No school, private or public, can guarantee the safety of the children in the United States of America. There is no excuse for this. It must stop. Our legislators need to act and create common sense gun reform immediately."

Draper James honors Covenant School shooting victims

Our hearts still ache for all those affected by the Covenant School tragedy. Please join us in supporting the Caring for Covenant Fund established by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee @communityfoundationmidtn. All donations made to the Fund, minus credit card fees, will be directed to The Covenant School to support the healing of those affected by this tragedy.

The company wrote the names of the three children and three adults were fatally shot by Hale Monday.

Transgender man shares emotional story during vigil

Also in attendance at the vigil was a transgender man, Devon Stewart, who shared his own emotional story.

Stewart left Tennessee in search of a more accepting and inclusive environment. After spending time in Michigan, Stewart decided to return to his home of Tennessee.

“This is where my home is. This is my family, and my roots are here,” he said.

When asked how to combat hate, Stewart said to simply love thy neighbor.

In response to Tennessee passing laws earlier this year banning gender affirming healthcare, Stewart said, “It’s not over, it’s not going to be over.“

Citywide vigil honored Nashville shooting victims

It was packed Wednesday in front of the courthouse steps, as people gathered to honor the victims of Monday's shooting.

Nashville Mayor John Cooper, MNPD chief John Drake and Metro council member Russ Pulley spoke to the crowd, which included first lady Dr. Jill Biden. The musical acts present were Sheryl Crow, Margo Price and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show. Many shed tears as Price sang “Tears of Rage” by Bob Dylan. State Rep. Rev. Harold Love Jr. recited an emotional prayer.

Two educators from Eakin Elementary, a Metro Nashville Public School only three miles from Covenant, were among the crowd.“It’s very scary to be an educator right now. It’s something you don’t to have to prepare for but unfortunately it’s something we prepare for very often. It’s not a fear I want to think about walking into work.” said Tia Billig, an American Sign Language interpreter at Eakin.

At the end of the vigil, State Rep. Justin Jones urged people to attend the rally in response to the shooting at the state capitol building on Thursday.“Hold them accountable,” he said.

Who were the victims of The Covenant School shooting?

Police identified the victims of the shooting on Monday afternoon as:

Green-Alarm-3896 on April 2nd, 2023 at 15:37 UTC »

Sometimes they are just normal guys with guns. Most people wont run toward a crazy person with a gun. Too unpredictable.

Carpathicus on April 2nd, 2023 at 15:27 UTC »

Those kinds of news are so bizarre for a non-american. Still remember when Columbine happened and how shocked everyone was back then. Imagine showing someone from that time present news.

mrg1957 on April 2nd, 2023 at 14:42 UTC »

Teachers don't get paid enough to buy practice ammo.