Seven people are dead, including the shooter, following an “active shooter” situation at a school in Green Hills.
The Nashville Fire Department said the incident happened at Covenant School located at 33 Burton Hills Boulevard.
The fire department also said their medics are treating “multiple patients”.
Metro police said the shooting began at 10:13 a.m. as the shooter entered the school through a side door and made her way from the first floor to the second floor, firing multiple shots.
Police reported that two officers entered the building, ran toward sounds of gunfire, met the shooter on the second floor of the school, and fatally shot her. The shooter has been identified as a 28-year-old Nashville woman and was reportedly armed with two assault-style rifles and one handgun, according to police.
By 10:27 a.m. police said they shooter was deceased. It is unclear if she had a connection to the school or students.
A spokesperson with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt confirmed to News 2’s Kendall Ashman that three children were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds, but have died from their injuries.
Hospital officials also said three adult staff members were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and have died from their injuries.
A total of seven people, including the shooter, are dead.
A reunification area has been established at 2100 Woodmont Boulevard (Woodmont Baptist Church) for parents to meet their children who attend The Covenant School at 33 Burton Hills Boulevard, the fire department said.
Rebekah Hammonds with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) said the following closures are in place following the shooting
- Northbound lanes of Harding Place at Hillsboro Pike
- East and Westbound I-440 off ramps at Exit 3 for Hillsboro Pike
Dr. Adrienne Battle, Director of Metro Nashville Public Schools, issued the following statement on the school shooting:
“As a parent, as an educator, as a human being, I’m grieving today over the tragic murder of children and school staff right here in our community. My heart goes out to the entire Covenant School community and the parents grieving the unimaginable loss of life today.
“We have been in close contact with the MNPD throughout the day, and we are providing whatever support we can to assist in their response. This is a traumatic event for the entire community, and our student support services team will be working to help our students and staff process this situation in the days to come.
“We don’t know all of the details of how or why this happened, and we may never fully know. At Metro Schools, we have invested considerable resources to strengthen security at our facilities in response to the far too many, far too often instances of school shootings across the nation over the years. We will continue to reinforce our safety protocols and monitor and follow best practices on keeping students safe from harm.”
Mayor John Cooper took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the shooting, tweeting, “In a tragic morning, Nashville joined the dreaded, long list of communities to experience a school shooting. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. Our entire city stands with you. As facts continue to emerge, I thank our first responders and medical professionals.”
ATF Nashville also said they are responding to the scene to assist the MNPD.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation both said they are responding as well.
The Red Cross said they are “providing disaster mental health workers, spiritual care workers, water and snacks at this time.”
Article by: Ethan Illers
