A tragic shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, has left a 16-year-old student dead and another injured. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning in the school cafeteria when a male student opened fire before taking his own life. The devastating event has reignited concerns over school safety and gun violence in Tennessee.
Details of the Antioch High School Shooting
Shooter Opens Fire in Cafeteria
The shooting took place around 11 a.m. when 17-year-old Solomon Henderson, a student at Antioch High School, entered the cafeteria with a pistol. He fatally shot Josselin Corea Escalante, 16, and wounded another male student. Henderson then turned the gun on himself, dying at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities are still investigating whether the attack was targeted and are searching for a possible motive.
Another Student Injured, Panic Ensues
Apart from the fatal shooting, another male student sustained a minor graze wound. Additionally, a fourth student suffered facial injuries after falling during the chaos.
Many students in the cafeteria ran for safety as soon as they heard the gunshots. Brandi Lemons, an 18-year-old senior, recounted the terrifying moment when she saw the shooter turn the gun on himself.
Parents Rush to the School
As news of the shooting spread, worried parents rushed to the school, desperate for information about their children. Traffic jams built up around the school, and more than 100 parents gathered at a designated reunification site, where buses transported students to meet their families.
Authorities and Community React to the Tragedy
Investigation Underway
Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake confirmed that investigators are examining online materials that might offer insight into the shooter’s mindset. He also expressed regret, stating that if certain warning signs had been reported earlier, authorities might have been able to intervene.
School Safety Measures and Closures
Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Adrienne Battle described the day as “heartbreaking” and assured the community that grief counseling would be available for students and staff. Antioch High School will remain closed for the rest of the week.
Battle also noted that while the school had security measures in place—including resource officers, a secured entrance, and weapon-detection cameras—the officers were not in the cafeteria at the time of the shooting.
Statements from Officials
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the White House both issued statements expressing condolences to the victims’ families. The White House called the incident a “senseless tragedy” and praised first responders for their swift actions.
Recurring Gun Violence in Nashville
The shooting at Antioch High School occurred nearly two years after the deadly mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, where three 9-year-old students and three adult staff members were killed.
The Antioch neighborhood has also experienced past gun violence. In 2018, a mass shooting at a Waffle House along Murfreesboro Pike claimed four lives, and in 2017, a shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ left one dead and six injured.
Calls for Gun Reform in Tennessee
In response to ongoing gun violence, advocacy groups like Voices for a Safer Tennessee have pushed for stricter gun laws. Despite efforts, Tennessee lawmakers have yet to implement significant reforms.
A statement from the organization expressed devastation over the Antioch High School shooting, emphasizing that schools should be safe places for learning, not fear.
The tragic shooting at Antioch High School has left the Nashville community in shock and mourning. While authorities continue to investigate the incident, questions about school safety and gun control remain at the forefront. As families grieve the loss of 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante, the demand for stronger measures to prevent such tragedies grows louder.
