A tragic shooting took place on Monday morning at The Covenant School, a private elementary school in Nashville, leaving three children and three adults dead.
A 28-year-old woman, a former student of the school, was identified as the shooter by the Nashville Police Department. The woman entered the school through a side entrance before opening fire.
Two police officers engaged the shooter on the second floor of the building after responding to a 10:13 a.m. call about the incident.
The shooter was killed at the scene, said Don Aaron, the Nashville Police Department spokesman. According to authorities, she was a former student of the school. However, her name has not been publically released.
The shooter was armed with two assault-type rifles and a pistol, which were recovered from the scene.
President Joe Biden addressed the shooting during the Small Business Administration’s Women’s Business Summit, calling it “sick” and “heartbreaking.” He praised the Nashville officers for their swift response and emphasized the need to do more to combat gun violence. Biden also urged Congress to pass his assault weapons ban, arguing that progress must be made to protect schools and communities.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who was speaking at a National League of Cities event when news of the shooting broke, expressed her sorrow and stated that children deserve better. She extended her support to Nashville and offered her prayers.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee tweeted that he was closely monitoring the situation and asked for prayers for the school, congregation, and Nashville community.