At least four people have been killed after a gunman opened fire on a Christian school in the US. The gunman is among the dead after being shot by police as children were pulled from late morning classes. The mass shooting unfolded at Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee at around 10am (4pm UK time).
Students were seen running from the building in their uniforms as the killer’s rampage began.
The institution is for preschool children through to sixth grade, meaning students are aged three to 12.
In a post on Twitter, the Nashville Fire Department told residents: « We are responding to an active aggressor at 33 Burton Hills Blvd Covenant School.
« We can confirm we have multiple patients. Parents coming to the school should go to 20 Burton Hills at this time. This is an active scene. »
Following the horrific shooting, students walked to safety holding hands to a nearby church to be reunited with their parents.
Police confirmed that the shooter died after being « engaged by” officers, but it is not immediately clear whether the gunman was shot or died by suicide.
In a later update, the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said: « An active shooter event has taken place at Covenant School, Covenant Presbyterian Church, on Burton Hills Dr.
« The shooter was engaged by MNPD and is dead. Student reunification with parents is at Woodmont Baptist Church, 2100 Woodmont Blvd. »
Footage on social media showed an adjacent main road blocked as sirens from emergency services wailed.
The Covenant School has about 200 students from pre-school to year six and was founded as a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church in 2001, according to the school’s website.
Last year, the school ran an active shooter training programme.
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