ANTIOCH, Tenn. (WKRN) — A 16-year-old girl was killed and two others injured after a shooting inside Antioch High School Wednesday morning.
According to Metro police, the department received an active shooter call/shots fired call from the school at 11:11 a.m.
A 17-year-old boy armed with a pistol, identified by authorities as Solomon Henderson, fired several shots in the cafeteria. A female student, 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante, was killed and a boy was grazed on his arm. Henderson then shot himself in the head and was fatally wounded.
In a Wednesday evening update, Metro police said there had not been an established a connection between Henderson and the shooting victims. They may have been struck by random gunfire in the cafeteria.
A spokesperson for Vanderbilt University Medical Center told News 2 another student was taken to Vanderbilt Pediatrics for treatment of an eye injury that happened after the shooting.
(Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)
(Photo: WKRN)
(Photo: WKRN)
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(Photo: WKRN)
(Photo: WKRN)
(Photo: WKRN)
(Photo: WKRN)
Tactical officers then cleared the building and went to stabilize the campus.
Two SROs were inside the building at the time of the shooting but were not in the immediate vicinity of the cafeteria, according to Metro police. The shooting was over by the time they arrived.
A reunification site for parents was established at 3754 Murfreesboro Pike. Buses took students there, including car riders. Parents needing information regarding reunification can call 615-401-1712.
Metro Nashville Public Schools released the following transportation plan:
- Starting at 2:15 p.m., MNPS began running regular bus routes leaving from the Family Assistance Site, at 3754 Murfreesboro Pike.
- Any students who usually take the bus to school would be brought home on their regular routes if they hadn’t already been picked up.
- Students who drove to school would be brought back to Antioch High to get their vehicles once police cleared the parking lot.
- Students who walked to school would be brought back home by MNPS transportation if their parents didn’t pick them up.
- Students who rode to school in cars could be picked up at 3754 Murfreesboro Pike.
Hobson Pike was closed to traffic near the Wilson County line and portion of Murfreesboro Pike was closed near the the scene, but both roads have since reopened. Tennessee Department of Transportation HELP trucks were dispatched to the area to help with traffic congestion.
A healing gathering will be held in at the Hamilton Church United Family Fellowship, located at 3105 Hamilton Church Road, at 6:30 p.m.
Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) released a statement less than 30 minutes after the incident, which reads:
Antioch High School is on a lockdown due to shots being fired inside the school building. Metro Police are on the scene. The person responsible for shooting is no longer a threat. We will be gathering students in the auditorium and will provide information on reunification as soon as possible.
This is an active crime scene and investigation. We will work with the MNPD to provide further updates as they become available.
Sean Braisted, MNPS Chief of Communications and Technology
At 5 p.m., MNPS shared another statement:
This is a heartbreaking day for the entire Antioch High School community and all of us in Nashville Public Schools. My heart goes out to the families of our students as they face unimaginable loss. I want to thank the school staff who quickly and heroically followed emergency protocols, potentially preventing further harm, as well as the Metro Nashville Police Department and Nashville Fire Department for their swift and urgent response.
While we have been focused on addressing the immediate situation, we are committed to understanding how and why this happened and what more we can do to prevent such tragedies in the future. It’s important to remember that our schools have historically been safe places for learning, friendship, and growth. We cannot allow this tragedy to overshadow the positive experiences of our 80,000 students.
To allow students and staff time to grieve, Antioch High School will be closed for the rest of the week. We are arranging a location where students and staff can receive grief counseling and other support.
The rest of our schools will remain open, and our school counseling teams will be on hand to provide support for students who need help in processing this tragedy.
We are committed to supporting Antioch High School’s students, staff, and families in the days and weeks ahead. I am grateful for the support of our Nashville community as we navigate this difficult time together.
Dr. Adrienne Battle, MNPS Director
The White House released a short statement:
The President and his team are monitoring the news out of Nashville. As details unfold, the White House offers its heartfelt thoughts and prayers to those impacted by this senseless tragedy and thank the brave first responders responding to the incident.
Gov. Bill Lee has been briefed on the shooting:
I’ve been briefed on the incident at Antioch High School and am grateful for law enforcement & first responders who responded quickly and continue to investigate. As we await more information, I join Tennesseans in praying for the victims, their families & the school community.
Gov. Bill Lee
Multiple members of the General Assembly released statements:
Our hearts are broken for the families who lost their children today and we hold the young woman who was injured and all the students and families impacted by today’s gun violence in our hearts. While we do not yet know all the circumstances of the shooting, we do know that a minor somehow accessed a handgun, walked into his school with that handgun and committed an unspeakable act of violence, ending his own life and the life of an innocent child. The sad reality is that there are policies that we could have implemented and should implement to better prevent each and every one of those specific acts that resulted in the loss of life today. For my colleagues who think that inaction is acceptable, I would simply ask you to put yourself in the shoes of the parent whose child isn’t coming home from school today. Then ask yourself if you’ve done everything you possibly can, as a legislator, to prevent these deaths and the many others. Today, we mourn with our community. Tomorrow, we resume the fight to prevent gun violence.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons
Tragic news in Antioch today. High school kids really ought to be able to go to the cafeteria without fear of being shot. We’re praying for the victims and the entire community, but we clearly should start doing the work needed to keep kids safe.
State Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville)
My heart is broken over the devastating shooting at Antioch High School today. As a mother and a representative of this community, I grieve with the families, students, and staff who are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. My heart goes out to the victims who were shot, their loved ones, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence. No child should ever feel unsafe in their school, and no family should face the anguish of such a senseless loss.
“I am in contact with local officials, law enforcement, and school leadership to offer my full support and ensure our community has the resources needed to heal. My senate office stands ready to assist families, students, and educators with navigating this crisis and will do everything in my power to push for meaningful legislative changes to prevent senseless acts of gun violence.
State Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville)
Metropolitan Nashville Education Association released a statement:
MNEA Educators are deeply saddened by the tragic events that have unfolded at one of our high schools, and our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this senseless violence. No one should have to experience such fear or loss in a place meant for learning and safety. Please know that you are in our thoughts during this incredibly difficult time. May the community find strength and comfort in each other as the healing process begins. If additional support or resources are needed email [email protected].
Nashville’s Emergency Operations Center, managed by the Office of Emergency Management, posted a statement Wednesday evening extending prayers “for the healing and recovery of the injured students.”
Antioch High School will be closed for the rest of the week. Other MNPS schools will stay open, but counseling will be offered to students who need it.
Metro Police said they would “not be at liberty to address” any questions concerning prior police interactions with the shooter due to state law.
MNPS said the Southeast Community Center will be used to provide resources and support for staff, students, and families at Antioch High. Grief counseling, hot meals, and food boxes will be provided.
On social media, the Kick posted an update stating the shooting “was partially livestreamed,” though KICK “rapidly banned the account and removed the video.”
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This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.
