An 18-year-old student at Hunters Lane High School in Nashville was arrested this week for allegedly bringing a loaded handgun onto school property. Christopher Hayes, a senior, was charged after school administrators discovered the weapon, along with five magazines, in the glovebox of his vehicle parked on campus.
Authorities also linked Hayes’ vehicle to attempted break-ins from the previous week. School resource officers took him into custody, and he was booked on a $15,000 bond.
The incident comes just one month following the death of 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante, who was fatally shot on Wednesday, Jan. 22, when a fellow student opened fire in the Antioch High School cafeteria.
“Every school shooting affects every student in the state of Tennessee,” said rally organizer Hannah Mosher, a senior at Hume-Fogg High School. “We are all scared, and we really need legislative action as soon as possible so this does not happen again.”
A student-led “Rally for Antioch” took place shortly after at the Tennessee State Capitol, as young activists call for stricter gun legislation in the wake of a tragic school shooting.
The demonstration will advocate for policies such as tougher background checks, mandatory waiting periods for gun purchases, and red flag laws to prevent firearms from ending up in the wrong hands.
State Representative Gloria Johnson, who faced expulsion last year for her role in a gun control protest, is expected to attend, alongside students from Antioch High School who will share their stories.
The rally coincides with a special legislative session, amplifying student voices calling for immediate action to curb gun violence.
