A tragic incident unfolded at a Tennessee high school on Wednesday when a 17-year-old male student opened fire in the cafeteria, killing a female student and injuring two others before taking his own life, as reported by local authorities. The two injured students from Antioch High School were immediately transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment, according to a spokesperson from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
The high school, which houses approximately 2,000 students, is located in a Nashville suburb about 10 miles southeast of the city center. At the time of the shooting, two school resource officers were present in the building, but they were not in the vicinity of the cafeteria. By the time they arrived at the scene, the shooter had already ended his own life.
A local pastor, whose daughter was present during the incident, shared his distress on social media, revealing that the shooter had committed suicide in front of his daughter. The school administration, in the aftermath of the incident, requested parents to collect their children from a nearby hospital, where the students were transported after the police had cleared them.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also arrived at the scene in response to the incident. However, the local police department is leading the investigation. As of now, they have not sought assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This tragic event underscores the ongoing issue of gun violence in schools across the United States, sparking renewed calls for stricter gun control measures and improved school safety protocols. The community is left grappling with the aftermath of this devastating incident, as they mourn the loss of young lives and pray for the recovery of the injured students.