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(CNN) Another American community is reeling after a shooting at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville killed three 9-year-olds and three adults.
Monday’s attack was the deadliest US school shooting in nearly a year and the 19th school or college shooting in 2023 with at least one injured. Yes, according to CNN’s tally.
“Our community is heartbroken,” Covenant Presbyterian Church ministry Covenant Schools said in a statement, citing first responders for their swift response and those who showed support for the school. expressed gratitude to
“We are grieving the tremendous loss and shocked by the horror that shattered our school and church. We love our students, families and staff and are focused on beginning the healing process. I have,” said the school.
“The entire state of Tennessee was hit yesterday,” Gov. Bill Lee said in a video statement released Tuesday night.
Here’s what we know about the victim so far:
Evelyn Deekhouse
Police said Evelyn was nine years old. According to a statement from her family obtained by CNN affiliate KMOV, while her family is grateful for all the love and support she has received, they are asking for space as they are grieving.
“Our hearts are completely devastated and we cannot believe this has happened,” the statement said. “Evelyn was a shining light in this world.”
Mike Hill
Hill, 61, was the school’s favorite janitor and father of seven children, police said.
According to the school website, Hill was a member of the facility/kitchen staff known to students as “Big Mike”.
According to a family statement obtained by CNN affiliate WSMV, the staff loved to cook and spend time with their families. He had 14 grandchildren.
“We would like to thank the Nashville community for their continued thoughts and prayers. We are grieving and trying to understand why this happened, but we continue to ask for your support.” ‘ said the statement.
“We pray for Covenant School and thank Michael for being loved by a joyful faculty and students for 14 years,” he added.
Nashville parents set up a GoFundMe page to help Hill’s family with funeral expenses.
GoFundMe added, “According to his family, he had a great deal of joy and found great joy through his work and his studies.”
His daughter, Brittany Hill, said in a Facebook post on Monday that her father “absolutely loved” his job.
“After years of watching school shootings, it never occurred to me that I would lose a loved one to someone trying to fix a temporary problem with a permanent solution. did,” she said. “I’m so sorry for the loss of those kids,” she added.
“Please pray for my family tonight. Please hug your parents and children a little tighter.”
Catherine Kuns
Coons was 60 years old and a school principal, police said.
She attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville and Trebecca Nazarene University and earned a master’s degree from Georgia State University, the school said.
Kim and Monica Lee, a friend and former colleague of Koonse’s, told reporters on Tuesday about her dedication.
“She lost her life trying to protect her students and faculty,” said Kim Lee.
They said the educator has a good sense of humor and is confident. According to Kim Lee, Koons showed her humility and made everyone she interacted with feel important.
“She might be on her knees talking to a preschooler,” he added.
cynthia peak
Police and other sources said Peek, 61, was a substitute teacher at the school.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has spoken out about his wife Malia’s close relationship with Peake.
The teacher was supposed to come to Lee’s house for dinner on Monday night.
“Maria woke up this morning without one of her best friends,” Lee said.
“Cindy and Maria and Katherine Kuns were all teachers at the same school and have been friends of the family for decades,” Lee said.
“There will come a time when we will discuss the legislation and budget proposals that we have put forward this year, and clearly there is more to be done,” he said Tuesday night.
“Because God is our Redeemer, there is hope in the midst of great tragedy. What is meant for evil can turn into good. May you grieve in the future, and be blessed with wisdom, discernment, and grace, and especially love those you have lost,” Lee said in a video message.
Louisiana Rep. Charles Anthony Owen told CNN that he’s known about Peak all along. Owen said her hometown of Leesville, Louisiana, is heartbroken.
“She and my sister were my closest friends growing up, and Cindy seems to have been with me all my childhood.” We lived across from each other, and Cindy and May were always together.”
Owen wrote that Peek was one of the first faces he saw when May died. “She was here to mourn an old friend of hers,” he said.
Harry Scruggs
Police say Harry was nine years old and the daughter of Chad Scruggs, the senior pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, according to a statement from Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, the sister church Scruggs previously served.
“We love the Scruggs family and mourn the loss of their precious daughter Harry,” said Mark Davis, senior pastor of the Texas Congregation. We trust that they will give us the comfort and hope that we so desperately need.”
another person lost his life
Nine-year-old William Kinney was also killed, police said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNN’s Amanda Jackson, Jamiel Lynch, Taliah Miller, Jillian Sykes, and Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.
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