Six victims who were shot and killed Monday morning at The Covenant School in Nashville have been identified.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, “the 6 victims fatally shot by the active shooter at Covenant School are identified as: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all age 9, Cynthia Peak, age 61, Katherine Koonce, age 60, and Mike Hill, age 61.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the incident started at around 10:30 a.m. when an active shooter opened fire at the school, at 33 Burton Hills Blvd. Nashville police said the shooter engaged with officers and is now dead.
The shooter has been identified as Audrey Hale, 28, of Nashville. Hale was found with “assault-type rifles and a handgun,” officials said, and was shot and killed on the school’s second floor.
Hale reportedly entered the school through a side door, according to Nashville police spokesperson Don Aaron.
“They heard shots coming from the second level. They immediately went to the gunfire. When the officers got to the second level, they saw a shooter, a female, who was firing. The officers engaged her. She was fatally shot by responding police officers,” Aaron said.
“The police department response was swift.”
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
Hale reportedly attended the school when they were younger, according to Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake.
“At one point she was a student at that school, but unsure what year,” he said.
The victims were described as being staff members and students at the school, which serves preschool students through sixth grade, according to NBC News.
This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: This photo provided by the Metro Nashville Police Department shows officers at an active shooter event that took place at Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church, in Nashville, Tenn. Monday, March 27, 2023. Authorities say the suspect in a shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville is dead. (Metro Nashville Police Department via AP)
