A shooting that unfolded on Monday morning at a private school in Nashville, Tennessee, has left three children and three staff members dead.
The shooting which took place at Covenant School, a Christian school for students in preschool through sixth grade, has about 209 students and about 40 to 50 staff members, officials said. Police said the school does not have a school resource officer.
The suspect, a 28-year-old Nashville woman, was shot and killed by authorities in a lobby area on the second floor of the school, according to Police.
No one who was shot survived, officials said.
The suspect was armed with at least two assault-type rifles and a handgun, officials said.
Authorities said she entered the school through a side entrance and made her way from the first floor to the second floor, firing multiple shots. It appears all the doors were locked, officials said.
The shooting was reported at 10:13 a.m. and the suspect was dead by 10:27 a.m., according to police.
Nashville Police Chief John Drake said he “was literally moved to tears to see” the young students as they were “ushered out of the building.”
Drake said it appears the suspect was a former student.
A car found near the school helped authorities identify the suspect, and authorities have now responded to her home, Drake said.
Alex Apple told ABC News Live that his mother works at the school’s front desk. Apple said she was at her car when she got an alert saying to shelter in place.
“She got out of her car, heard the gunshots, so she fled,” he said.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper tweeted: “In a tragic morning, Nashville joined the dreaded, long list of communities to experience a school shooting. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. Our entire city stands with you.”
Reacting to the latest shooting in the country, the President Joe Biden called the shooting “a family’s worst nightmare.”
The President once again urged Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, saying, “It’s about time that we begin to make some more progress.”
U.S. First lady Jill Biden said Monday, “I am truly without words. Our children deserve better.”
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee tweeted that he’s “closely monitoring the tragic situation.”
“Please join us in praying for the school, congregation & Nashville community,” Lee said.