Tennessee Gov. Invoice Lee addressed Tennesseans in a video Tuesday night after a capturing at Covenant Faculty in Nashville the day earlier than left six folks useless. Among the many victims was 61-year-old substitute instructor Cynthia Peak, who was a detailed good friend of his spouse, Maria.
Within the video, Gov. Lee, a Republican, described Monday’s capturing as “a tragedy past comprehension” and stated he — like many others throughout the state — awoke Tuesday morning experiencing “vacancy, a lack of know-how, a determined want for solutions, [and] a determined want for hope.”
“Maria awoke this morning with out one in all her finest buddies, Cindy,” he stated, noting the couple had deliberate to host Peak for dinner the identical day that she was shot and killed.
“Cindy was supposed to return over and have dinner with Maria final night time after she stuffed in as an alternative instructor yesterday at Covenant,” Lee added. He stated his spouse, Cindy and Dr. Katherine Koonce, one other sufferer who served as Head of Faculty, had been “all lecturers on the identical college and have been household buddies for many years.”
NASHVILLE SCHOOL SHOOTING: OFFICERS WHO TOOK OUT COVENANT SHOOTER IDENTIFIED
Tennessee Gov. Invoice Lee addresses residents Tuesday following a capturing the day earlier than at Covenant Faculty in Nashville. (Twitter/Gov. Invoice Lee)
Lee acknowledged different Tennesseans awoke lacking a good friend, member of the family, instructor, partner or a beloved one.
“Like lots of you, I’ve skilled tragedy in my very own life and I’ve skilled the day after that tragedy. All of Tennessee was harm yesterday, however some mother and father awoke with out kids,” he continued. “Youngsters awoke with out mother and father, with out lecturers. Spouses awoke with out their family members.”
Lee additionally recalled the bravery of the Metro Nashville law enforcement officials who rushed within the college and stopped the shooter.
TENNESSEE SHOOTING: NASHVILLE POLICE RELEASE SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF COVENANT SCHOOL ATTACK THAT KILLED 6
He additionally urged the neighborhood to hope for all these concerned and promised extra motion.
“The battle is towards evil itself. We’re referred to as to like our enemies,” he stated. “There may be hope within the midst of tragedy. Might we grieve within the days forward, however not with out hope.”
The governor’s remarks come because the neighborhood grapples with what Covenant Faculty additionally referred to as a “horrible tragedy.”
“Our neighborhood is heartbroken,” college directors stated in an announcement Monday night. “We’re grieving super loss and are in shock popping out of the phobia that shattered our faculty and church. We’re targeted on loving our college students, our households, our college and workers and starting the method of therapeutic.”
Memorials for the six victims who had been killed in a mass capturing are positioned outdoors of The Covenant Faculty in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. On Monday, three adults and three kids had been killed inside the college. (KR/Mega for Fox Information Digital)
The assertion continued: “Regulation enforcement is conducting its investigation, and whereas we perceive there’s a number of curiosity and there might be a number of dialogue about and hypothesis surrounding what occurred, we are going to proceed to prioritize the well-being of our neighborhood.”
“We respect the outpouring of help now we have acquired, and we’re tremendously grateful to the primary responders who acted shortly to guard our college students, college and workers,” it added.
NASHVILLE SCHOOL SHOOTER AUDREY HALE: WHO IS 28-YEAR-OLD TRANSGENDER WOMAN WHO OPENED FIRE AT COVENANT SCHOOL
The Park Cities Presbyterian Church (PCPC), a sister church of Covenant Presbyterian Church — the place Covenant Faculty is held, equally stated the neighborhood is left with “unimaginable sorrow” and is mourning collectively.
Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake recognized the 2 officers who fatally shot suspected college shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale on March 27, 2023. (Metro Nashville Police Division)
PCPC additionally confirmed one of many three kids killed within the capturing, 9-year-old Hallie Scruggs, was the one daughter of present Covenant Presbyterian Church Lead Pastor Chad Scruggs.
“We love the Scruggs household and mourn with them over their treasured daughter Hallie. Collectively, we belief within the energy of Christ to attract close to and provides us the consolation and hope we desperately want,” PCPC Senior Pastor Mark Davis stated in an announcement.
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The sister church held a prayer service Tuesday, March 28, for the neighborhood.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
