Names of scholars and employees members
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Town is mourning the loss of three children and three adults who were fatally shot Monday at a small, Christian elementary college.
The suspect, recognized by police as a 28-year-old former scholar, entered the non-public Covenant College by means of a facet door Monday morning and opened hearth. Inside 14 minutes, a workforce of 5 officers adopted the sounds of gunfire to a second-floor foyer the place they fatally shot the suspect.
All victims have been affiliated with the Covenant College, situated within the Inexperienced Hills neighborhood south of downtown Nashville. The Covenant College has about 200 college students from preschool by means of sixth grade, in addition to roughly 50 employees members, in response to its web site.
The tragic incident is the nation’s 89th taking pictures in a Okay-12 college this 12 months, in response to the K-12 School Shooting Database. Final 12 months, a faculty taking pictures in Uvalde, Texas, left 21 useless.
“In a tragic morning, Nashville joined the dreaded, lengthy listing of communities to expertise a faculty taking pictures,” mentioned Nashville Mayor John Cooper. “My coronary heart goes out to the households of the victims. Our total metropolis stands with you.”
The group hosted a number of vigils Monday night time the place a whole bunch gathered to grieve and pray for the victims. A citywide vigil was additionally deliberate for Wednesday.
Here is what we all know up to now concerning the taking pictures victims.
Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9
Evelyn Dieckhaus was a scholar at The Covenant College.
Group members gathered on the Woodmont Christian Church on Monday night time the place senior minister Clay Stauffer shared by means of tears and a shaky voice, a narrative of Dieckhaus.
Dieckhaus was a 3rd grader on the Covenant College and her sister, a fifth grader, is a member of the disciples class on the church. Evelyn’s sister cried as she mentioned, “I don’t wish to be an solely little one.”
The Dieckhaus household issued a press release on Tuesday saying their hearts are “fully damaged.”
“We can not consider this has occurred,” the assertion learn. “Evelyn was a shining mild on this world. We respect all of the love and assist however ask for house as we grieve.”
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Hallie Scruggs, 9
Hallie Scruggs was a scholar at The Covenant College.
Hallie was the daughter of Chad Scruggs, who’s the lead pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church, in response to a press release from his former church in Dallas.
“We love the Scruggs household and mourn with them over their treasured daughter Hallie,” Mark Davis, senior pastor at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, mentioned in a press release. “Collectively, we belief within the energy of Christ to attract close to and provides us the consolation and hope we desperately want.”
The Park Cities Presbyterian Church held a service on Tuesday to mourn and pray for the victims.
William Kinney, 9
Covenant College scholar William Kinney was “fast to snicker” with an “unflappable spirit” and a delicate, “unfailingly variety” spirit, Rachael Freitas mentioned on a verified GoFundMe published Tuesday.
Freitas, a pal of the Kinney household, arrange the GoFundMe to lift funeral bills and to purchase “the household time to grieve in the best way they should with out monetary urgency.”
“Our buddies are strolling by means of the unimaginable…shedding their son on the Covenant College taking pictures,” Freitas mentioned. “He beloved his sisters, adored his mother and father, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and was all the time excited to host buddies of all ages. Candy Will knew no strangers, and our hearts our damaged for his household as they attempt to discover their method ahead.”
“Please think about giving to this very, very particular household. And please keep in mind them in your prayers,” Freitas added.
Katherine Koonce, 60
Dr. Katherine Koonce was the pinnacle of faculty at The Covenant College and was an educator for greater than 30 years. Nashville police strongly instructed that Koonce confronted the shooter in a faculty hallway earlier than she was killed.
“There was a possible confrontation — you can inform by the best way she was laying,” Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake mentioned Tuesday.
Mates described Koonce as good, loving, and a uncommon feminine chief inside a male-led spiritual tradition.
“If there was any bother in that college, she would run to it, not from it,” mentioned Koonce’s pal Jackie Bailey. “She was making an attempt to guard these children … That’s simply what I consider.”
Earlier than Koonce grew to become the pinnacle of Covenant, Anna Caudill, a former artwork instructor, labored together with her for nearly a decade at Christ Presbyterian Academy, one other Christian college within the space.
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Caudill mentioned Koonce excelled at her day job whereas additionally being a father or mother, pursuing her masters after which her Ph.D., and writing a guide.
“She was an absolute dynamo and one of many smartest girls I’ll ever know,” Caudill mentioned.
Caudill, who grew up in a number of male-led Christian denominations, mentioned Koonce was the primary lady in such a setting to encourage her to continue to learn and pursuing her life targets.
She added that Koonce beloved her job at Covenant and he or she was beloved by college students and their households.
“She wasn’t Marvel Lady, however I by no means noticed the 2 in the identical place,” Caudill mentioned.
Cynthia Peak, 61
Authorities recognized Cynthia Peak instead instructor who was working at The Covenant College.
On Tuesday night time, Tennessee Gov. Invoice Lee mentioned Peak and his spouse, Maria, have been shut buddies and that the 2 have been scheduled to have dinner collectively after Peak stuffed in instead instructor at Covenant.
“Maria awakened this morning with out considered one of her finest buddies,” Lee mentioned.
He added that Peak, Koonce, and his spouse had as soon as taught on the identical college and had been “household buddies for many years.”
Others described Peak as a loving pal and pure instructor.
Chuck Owen, who grew up with Peak in Leesville, Louisiana, mentioned she was a lifelong pal. Peak was “a candy individual from a candy household,” Owen informed The Related Press.
Peak was additionally a religious Christian.
“She informed me that she bought saved in school and that God’s love modified her life,” Owen mentioned, including it was applicable that she was educating at a Christian college.
Nashville songwriter and singer Natalie Hemby shared a photo of Peak with Hemby’s mother on Instagram, calling Peak “a pure instructor.”
“Grateful she taught me the best way to swim. Preserve my head above water… which is what we’re all making an attempt to do proper now,” Hemby mentioned. “And subsequent time you soar in a pool on a gorgeous summer time day, and end up floating and looking out on the sky, please consider my pal, Cindy Peak.”
Based on Hemby, Peak was married with three youngsters.
Peak’s household issued a press release saying their “hearts are damaged,” and referred to as Peak “a pillar of the group, and a instructor beloved by all her college students.”
“She by no means wavered in her religion and we all know she is wrapped within the arms of Jesus,” the assertion mentioned.
Mike Hill, 61
Mike Hill, one of many three grownup victims of the taking pictures, was The Covenant College’s beloved custodian who had been employed on the college for over a decade.
Hill’s household issued a press release saying, “We pray for the Covenant College and are so grateful that Michael was beloved by the college and college students who stuffed him with pleasure for 14 years. He was a father of seven youngsters … and 14 grandchildren. He favored to prepare dinner and spend time with household.”
Pastor Tim Dunavant, of the Hartsville First United Methodist Church, mentioned that he employed Hill to work at Covenant greater than a decade in the past when he ran the kitchen for the church and faculty.
Dunavant mentioned he believed Hill would have died defending the kids.
“I don’t know the small print but. However I’ve a sense, when all of it comes out, Mike’s sacrifice saved lives,” Dunavant said on Facebook. “I’ve nothing factual to base that upon. I simply know what sort of man he was. And I do know he’s the sort of man that will try this.”
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Contributing: The Related Press