The headteacher who died protecting her students has been identified and pictured.
On Monday morning just after 10 am, Audrey Hale, 28, stormed The Covenant School in Nashville before opening fire and fatally shooting three nine-year-old students and three members of the staff.
Among the victims is 60-year-old Katherine Koonce, the Christian school’s devout headteacher who rushed to her students’ aid.
According to Nashville city council member Russ Pulley, Koonce was having a Zoom meeting when she overheard gunfire.
Rather than seeking cover and sheltering in place, the woman allegedly ran towards the noise determined to protect her students.
“The headmaster, Dr. Koonce, upon hearing the first shots, ran toward the danger. She also made sure the school was prepared with active shooter training and protocols. Those actions saved countless lives,” the former FBI agent wrote in his tribute.
“Our police officers arrived on the scene, entered the school with an active shooter, located and neutralized the shooter all within 14 minutes of the initial call. As we mourn the loss of lives and stand with our Covenant community, we also thank the school staff and first responders for the lives they saved.”
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Pulley went on to say that a witness recalled Koonce heading straight for the shooter after hearing gunfire.
“It is my understanding from a witness at the school, that Katherine Koonce was on a Zoom call when she heard the first shot,” he added.
“She immediately ended the call, got up, and headed straight for the shooter. She did what principals and headmasters do; she protected her children.
“In addition, she prepared the school by seeking advanced level active shooter training and from witnesses at the scene, this protocol, details of which I cannot provide, saved countless lives.”
While Police Chief John Drake couldn’t immediately confirm the witness’s alleged recollection, he suggested the evidence suggests a confrontation between the shooter and the staff might have taken place.
“There was a confrontation, I’m sure – you can tell the way she was lying in the hallway,” he said.
Our thoughts remain with the victims of the Nashville elementary school shooting during this challenging time.
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