The Nashville Christian school shooting claimed the lives of six people, including three students and three adult staff members.
Among the deceased students was nine-year-old Hallie Scruggs, the daughter of Chad Scruggs, the senior pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church.
In a statement released to the media, Pastor Scruggs expressed his family’s profound grief: “We are heartbroken. She was such a gift. Through tears we trust that she is in the arms of Jesus who will raise her to life once again.”
Pastor Mark Davis, head pastor at Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, where Scruggs previously worked as associate pastor, also released a statement of condolence: “We love the Scruggs family and mourn with them over their precious daughter Hallie. Together, we trust in the power of Christ to draw near and give us the comfort and hope we desperately need.”
Pastor Davis spoke with KDFW-TV about his conversation with Pastor Scruggs after the shooting. He described the Scruggs family as exhibiting “incredible brokenness, such sorry, but also incredible faith that the Gospel that they preach, they really believe in the truth of who Christ is, and how they’re resting in Him.”
The shooting was perpetrated by a 28-year-old biological woman who identified as transgender from Nashville who had previously attended The Covenant School.
Police officers were able to respond quickly and neutralize the assailant.
