Antioch High School in Nashville: What Happened Exactly?

Authorities have confirmed that a teenage shooter opened fire inside Antioch High School on Wednesday, resulting in the death of one student and leaving another in stable condition. Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron revealed that 17-year-old Solomon Henderson, a student at Antioch High School, was identified as the shooter in a tragic cafeteria attack. Henderson reportedly opened fire on 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante, who tragically succumbed to her injuries. When the news reporter spoke to the member of the mourning family, he stated. FOX 17 News spoke with Josselin’s cousin, Dulce Aceituno, who fondly described her as

a “great cousin and a great person.” When asked what she would miss most about Josselin, Aceituno replied emotionally, “Everything. We grew up together since we were little—she’s like my little sister.

Two school resource officers were in the building when the shooting happened around 11 a.m., Aaron said. They were not in the immediate vicinity of the cafeteria. By the time they arrived, the shooting had ended, and the gunman had already taken his own life.

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During a news conference, Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron confirmed that the 17-year-old shooter, a student at Antioch High School, died by suicide after using a handgun in the tragic incident. Police Chief John Drake reported that one student, grazed by a bullet, was treated and released from the hospital. Additionally, another student was hospitalized for a facial injury sustained during a fall, Aaron added.

Antioch High School remains on lockdown following a shooting inside the building, according to a statement from the school district. “Metro Police are on the scene. The person responsible for the shooting is no longer a threat. We are gathering students in the auditorium and will share reunification details soon,” the statement said. Having around 2,000 students in grades 9-12, Antioch High School is located in Nashville’s Antioch neighborhood, approximately 10 miles southeast of downtown.

Nashville schools superintendent Adrienne Battle stated on Wednesday that public schools have put in place a “range of safety measures,” such as partnerships with police for school resource officers, security cameras with weapon-detection software, shatter-resistant film on glass, and security vestibules that serve as a barrier between visitors and the main entrance.

Unfortunately, these measures were not enough to prevent this tragedy, Battle said

Rekindling the Debate: A Tragedy That Sparks Old Divides

This deadly school shooting in the city ignited an emotional debate about gun control in Tennessee, where these events had also occurred in the past.

In March 2023, a tragic shooting occurred at The Covenant School, a private Christian elementary school in Nashville, where three 9-year-old children and three adults lost their lives. The shooter, a former student at the school, was fatally shot by responding police officers.

Tennessee Representative Shaundelle Brooks released a heartfelt statement following the Antioch High School tragedy, reflecting on the loss of his son, Akilah, in a mass shooting seven years ago:

Every child deserves to live free from the fear of gun violence. Ever since I lost my son, Akilah, in a mass shooting in 2018, I have been fighting to ensure this never happens again. Here we are, almost seven years later, and our communities are still being impacted by gun violence.My prayers are with all those affected by this senseless tragedy. We are only one week into the start of our legislative session, and already, our state has been ravaged by another school shooting. I will continue to call on my colleagues in the TN Legislature to pass comprehensive gun reform to ensure the safety of our children and loved ones. We must do better.

Parents’ Reactions to the Tragic Incident

The mothers of the students studying in the school want to focus on making changes to Tennessee law to prevent further school shootings in the state. FOX 17 News spoke with Covenant School parents who expressed deep empathy for the victims of the Antioch High School shooting.

We are both sickened by this news at yet another school in our state. Our heart aches for the students, teachers, and parents of Antioch High School,” said mothers Melissa Alexander and Mary Joyce. “It is unimaginable until it happens to you. The terrifying impact and loss from today will never leave them—they will carry this day forever.

MNPD is currently working with federal and state agencies to investigate this issue. The investigators, at this point, have not established a connection between Henderson and the victims, and police said the gunfire may have been random, according to the statement.

Community Push for Gun Control?

The tragedy sparked a months-long push by hundreds of community organizers, families, and protesters, urging lawmakers to adopt gun control measures. However, Republican lawmakers in the GOP-dominated state declined to take action on such proposals.

With the Republican supermajority still intact following November’s election, it remains unlikely that significant gun control legislation will be considered. Instead, lawmakers have focused on increasing school security, including passing a bill last year permitting select teachers and staff to carry concealed firearms on public school grounds while keeping their identities confidential from parents and other school employees.