A spokesperson from Vanderbilt University Medical Center confirmed that another student was taken to Vanderbilt Pediatrics for treatment of an eye injury following the Antioch High School shooting. Tactical officers worked to clear the building and stabilize the campus after the incident.

Two School Resource Officers (SROs) were on campus at the time of the shooting but were not near the cafeteria. Metro police reported that the shooting had ended by the time they arrived.

A reunification site was set up at 3754 Murfreesboro Pike, where students were transported, including those who rode in cars. Parents seeking information about reunification can call 615-401-1712.

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) outlined the following transportation plan:

• Regular bus routes began departing from the Family Assistance Site at 3754 Murfreesboro Pike at 2:15 p.m.
• Students who normally take the bus home were brought back on their regular routes if they hadn't already been picked up.
• Students who drove to school could return to Antioch High to retrieve their vehicles once the parking lot was cleared by police.
• Students who walked to school were given transportation home by MNPS if their parents had not yet picked them up.
• Car riders were instructed to pick up students at 3754 Murfreesboro Pike.

Traffic was impacted by road closures on Hobson Pike near the Wilson County line and part of Murfreesboro Pike near the scene, though both roads have now reopened. Tennessee Department of Transportation HELP trucks assisted with traffic flow.

A healing gathering will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Hamilton Church United Family Fellowship, located at 3105 Hamilton Church Road.

Parents rush to reunification center after shooting at Antioch High School

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) issued a statement less than 30 minutes after the shooting, stating:

"Antioch High School is currently on lockdown due to shots fired inside the building. Metro Police are on the scene, and the shooter is no longer a threat. Students will be gathered in the auditorium, and information about reunification will be provided shortly.

This is an active crime scene, and the investigation is ongoing. We are working closely with the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) to provide further updates as they become available."

In a statement following the Antioch High School shooting, a Nashville Public Schools spokesperson expressed deep sorrow, saying, "This is a heartbreaking day for the Antioch High School community and all of us in Nashville Public Schools. My thoughts are with the families affected by this unimaginable loss. I want to thank the school staff for their quick and heroic response, potentially preventing further harm, as well as the Metro Nashville Police Department and Fire Department for their swift actions."

The spokesperson emphasized the district's commitment to understanding how the tragedy occurred and working to prevent similar events in the future. "Our schools have always been places of safety, learning, and growth, and we must not let this tragedy overshadow the positive experiences of our 80,000 students," they said.

To allow time for grieving, Antioch High School will be closed for the remainder of the week. Grief counseling a

nd support services are being arranged for students and staff. Other schools in the district will remain open, with counseling teams available to assist students processing the tragedy.

"We are committed to supporting Antioch High School's community in the days and weeks ahead and are grateful for the outpouring of support from our Nashville community during this difficult time," the statement concluded.

What we know so far about the Antioch school shooter 

The President and his team are closely monitoring the situation in Nashville. As more details emerge, the White House extends its deepest condolences and prayers to those affected by this senseless tragedy, expressing gratitude to the first responders for their swift actions.

Governor Bill Lee has been briefed on the shooting and expressed his appreciation for the quick response from law enforcement and first responders. He stated, “As we await further information, I join all Tennesseans in praying for the victims, their families, and the entire school comm

unity.”

Several members of the General Assembly have released statements expressing their sorrow over the shooting at Antioch High School. One statement read, "Our hearts are broken for the families who lost their children today, and we keep the young woman injured, along with all students and families affected by this tragedy, in our thoughts. While the full details are not yet clear, we know that a minor gained access to a handgun, entered his school, and committed an unimaginable act of violence, tragically taking both his life and the life of an innocent child.

The sad reality is that there are policies we could have implemented, and still can, to prevent such acts of violence. For those who believe inaction is acceptable, I ask you to imagine being the parent whose child isn’t coming home today. Have you done everything possible, as a legislator, to prevent these deaths and others like them?" The statement concluded, “Today, we mourn with our community. Tomorrow, we resume the fight to end gun violence.”

United Family Fellowship, a church in Antioch, hosted a vigil on Wednesday night for those in the community seeking a space to pray, process, and find comfort, according to a Facebook post from the church.

Adrienne Battle, superintendent of Nashville schools, addressed the tragedy earlier Wednesday, noting that the district has implemented various safety measures, including partnerships with police for school resource officers, security cameras with weapon-detection software, shatter-resistant glass film, and security vestibules to separate outside visitors from the main entrance.

"Unfortunately, these measures were not enough to prevent this tragedy," Battle said. She also raised the question of whether stationary metal detectors should be considered, acknowledging that past research has shown they come with limitations and unintended consequences. "We will continue to explore emerging technologies and strategies to improve school safety," she added.

In October, a 16-year-old Antioch High School student was arrested after school resource officers and officials discovered through social media that he had brought a gun to school the previous day. When he was stopped the next morning, a loaded gun was found in his pants, according to police.

 

References:- 

• Baird, B. (2025) 2 students dead after shooting at Antioch High School; 17-year-old shooter identified, NewsNation. Available at: https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/mid-south/2-students-shot-at-antioch-high-school/ (Accessed: 23 January 2025).
• CBS News (2025) Nashville School shooting investigation underway, CBS News. Available at: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/nashville-school-shooting-investigation-underway/ (Accessed: 23 January 2025).
• KRISTIN M. HALL, T.L. and J.M. (2025) Teen fatally shoots a female student and himself at Antioch High School in Nashville, police say, WTTV CBS4Indy. Available at: https://cbs4indy.com/news/national-world/ap-us-news/ap-at-least-2-students-have-been-shot-and-wounded-at-a-nashville-high-school-police-say/ (Accessed: 23 January 2025).