One of the child victims in the horrendous mass murder at a Nashville elementary school was the daughter of the school church’s senior pastor, CBS reported early Tuesday morning. Hallie Scruggs was one of three nine-year-olds to be murdered by the 28-year-old transgender Audrey Hale, a former student at The Covenant School where the shooting occurred.
“The Nashville Presbytery confirmed to CBS News that 9-year-old Scruggs was the daughter of Chad Scruggs, the senior pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church,” CBS reported.
In total, Hale killed six people – three children, all 9, and three adults. Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney were all 9-year-old victims of the unthinkable tragedy, and the adult victims were identified as Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Mike Hill, 61.
Peak was a substitute teacher, Hill was a custodian, and Koonce was the head of the school.
While the motive of the shooting seems obvious enough, with the former school of Hale serving as the target of the attack, and politics and national narratives around transgenderism further inflaming hostilities, it remains unclear if Hale targeted any specific victims or if the shooting deaths were just random.
News of the shooting broke mid-morning on Monday, with Nashville’s first responding crews tweeting about a school shooting and officer engagement with the shooter on campus.
“We are responding to an active aggressor at 33 Burton Hills Blvd Covenant School. We can confirm we have multiple patients. Parents coming to the school should go to 20 Burton Hills at this time. this is an active scene,” the Nashville first responders tweeted around 10:30 am local time Monday.
An active shooter event has taken place at Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church, on Burton Hills Dr. The shooter was engaged by MNPD and is dead. Student reunification with parents is at Woodmont Baptist Church, 2100 Woodmont Blvd. pic.twitter.com/vO8p9cj3vx
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 27, 2023
Dom Proto, of Good Morning America, reported at least 3 casualties so far. “Vanderbilt University Medical Center confirms 3 pediatric patients were transported to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. all having suffered gunshot wounds after a shooting at Covenant School in Nashville. All 3 have died,” he tweeted.
Tennessee governor Bill Lee quickly reacted on social media as well.
“I am closely monitoring the tragic situation at Covenant, & the @TNDeptofSafety &@TNHighwayPatrol are assisting local law enforcement & first responders at the scene. As we continue to respond, please join us in praying for the school, congregation & Nashville community,” he said.
The American Tribune reported shortly after the shooting that first responders’ quick actions on the campus of the school likely saved many more lives, saying:
The Nashville Police Department was given praise below many of the embedded threads for their quick action and heroic response to engage the shooter. It is in stark contrast to the situation that played out in Uvalde, Texas last year when law enforcement tiptoed inside an elementary school and gave a lunatic gunman over an hour alone with helpless students.
“Thank you for your quick response,” wrote former congressional candidate Kim Klacik.
“Seems like the MNPD did an amazing job in stopping tragedy unfolding,” wrote another.
“God Bless the quick response of the Nashville PD,” commented one user.
“The quick response of Nashville PD I’m sure saved many. Prayers to the families and community,” tweeted another person.
Featured image: Facebook, Chad Scruggs
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