covenant presbyterian church nashville tn

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Three children were killed Monday in a shooting at a private Christian elementary school in Nashville, hospital officials said. The suspect also died after a confrontation with police.

All three children were gunshot wounded in the shooting at Covenant School, a Presbyterian school with about 200 students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The victim was pronounced dead upon arrival at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.

It was not immediately clear if anyone else was injured in the attack. On Monday, other students ran to safety, left the school holding hands, and were surrounded by police cars to join their parents at a nearby church.

The Nashville Metropolitan Police Department said on Twitter that the shooter died after being “apprehended” by officers. It was not immediately clear whether the shooter committed suicide or was shot dead by police.

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The fire department said it responded to an “active assailant,” but gave no details. Additional details about the shooting were not immediately released.

On WTVF, reporter Hannah McDonald said her mother-in-law works in reception at Covenant School. MacDonald said in a live broadcast that the woman had just returned from a break Monday morning when she heard gunshots. The reporter said she was unable to speak to her mother-in-law, but her husband could.

According to the school website, Covenant School was established in 2001 as a division of Covenant Presbyterian Church. The school is located in the affluent Green Hills neighborhood south of downtown Nashville, near the city’s top universities and home to the famous Bluebird Café—a favorite spot for musicians and songwriters.

The primary school has 33 teachers, according to the website. “Hearting Hearts, Empowering Minds, Celebrating Childhood,” says the school’s website.