First Lady Jill Biden traveled to Nashville on Wednesday to attend the citywide candlelight vigil at One Public Square Park to mourn the six victims gunned down on Monday at The Covenant School.
The victims – Evelyn Dieckhaus, age 9; William Kinney, age 9; Hallie Scruggs, age 9; Mike Hill, age 61; Cynthia Peak, age 61; and Katherine Koonce, age 60 – were killed at the hands of 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale, who shot her way into the school through doors on the side of the building. Hale was fatally wounded by two Metro Nashville Police officers, who have since been deemed heroes for taking Hale down.
Biden did not speak at the vigil, however, was thanked by Nashville Mayor John Cooper for “dropping everything” and coming to Nashville for the gathering. Cooper also thanked President Joe Biden for lowering flags to half-staff to honor the six victims.
“Just two days ago was our city’s worst day…I so wish we did not need to be here, but we need to be here, together, as a community,” Cooper remarked.
Cooper also urged those able to donate to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which has set up a Caring for Covenant Fund to support the families of the six victims. The fund, according to Cooper, has already raised $350,000.
Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake also spoke at the vigil, saying, “Although members of our police department and fire department have trained for years, we still hoped this would never happen.”
First Lady Biden also visited The Covenant School in Nashville to pay respects and deliver a bouquet to the memorial set up at the entrance for the six victims.
NOW: Dr Jill Biden at The Covenant School @CBSNews @CBSEveningNews pic.twitter.com/G52TapU194
— Janet Shamlian (@JanetShamlian) March 29, 2023
First Lady Jill Biden is the first official from the White House that has visited Nashville since the shooting. Hours after the shooting on Monday, President Biden renewed his calls for Congress to pass legislation outlawing assault weapons.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Nashville Candlevigl for The Covenant School” by Mayor John Cooper.
