Logo

Nashville police have identified the six victims of the Covenant School shooting, who include the private Christian academy’s headmistress, a custodian and the young daughter of the school’s pastor.

Officials identified the three slain students as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all age 9.

Little Hallie was the daughter of Chad Scruggs, the senior pastor at the church that runs the school, the church confirmed to CBS News.

The three staff members killed were Cynthia Peak and Mike Hill, both 61, and school head Katherine Koonce, 60.

Hill worked as a custodian, police said.

Police said 28-year-old Audrey Hale, a former student and transgender woman, entered the school Monday morning, opening fire at the victims before police shot her dead.

Officers said she was equipped with at least two assault rifles and a handgun and had entered the school through a side door by shooting it out.

The community is in mourning over the tragedy that befell the small private school, which teaches students in pre-K through 6th grade and only has about 200 students enrolled, according to its website.

Koonce, an educator for more than 23 years, joined the school as the headmistress in 2016. Hill was identified as a custodian, and Peak was a substitute teacher.

The school focuses its curriculum on biblical theology, where students take classes about the Bible along with standard education courses. Its motto is “Shepherding Hearts, Empowering Minds, Celebrating Childhood.”


  Hallie Scruggs, 9, was ID’d as one of the victims. Facebook/Chad Scruggs Hallie Scruggs, 9, was ID’d as one of the victims. Facebook/Chad Scruggs

  Katherine Koonce, the headmistress of the school, was ID’d as one of the victims. Covenant School Katherine Koonce, the headmistress of the school, was ID’d as one of the victims. Covenant School

  Students getting evacuated from the school after the shooting. AP Photo/Jonathan Mattise Students getting evacuated from the school after the shooting. AP Photo/Jonathan Mattise

  A group prays with a child outside the reunification center at the Woodmont Baptist Church. AP A group prays with a child outside the reunification center at the Woodmont Baptist Church. AP

  Parents reunited with their children at Woodmont Baptist Church. Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images Parents reunited with their children at Woodmont Baptist Church. Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images

  Covenant School students leaving the reunification center. AP Photo/John Bazemore Covenant School students leaving the reunification center. AP Photo/John Bazemore

  Peak, who worked as a substitute teacher at the school, was killed during the shooting. Facebook / Cindy Broyles Peak Peak, who worked as a substitute teacher at the school, was killed during the shooting. Facebook / Cindy Broyles Peak

  Peak was 61 and worked at the small private school, which only has about 200 students enrolled. Facebook / Cindy Broyles Peak Peak was 61 and worked at the small private school, which only has about 200 students enrolled. Facebook / Cindy Broyles Peak

  The teacher was one of three staff members who were killed. Facebook / Cindy Broyles Peak The teacher was one of three staff members who were killed. Facebook / Cindy Broyles Peak

Police said they received a call at 10:13 a.m. about an active shooter at the Covenant School, with officers rushing to the scene to clear the halls.

At the school, police heard gunshots on the second floor and rushed to a lobby-type area, where they confronted the shooter.

Follow The Post’s coverage ofthe school shooting in Nashville

A car was located near the Covenant School, where the 14-minute shooting spree took place Monday morning, and provided investigators clues as to the shooter’s identity, Metro Nashville Chief of Police John Drake said at a press conference.


  Metro Nashville police shared images of the guns the school shooter was armed with. MNPDNashville/Twitter Metro Nashville police shared images of the guns the school shooter was armed with. MNPDNashville/Twitter

  The transgender shooter carried two assault rifles and a handgun. MNPDNashville/Twitter The transgender shooter carried two assault rifles and a handgun. MNPDNashville/Twitter

  Police confirmed the suspect, Audrey Hale, was heavily armed. MNPDNashville/Twitter Police confirmed the suspect, Audrey Hale, was heavily armed. MNPDNashville/Twitter


  Police confirmed the shooter was 28-year-old Audrey Hale, who identified as transgender. Nossi College of Art Police confirmed the shooter was 28-year-old Audrey Hale, who identified as transgender. Nossi College of Art

  Police said Audrey Hale shot and killed six people Monday. Linkedin/Audrey Hale Police said Audrey Hale shot and killed six people Monday. Linkedin/Audrey Hale

Inside her family home, police said, they found maps and a manifesto of Hale’s plans, saying the attack was “targeted” as officials continue to unravel a motive.

Police said they are in contact with the suspect’s father and will release video about the shooting in the coming days.

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy