On Monday, the Nashville Police Department released the names of the six victims in the Covenant School shooting, during which a “transgender” perpetrator carried out an attack against the Presbyterian school.
As reported by Axios, the victims consisted of three adult employees of the school and three third-grade students. The students, all just 9 years old, were Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney. Scruggs was the daughter of Chad Scruggs, who serves as lead pastor at the neighboring Covenant Presbyterian Church.
“We are heartbroken,” said Pastor Scruggs in a statement. “Through tears we trust that she is in the arms of Jesus who will raise her to life once again.”
Among the three adult victims was Katherine Koonce, 60, who served as the head of the school. Parents and relatives described Koonce as a “remarkable woman” with a “bright spirit,” and say that Koonce was adored by the students.
“She knew every single student by name,” said one parent. “She did everything to help them when families couldn’t afford things, it didn’t matter. She found ways for them to stay.”
Cynthia Peak, aged 61, was a substitute teacher who was filling in that day. She was raised in Leesville, Louisiana, and leaves behind a husband, a daughter, and two sons.
The third adult victim was 61-year-old Mike Hill, a custodian at the school. His daughter Brittany said in a statement that “everyone knows he absolutely loved” working at the school, and other faculty members spoke highly of Hill as well.
The 28-year-old shooter, a female who identified as a male, was confirmed by police to have once been a student at the school, and thus may have been seeking retaliation against the school for its Christian beliefs. She was ultimately gunned down by Nashville PD officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo as she was shooting at police vehicles through a second-floor window.