ANTIOCH, Tenn. (WZTV) – One student is dead and another is in stable condition after a teenage shooter shot both of them inside Antioch High School Wednesday, authorities confirm.
Don Aaron of the Metro Nashville Police Department said the shooter was identified as Solomon Henderson, a 17-year-old student at the high school.
MNPD says Henderson entered the school cafeteria and shot a 16-year-old student identified as Josselin Corea Escalante. She died from her injuries.
FOX 17 News heard from Josselin’s cousin, Dulce Aceituno, who remembered her as a “great cousin and a great person.” When we asked her what she would miss most about Josselin, she replied “Everything. We’ve grown up since we were little, she’s like my little sister.”
A 17-year-old student was shot in the arm and has since been released from Vanderbilt Hospital. There were four transports in total in this incident, with the fourth student suffering facial injuries from a fall and not from a bullet.
Police say around 11 a.m. Wednesday, the shooter entered the school cafeteria with a gun and fired several shots. Police add that the shooter committed suicide, resulting in his death. Police add that the shooter took the bus to school on Wednesday.
MNPD began receiving calls for service at 11:11 a.m. MNPD Chief John Drake said there was an immediate response from units across the department and beyond.
Once MNPD responded, officers searched the entire school for additional victims and shooters. None were found.
Officials report a reunification site for parents is at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital, where buses transported students.
MNPD is currently working with federal and state agencies to investigate “very concerning online writings and social media posts related to 17-year-old Solomon Henderson” as they work to establish a motive.
As of Wednesday evening, authorities had found no personal connection between Henderson and the two shooting victims. The investigators deduce that they were hit randomly in the cafeteria.
Antioch High School’s two SROs were in a separate area of campus. Once they rushed to the cafeteria, Henderson had just committed suicide.
“On behalf of this entire police department, I extend our sincere condolences to the students, parents and staff of Antioch High,” said Chief John Drake. “Our officers and advisors will work to participate in the healing process in the days and weeks to come.”
Antioch High School announced that classes had been canceled for the remainder of the week and that grief counseling and other resources would be provided.
This is an ongoing investigation.
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