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Two Students Dead, One Injured After Shooting at Nashville High School

Tragedy Strikes Antioch High School as Violence Claims Lives of Teens

In a devastating turn of events, two students have lost their lives and another is injured after a shooting unfolded at Antioch High School in South Nashville on Wednesday morning. Metro Nashville police have confirmed the details, adding a dark chapter to the city’s history of school shootings.

At 11:09 a.m., 17-year-old Solomon Henderson opened fire in the school cafeteria, killing 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante. Escalante was quickly rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead. A male student, who sustained a grazing wound, was also treated for his injuries.

By 2 p.m. Wednesday, police had not yet publicly identified the shooter or the second victim, leaving the community in a state of shock and grief. The gunman, identified as Henderson, died from a self-inflicted wound shortly after the shooting.

The Immediate Response and Ongoing Support

In the wake of the tragic incident, Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Adrienne Battle released a statement expressing deep sorrow for the families of the victims and the broader Antioch High School community. She praised the swift actions of the school staff, who, following emergency protocols, helped prevent further harm.

Antioch High School shooting

“This is a heartbreaking day for the entire Antioch High School community and all of us in Nashville Public Schools,” Battle said. “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.”

The school will remain closed for the rest of the week, allowing students and staff to process the traumatic event. Grief counseling will be available for those affected, and schools throughout the district will also offer support. Battle also reassured the community that the district is committed to finding answers regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting and to preventing future tragedies.

A Community in Mourning

As news of the shooting spread, many parents and families rushed to Antioch High School, anxiously awaiting word of their loved ones. One emotional moment captured by a photographer showed a mother, Dasia Pietez, embracing her daughter as they waited to be reunited with a younger family member. The image captured the raw, unfiltered emotion of the day—a community grappling with loss and fear.

“This is just so hard to process,” said one parent. “You never think something like this will happen to you, but here we are.”

Echoes of Previous Tragedies

This incident comes just under two years after a deadly shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, where three students and three staff members were killed. The community is still reeling from the grief of that event, and the latest shooting has only amplified the call for stronger gun safety laws.

The issue of gun violence has been a point of contention in Tennessee for years, with lawmakers and activists continuing to debate the balance between Second Amendment rights and public safety. In light of the Antioch shooting, there have been renewed calls for what some lawmakers describe as “common sense gun safety solutions.”

Senator Charlane Oliver, who represents the Antioch area, voiced her heartbreak in a statement, calling the shooting an “unimaginable tragedy.” She expressed concern for the safety of students and the anguish faced by families, particularly those who have now experienced the pain of losing a child to senseless violence.

“As a mother and a representative of this community, I grieve with the families, students, and staff who are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” Senator Oliver said. “No child should ever feel unsafe in their school, and no family should face the anguish of such a senseless loss.”

The Road Ahead for Nashville

As the investigation into the Antioch shooting continues, the city of Nashville is left to grapple with yet another heartbreaking loss. The community is determined to provide support to those affected while continuing the conversation about how to prevent future acts of gun violence.

What comes next for Antioch High School and for the city of Nashville is unclear, but one thing is certain: the pain of this tragedy will echo for years to come, and the push for greater safety in schools and stronger gun laws will likely only intensify.

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