1 year later: The aftermath of The Covenant School shooting
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Wednesday marked one year since the Nashville community was devastated by what was the deadliest kindergarten through 12th grade school shooting in 2023.
On March 27, 2023, an armed intruder shot through a glass door and entered The Covenant School in Green Hills, leading to the deaths of three children and three adults. The victims included Evelyn Diekhaus, William Kinney and Hallie Scruggs, all age 9, and Mike Hill, 61, Cynthia Peak, 61, and Dr. Katherine Koonce, 60.
Covenant School shooting was deadliest K-12 school shooting this year, data says
“There is no world in which this will ever make sense to me,” District 34 Metro Councilwoman Sandy Ewing said during discussion of a resolution honoring the victims last week. “I think we all wish that the Covenant community had not had to face this, that they had not lost the people they loved, but they did, and their lives are forever changed.”
The Covenant School held its own private ceremony on the one-year anniversary to mourn those lost in the shooting. The school also acknowledged an “overwhelming outpouring of love and support” from the community in a statement on social media.
‘The pain is still very real’: The Covenant School reflects a year after deadly school shooting
“As we mark this painful anniversary, we find solace in the light that has emerged from the darkness,” the school wrote. “…Your kindness has been a beacon of hope, and the depth of your generosity profoundly moves us.”
Dispatchers received the first 911 call around 10:13 a.m. that day as the shooter was still combing the hallways. “My children are in the building, ma’am,” a caller said frantically.
Officers with the Metro Nashville Police Department arrived within minutes and began systematically searching the building. By the time the small team of officers had found and taken down the shooter, only 14 minutes had passed since the first 911 call.
Officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo reportedly led the charge, with body camera video later demonstrating their quick actions. The officers who responded have since been recognized in many capacities for their bravery that day.
“The first responders that responded…did what we’re trained to do,” Nashville Police Chief John Drake said in a press conference following the shooting. “They formed together, they got prepared and went right in knowing that every second, every moment wasted could cost lives.”
Outside the school, students were ushered to safety and reunited with their parents. A memorial also formed at the entrance of the school’s driveway, where people left thousands of flowers, stuffed animals, balloons, letters and handmade signs.
Anna Caudill, a friend of Dr. Katherine Koonce, later loaded up the items left at the memorial and brought them to her basement so that families of the victims could hold onto items they found meaningful, and some could potentially be preserved in museums.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden was among thousands who attended a public vigil held in downtown Nashville two days after the shooting to celebrate the lives of the six victims. During the vigil, former Nashville Mayor John Cooper told the crowd, “Nashville has had its worst day.”
Parents, other Tennesseans demand gun reform
Mourning then turned to calls for action as protestors descended upon the State Capitol to demand gun reform. Gov. Bill Lee called a special session on public safety in August, but it was fraught with tension and tears.
One mother of a Covenant student and others broke down in tears in the halls of the Tennessee Statehouse after all audience members were kicked out of a Civil Justice subcommittee meeting for clapping and speaking after being told to stop.
Covenant mom in tears after being kicked out of special session subcommittee
“Being here in general is rough. I don’t think these people get what this means,” Sarah Shoop Neumann said. “We are here for six people who were killed in our school. We are just trying to do something.”
Covenant mom Mary Joyce, whose daughter was friends with three of the victims, missed her children’s first days of fourth grade to be at the statehouse. She was among many Covenant parents who were outraged when no new gun laws were passed by the end of the session.
“Our state has done nothing to make you safer or to prevent this from happening again and again and again and again,” Joyce said.
Covenant parents ‘deeply disappointed’ with lack of action during special session
As the regular session started back up this year, a spokesperson for the Tennessee House Republican caucus said they have several bills this session addressing mental health and public safety, despite another Covenant parent telling News 2 he feels like lawmakers are out of touch.
Many parents have continued showing up for regular session, with Shoop Neumann telling News 2, “We’re gonna do that until we get change.” Joyce and Shoop Neumann were among those who helped form the non-profit organization Covenant Families for Brighter Tomorrows.
The organization pushes for enhanced school security and mental health support and has a related action fund that advocates for legislative changes at the state and federal level.
During the Metro Nashville City Council meeting last week, multiple council members also spoke about the need for gun reform, with Ewing cautioning others to “not become numb to what is in front of us.”
Covenant School father speaks about lack of gun reform
“Don’t let this be our normal. Do not give up,” she said. “Hallie, Evelyn, William, Mike, Cynthia and Katherine, and all those who have been and continue to be killed by gun violence deserve no less.”
In addition to the council’s resolution honoring the victims of The Covenant School shooting, Voices for a Safer Tennessee, a nonpartisan coalition dedicated to prioritizing firearm safety, organized a human chain on Wednesday to demonstrate the hope felt by Tennesseans to strengthen public safety policies.
Legal battle continues over release of ‘manifesto’
As questions remain about the motives behind The Covenant School shooting, parents have also been involved in a year-long legal battle over whether the shooter’s so-called “manifesto” should be released to the public.
Police said they discovered several writings, as well as maps in the shooter’s car and home following the incident. While some argue the writings are public record, several Covenant family members have filed petitions asking for them to be kept private.
In a joint declaration, Evelyn Dieckhaus’ parents said they hope “a more respectful, clear view can truly start to occur to help make a change that does not include releasing volumes of leverage for others planning similar devastation in this nation.”
Trial dates set to determine whether Covenant ‘manifesto’ should be released
A father of two children who attend The Covenant School also reported in his declaration that his children have recurring nightmares, are afraid of loud noises and the family is unable to go anywhere there are large crowds.
“We pray that the shooter’s writings are never released to the public for fear of a copycat killer being inspired by an evil voice from the grave,” he wrote.
However, some arguing for their release have said the writings could help prevent future shootings, with a few state lawmakers stating they want to use the information in the writings to understand why the shooting happened and develop policies to protect students.
The parents’ efforts were upended when in November 2023 radio host Steven Crowder posted some of the writings on social media after they were leaked to him by an unknown source. An investigation by the MNPD ensued as the agency tried to figure out who was responsible for leaking the documents.
Documents by Covenant shooter released by radio host
The police department provided an update a month later, saying officials had “exhausted all available investigative avenues,” but were still unable to determine who leaked the documents. Ten employees who were under review for possibly leaking the documents were later reassigned.
Despite that, the Covenant parents did experience a legal victory in November 2023 after the court ruled they would be allowed to share their opinions when the case goes back before a Nashville judge for a final ruling on the writings’ release in April.
During a hearing on Monday, Jan. 29, a chancery court judge set official trial dates for April 16 and April 17 to determine whether the writings should be released. The judge also declined to release any documents before the trial.
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