What we know about The Covenant School shooting in Nashville

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Here's what we know about Monday morning's mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville.

Three adults and three children are confirmed dead at the private Christian school in Nashville. The suspect was also killed, in an altercation with police.

At the scene of one of the deadliest school shootings in Tennessee history, scores of parents and onlookers gathered in a parking lot, awaiting updates, as helicopters circled the area, surrounded by a residential and busy businesses district.

How many people were killed?

Three children and three adult staff members are confirmed dead in the shooting. The victims identified by police are children Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney , all age 9, and adults Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Mike Hill, 61. Koonce was the Head of School.

The 28-year-old shooter was also killed, by police.

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Who was the shooter?

Police identified the shooter as 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale, who police killed at the scene. Hale was a former student at The Covenant School, according to police.

Hale was an illustrator and graphic designer who used he and him pronouns, according to a police spokesperson. Police initially identified Hale by his birth name and gender.

What is The Covenant School?

The Covenant School was founded in 2001 as a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church and has students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Enrollment fluctuates between 195 and 210. The school employs about 33 faculty members.

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How did the shooter get into the school?

Don Aaron, a spokesperson for the Metro Nashville Police Department, said the shooter was believed to have entered a side entrance around 10:13 a.m. with two assault rifles and a handgun.

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How did police respond?

"The police department response was swift," Aaron said. "Officers entered the first story of the school and begin clearing it. They heard shots coming from the second level; they immediately went to the gunfire."

The suspect was fatally shot by a five-member police team around 10:27 a.m. in a second floor lobby.

Where do students go after the Covenant School?

The school typically feeds area private schools that include Battle Ground Academy, Brentwood Academy, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Ensworth, Davidson Academy, Lipscomb Academy and others.

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Is there a recent history of school-related shootings in Middle Tennessee?

In 2022, an 18-year-old was killed in a shooting after Riverdale High School’s graduation on Middle Tennessee State University's campus.

Gunshots were fired on campuses during high school football games last season at West Creek High in Clarksville and Riverdale High in Murfreesboro. Neither case had injuries reported, but a vehicle was hit at Riverdale’s annex parking lot, according to reports.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What we know about The Covenant School shooting in Nashville