Six dead as female shooter opens fire at Nashville school

SIx people including three children were killed yesterday after a female shooter opened fire at a private school in Nashville.

The attack took place at the Covenant School, an elementary school on the outskirts of the city.

Police say the shooter – who has not yet been named – was 28 years old and killed three children and three adults before being shot dead by police.

They believe the female suspect was a former pupil.

Shortly before 10.13am, the woman entered the school through a side door and began opening fire on the second floor.

Police arrived at the scene and heard the gunshots coming from the 2nd floor. By 10.27am, she had been shot dead. She was armed with two assault- style rifles and a handgun.

Parents were told to collect their children from a nearby church. A Metro Police officer was heard telling parents: ‘I know this is probably the worst day of everyone’s lives. I can’t tell you how sympathetic we are.’ Residents living near the school watched as parents frantically rushed to the scene to find their children.

Local resident Lisa Debusk told the Mail: ‘Everyone as a parent are terrified. You don’t send your kid to school thinking there would be an active shooting, especially in this area.

‘Just hearing as a parent myself it’s truly overwhelming. Seeing all the parents run up the hill to see if their children are okay.’ There are 33 staff members in the school and 210 students. Many of those students were seen running from the building in their school uniforms after the shooting began.

Other schools in the area have gone into lockdown as a precaution, but there is not thought to be any additional threat.

Tennessee Senator Marsha

Blackburn was among the first to share her condolences. ‘Chuck and I are heartbroken to hear about the shooting at Covenant School in Nashville.

‘My office is in contact with federal, state, and local officials, and we stand ready to assist. Thank you to the first responders working on site. Please join us in prayer for those affected.’

Tennessee governor Bill Lee tweeted: ‘I am closely monitoring the tragic situation at Covenant... as we continue to respond, please join us in praying for the school, congregation & Nashville community.’

President Joe Biden called on Congress again to pass his assault weapons ban in the wake of the Nashville shooting. ‘It’s heartbreaking, a family’s worst nightmare,’ he said.

First Lady Jill Biden, speaking at the National League of Cities conference on Monday, said: ‘We just learned about another shooting in Tennessee – a school shooting. I am truly without words. Our children deserve better. We stand with Nashville in prayer.’

Yesterday’s mass shooting is the 129th in the US this year.

‘It’s a family’s worst nightmare’