Covenant School’s Head of School, Katherine Koonce, gave up her life defending the students whom she loved and cared for, outlets are now reporting. Koonce was one of six total victims in Monday’s horrific mass shooting at the private Christian elementary school located in Nashville.
Speaking to journalists, Nashville City Councilman Russ Pulley related that Koonce was in the middle of a virtual meeting when she heard some of the first shots. Pulley claims that Koonce “immediately ended the call, got up, and headed straight for the shooter.”
Koonce’s lifeless body was later found in the hallway in a position that suggested to others she had confronted the shooter and attempted to either talk to the murderous individual or at least slow them down.
“It is my understanding from a witness at the school that Katherine Koonce was on a Zoom call when she heard the first shot. She immediately ended the call, got up, and headed straight for the shooter,” Pulley said to Fox News Digital, adding that he wasn’t sure of the many details beyond the initial encounter.
“She did what principals and headmasters do; she protected her children,” he continued. “In addition, she prepared the school by seeking advanced-level active-shooter training, and from witnesses at the scene, this protocol – details of which I cannot provide – saved countless lives.”
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Nashville Police Chief John Drake corroborated the heroic actions of Koonce. While he was unsure of exactly what transpired, he was able to acknowledge a “confrontation” and effort to save lives. “There was a confrontation, I’m sure – you can tell the way she was lying in the hallway,” the police chief said.
“She gave her life in defense of the children under her care,” commented the pastor of Koonce’s West End Community Church, John Bourgeois. He said he notified the congregation of their member’s selfless act shortly after her passing.
Koonce was killed alongside two other adults during the deadly attack. The first suspected casualty belonged to custodian Mike Hill. He is believed to have been killed when the attacker began shooting at a locked side door in an effort to siege the building. He was killed in a hail of bullets used to batter the glass doors.
“I don’t know the details yet. But I have a feeling, when it all comes out, Mike’s sacrifice saved lives. I have nothing factual to base that upon. I just know what kind of guy he was. And I know he’s the kind of guy that would do that,” Tim Dunavant, a pastor at Hartsville First United Methodist Church, said on social media.
Councilman Pulley also commended the staff who led children to a successful reunification with their parents at a nearby church.
“I was at that scene and observed them calmly handling the children like it was another day at school,” Pulley said. “After all the children were reunited with their parents, the staff became emotional. But while they had their children, they were amazingly doing what teachers and administrators do: take care of their children. And those children seemed to be doing as well as they could under the circumstances.”
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Featured image: Katherine Koonce, Facebook, The Covenant School
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