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Sandy Hook Promise Statement on School Shooting in Nashville, TN

NEWTOWN, Conn. – One student was killed and another was injured by gunfire today at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee after a 17-year-old attacker opened fire in the school cafeteria before fatally shooting himself. Authorities reported the injured student was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. An investigation is underway as to how the shooter obtained the pistol that was used in the attack.

As of 2022, the most recent year with finalized data from the CDC, firearms were the leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17 in the state of Tennessee. This recent incident occurred less than two years after three children and three adults were killed in the 2023 mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. That attack is the deadliest school shooting in Tennessee’s history.

In response, Mark Barden, co-founder and co-CEO of Sandy Hook Promise, former Nashville resident and father of Daniel who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement: 

“This is a terrible tragedy for the community of Antioch High School and for the City of Nashville, which is still healing from past violence. My thoughts are with the students who were killed and injured, and their loved ones as they process this profound loss. No one should ever have to experience this.”

“So much has been taken from our nation’s youth and replaced by fear. The fear of going to school, going to church, attending a concert, walking in their neighborhood – normal activities where young people deserve to feel safe are constantly threatened by gun violence. The feeling of safety and security has been ripped away from young people, and we must stand up and take it back.”

“We know that gun violence is preventable when we teach youth and adults how to identify the warning signs that someone might harm themselves or others and how to get help. Threats need to be taken seriously so we can intervene with help and save lives.”

“And finally, as the trusted adults for all youth, we must advocate for bipartisan policy solutions, including secure storage of firearms, temporary transfer, and expanded access to youth mental health resources in Tennessee. Sensible steps like these preserve our Second Amendment rights while also keeping our schools, homes, and communities safe for our children.”

For more information about the warning signs of violence and proven violence prevention programs and policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.

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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. 

Media Contact:

Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279