The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) announced that a female shooter who opened fire Monday morning at The Covenant Presbyterian School in the Green Hills neighborhood in Nashville is dead after engaging with MNPD.
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
Among the deceased victims are three children and three adults not including the shooter, according to reports citing information from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).
Including the shooter, a total of seven persons were killed.
During a news conference, Nashville PD Public Affairs Director Don Aaron confirmed that the female shooter, who appeared to be “in her teens,” was shot dead at 10:27 a.m. by two MNPD officers. The first call dispatching authorities to the school came in at 10:13 a.m., according to Aaron.
Subsequent reporting identified the perpetrator as a 28-year-old woman.
The shooter entered the school through a “side entrance” and made her way from the first floor to the second floor, “firing multiple shots.” The shooter was armed with two “assault-type rifles and a handgun,” Aaron added.
UPDATE: Three kids and two adults are dead after a mass shooting at Covenant School, Vanderbilt confirms. https://t.co/79Ng2zfh1t
— FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) March 27, 2023
A reunification area has been established at Woodmont Baptist Church located at 2100 Woodmont Blvd for parents to meet their children who attend The Covenant School, the Nashville Fire Department announced.
A reunification area has been established at 2100 Woodmont Blvd (Woodmont Baptist Church) for parents to meet their children who attend The Covenant School at 33 Burton Hills Blvd.
— Nashville Fire Dept (@NashvilleFD) March 27, 2023
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced special agents and additional personnel are responding to the scene of the shooting at the request of Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk.
NEWS ALERT: At the request of District Attorney General Glenn Funk, TBI special agents and additional personnel are responding to the scene of this morning’s school shooting in Green Hills.
As indicated by @MNPDNashville, there is no current threat to public safety. pic.twitter.com/e9MgJFkaax
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) March 27, 2023
In addition, special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Nashville Field Office are responding to the scene.
Special Agents from the Nashville Field Office are responding to assist the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department with an active shooter incident that has occurred at the Convenant School. For further details, follow @MNPDNashville pic.twitter.com/4Au5nyWcmP
— ATF Nashville (@ATFNashville) March 27, 2023
Governor Bill Lee added on Twitter that he is “closely monitoring the tragic situation at Covenant,” and that the Tennessee Department of Safety and Tennessee Highway Patrol are “assisting local law enforcement & first responders at the scene.”
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.
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) March 27, 2023
Both U.S. Tennessee Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) reacted to the shooting incident.
Senator Blackburn tweeted, “Chuck & I are heartbroken to hear about the shooting at Covenant School in Nashville. My office is in contact with federal, state, & local officials, & we stand ready to assist. Thank you to the first responders working on site. Please join us in prayer for those affected.”
Chuck & I are heartbroken to hear about the shooting at Covenant School in Nashville.
My office is in contact with federal, state, & local officials, & we stand ready to assist.
Thank you to the first responders working on site. Please join us in prayer for those affected.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) March 27, 2023
Senator Hagerty tweeted, “Devastated and heartbroken about the tragic news at Covenant School. I’m grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their heroic actions. I am monitoring the situation closely, and my office is in contact with local officials & available to anyone needing assistance.”
Devastated and heartbroken about the tragic news at Covenant School. I'm grateful to law enforcement and first responders for their heroic actions. I am monitoring the situation closely, and my office is in contact with local officials & available to anyone needing assistance.
— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) March 27, 2023
MNPD says there is no current threat to public safety.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Covenant School” by Metro Nashville PD.
