Nashville Police announced on Monday they responded to a shooting at a private elementary school and preschool as officials confirmed three children and three adults confirmed dead.
The shooter, who has yet to be identified, was killed by responding Nashville Police officers, the department wrote on Twitter. Nashville Police officials said at news conference that the suspect was female.
“An active shooter event has taken place at Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church, on Burton Hills Dr.,” Nashville Police said in a Twitter update. “The shooter was engaged by [Metro Nashville Police Department officials] and is dead. Student reunification with parents is at Woodmont Baptist Church, 2100 Woodmont Blvd.”
A spokesperson with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Jessica Pasley, told ABC News, The New York Times, and The Tennessean that three children were killed in the shooting. It’s not clear if there were any injuries reported.
“Three pediatric patients were transported to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, all having suffered gunshot wounds. All three were pronounced dead after arrival,” the hospital told WTVF-TV in a statement.
The Nashville Fire Department also confirmed it has responded to an “active aggressor” incident, according to a Twitter post.
“We can confirm we have multiple patients. Parents coming to the school should go to 20 Burton Hills at this time. this is an active scene,” the department wrote.
According to its website, Covenant School is a Christian school for pre-K through sixth-grade. Local media reported that the school ran an active shooter training program last year.
Other details about the shooting, including the names of the suspect or the victims, were not immediately provided.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed that its agents are responding to the scene of the school shooting. It said that there is “no current threat to public safety” at this time.
A number of elected officials reacted to the shooting on Monday.
“Chuck and I are heartbroken to hear about the shooting at Covenant School in Nashville. My office is in contact with federal, state, & local officials, and we stand ready to assist. Thank you to the first responders working on site. Please join us in prayer for those affected,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in a statement.
“The House Democratic Caucus is praying for the children and their families who were shooting victims at the Covenant School. Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons says, ‘Our thoughts are with the families of the entire school community and surrounding neighborhood,'” said the House Democratic Caucus.
This is a breaking news story. This story will be updated as more details come in.