Safety & Security

3 children, 3 adults shot to death at private school in Nashville, Tenn.

Police say that the shooter, a heavily armed 28-year-old woman, was fatally shot by police.
March 27, 2023

Three children and three staff members have died in a shooting attack at a private school in Nashville, Tenn., authorities say.

The Nashville Tennessean reports that the shooting took place Monday morning at the Covenant School.

The deaths of the children were confirmed by a spokesperson at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Police later identified the victims Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9, Hallie Scruggs, 9, William Kinney, 9, Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Mike Hill, 61. Koonce was the Head of School.

The shooter, a 28-year-old woman, was shot to death after confronting police on the second floor of the school. Police have not disclosed her identity. Investigators say they believe the woman had attended the school at one point.

Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said the woman was armed with two assault-type rifles and one handgun. 

Police received its first call about the shooting at 10:13 a.m. The woman was shot to death at 10:27 a.m.

According to its website, Covenant School is a private Christian school serving students from preschool through sixth grade. The school was founded in 2001.

Aaron said the school has 209 students and 42 staff members.

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