A student fatally shot one student and wounded another at a Nashville high school, police said

A female student was killed and another student was wounded in a shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville early Wednesday morning, a police spokesman said.

Jocelyn Correa Escalante, 16, was killed when a 17-year-old student armed with a handgun fired multiple shots in the school cafeteria at 11:09 a.m., according to reports. Nashville Metro Police.

Authorities identified the gunman as Solomon Henderson, who took his own life after shooting his classmates, police said.

The injured student suffered what was described as a gash on his arm, was treated and released, police said. Another student suffered facial injuries but was not injured. Police are not releasing the names of the victims.

A Vanderbilt University Medical Center representative referred questions to police.

It’s unclear whether the shooting victims were directly targeted by Henderson or hit by random gunfire.

“At this time, the investigation has not established a connection between Henderson and the two shooting victims,” ​​Metro Nashville Police said in a statement. statement. “Maybe they were shocked by his random shooting in the cafeteria.”

Nashville police are looking for a motive as the investigation continues.

“Homicide detectives, along with their law enforcement partners at the MNPD and federal/state agencies, are examining very disturbing online and social media posts related to 17-year-old Solomon Henderson as they work to determine a motive for the shooting that Henderson this morning in the Antioch High School Cafeteria,” the department said.

According to A., the attack was partially broadcast live on Kick a statement released by the Australian streaming platform on Wednesday The company added that the account and video were “quickly banned”.

“Violence has no place on Kick. We are actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies and taking all necessary measures to support their investigation.”

Wednesday’s tragedy was the first school shooting in the United States this year CNN’s database of school shootings parameters. There were 83 incidents in 2024, the most in any year tracked by CNN.

A SWAT team cleared the school building after the shooting, police spokesman Don Aaron said at a news conference.

The superintendent of Metro Nashville Public Schools, Antioch High School District, called the day a “heartbreaking day” for the school community.

“My heart goes out to the families of our students as they deal with an incredible loss. I want to thank the school staff who quickly and heroically followed emergency protocols, potentially preventing further damage, and the Nashville Police Department and Nashville Fire Department for their quick and immediate response,” said Adrienne Battle in statement.

The district said it is providing counselors to the students. The school will be closed until the end of the week area said

“Antioch families, MNPS social workers and counselors will be available to support you and your student.” the school district said.

According to her website. The school is located in Nashville Surroundings of Antiochabout 10 miles southeast of downtown.

Two student officers, known as SROs, were at the school at the time of the shooting, but the incident was over by the time they arrived on the scene, Aaron said.

“They were not in the immediate vicinity of the dining room… When SROs went down there, the shooting stopped and the gunman shot himself,” he said.

The Nashville Fire Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrolof Homeland Security Tennessee and Bureau Alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives also answered

Tennessee Democrat Rep. Justin Jones, whose district includes parts of Nashville, has been an outspoken advocate of new gun control laws since the shooting of three students and three adults in Covenant School in Nashville in March 2023, said Wednesday that no child should be afraid “because of the ever-present threat of gun violence.”

“The fear reverberating through the communities of Antioch and Nashville today is a chilling reminder of the human cost of political inaction and the senseless tragedy of gun violence perpetuated by leaders who prioritize firearms and gun industry profits over lives our students, Jones said.

Jones, was one of the two Black legislators were expelled then quickly reinstated after calling for gun control reform in the House of Representatives in 2023.

Students climbed over the milk counter when shots rang out in the cafeteria

Antioch senior Brandy Lemons was about to get in line to buy lunch at the cafeteria when she suddenly heard a loud “bang,” she said.

Students in the lunch line turned to see what the commotion was. Then there were three more loud bangs.

“Everybody started running, and I ran to the left side of the cafeteria,” Brandi told CNN.

Everyone tried to climb over the milk counter to get to the cafeteria’s black door and escape, she said. Some of the students had trouble climbing over the counter, so Brandi tried to help them.

“Honestly, I decided to help people before I helped myself because I know that if I was trying to get out, I would want someone to help me,” she said. “Some of them were stuck as if their boots were caught.”

According to her, suddenly the shooter came around the corner where Brandy and the others were hiding. According to her, she did not know the shooter.

“When I realized he could see the rest of us in the corner, I thought that was it,” Brandi said through tears. “I thought he was going to get us too.”

But instead, the shooter committed suicide.

Soon, Brandy climbed over the milk counter with the other students and ran outside.

“I’m just stunned,” she told CNN.

“It’s not fair,” says the victim’s father

Jocelyn Correa Escalante’s father is extremely devastated by the loss, he said CNN affiliate WTVF. He described his daughter as a kind and loving person who always got good grades and loved playing soccer.

Even though she was the big sister, Jocelyn was still daddy’s little girl, Herman Coria told WTVF.

“Every day I told her how much I loved her,” Coria told the partner in Spanish.

When he dropped her off at school on Wednesday, he didn’t even think she would come home, Coria said.

“It’s not fair,” he said.

Jocelyn’s aunt, Maria Correa, said the family could not say.

“Oh God. She was my girlfriend,” she told WTVF. “She was a very calm and well-behaved girl. She got good grades in school. She was a girl who loved her parents and her whole family.”

CNN’s Dalia Faheid, Rebecca Rees, Alex Leeds Matthews and Ryan Young contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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