NASHVILLE, Tennessee, USA – Nashville residents organized a vigil Wednesday evening to mourn the three children and three adults killed in a shooting at a Christian school, as Pope Francis sent his condolences to the bereaved city and offered prayers of support for those affected by the violence.
In a telegram, the pope asked Bishop J. Mark Spalding of the Catholic Diocese of Nashville to forward his “heartfelt condolences” and to assure residents that he is accompanying them with his prayers.
The pope “joins the entire community in mourning the children and adults who died and commends them to the loving embrace of Jesus the Lord,” says the telegram, which was sent by the Vatican secretary of state on behalf of the pontiff.
Police say a 28-year-old former student arrived at the Covenant School Monday morning, blew open glass doors and mowed down three 9-year-old boys, a guard, a substitute teacher and the school’s principal. Authorities have not determined the assailant’s motive, but say he was not targeting a particular person.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper stated in a press release that Wednesday evening’s vigil will be “to mourn and honor the lives of the victims, and provide support for the survivors and families.” Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake and other officials are expected to speak at the event.
Authorities have identified the deceased children as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney. The deceased adults were Katherine Koonce, 60, and the campus principal; substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61; and guard Mike Hill, 61.
The event has prompted an outpouring of messages and proclamations of support.
“There have been countless numbers of prayer meetings and cries to plead for relief and comfort,” stated Pastor George Grant, a Nashville Presbytery leader with ties to the school.
“While politicians and commentators try to look for meaning where there is none, we are not asking why. We know why. It’s because we live in a broken and failed world,” he said.
In a blog post Wednesday, Grant recalled how reports of the shooting interrupted a presbytery planning meeting that included Chad Scruggs, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church and father of one of the victims
“We all came out into the hallway, stunned, eyes filled with confusion, horror and pain … Our worst nightmare was now reality,” Grant wrote.