A female shooter identified as Audrey Elizabeth Hale killed three children and two adult staff members at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee before the 28-year-old was killed by police.
Metro Nashville Police Department confirmed the news in a Facebook post, writing:
“3 students and 3 adult staff members from Covenant School were fatally shot by the active shooter, who has now been identified as a 28-year-old Nashville woman.
“Two MNPD officers who entered the building and went to the sounds of gunfire engaged the shooter on the second floor and fatally shot her.”
Update: The person who opened fire at The Covenant School has been identified as a 28-year-old woman, the Metro Nashville Police Department said on its Twitter feed. Earlier, authorities had described the shooter as someone who appeared to be in her teens. https://t.co/cyKGLAriE6
— NPR (@NPR) March 27, 2023
John Howser, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told media:
“three paediatric patients were transported to Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, all having suffered gunshot wounds“.
In remarks after the shooting, President Biden commended law enforcement responding to the tragedy and called the shooting “sick”.
Police have said that they believe that the shooter was a former student at the Christian elementary school and are investigating the potential connection.
The PD said that two members of the five-strong response team opened fire on the suspect at 10.27am local time (4.27pm BST) – with the entire incident taking place over 14 minutes.
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He also called on Congress to pass his proposed assault weapon ban, responding to reports that the shooter wielded two assault rifles and a pistol in the attack.
Police spokesperson Don Aaron told reporters that the shooter was identified as a female teenager.
The incident was first reported when Metro Nashville Police Department tweeted:
“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.”
The attack took place at Covenant Presbyterian School, WKRN reported.
The Nashville Fire Department wrote on Twitter that there were “multiple patients”, though their conditions are currently unknown.
It also hasn’t been established whether the victims were pupils, teachers or staff at the school.
Children were reportedly seen being led away from the school in a line by police.
The Covenant School has around 200 students, according to the school’s website.
The school is reported to have held an active shooter training program in 2022.
