March 27, 2023. It started as a typical Monday morning in Green Hills, Nashville. You know the vibe—parents rushing through drop-off, kids clutching lunchboxes, the quiet hum of a private Christian school preparing for a day of lessons. Then everything shattered. By noon, the name "Covenant" wasn't just a school anymore. It became a marker of profound tragedy.
The Covenant School shooting victims weren't just names on a police report or faces on a news ticker. They were three nine-year-old children with entire lives ahead of them and three dedicated staff members who treated that school like a second home. Honestly, when you look at who these people were, the loss feels even heavier. It’s one thing to hear a statistic; it’s another to realize the void left behind in a tight-knit community like Nashville.
Who Were the Covenant School Shooting Victims?
The victims were Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney—all just nine years old. Then there were the adults: Cynthia Peak, 61; Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61.
Evelyn was described by her family as a "shining light." During her memorial, her sister’s heartbreaking tribute reminded everyone that Evelyn was a girl who loved art and music. She was a third-grader. Just think about that for a second. Nine years old. You’re just starting to figure out your favorite books and what you want to be when you grow up.
Hallie Scruggs was the daughter of Chad Scruggs, the lead pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church. She was known for being incredibly spunky and athletic. People in the community talked about her "powerhouse" personality. It’s a specific kind of grief when a family loses a child in the very place where they minister to others.
Then you have William Kinney. He was the kind of kid who was always quick to offer a smile. Friends of the family noted he had a spirit that was just... gentle. The loss of these three children sparked an immediate, visceral reaction in Tennessee, leading to massive protests at the State Capitol. People were tired. They are still tired.
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The Staff Members Who Stood Their Ground
The adults lost that day weren't just employees. Dr. Katherine Koonce was the Head of School. She didn’t hide. Reports from the investigation suggest she headed toward the danger. That’s a level of bravery most of us can’t even wrap our heads around. She had led the school since 2016 and was basically the glue that held the faculty together.
Mike Hill, known affectionately as "Big Mike," was the school’s custodian. He was a father of seven and a grandfather to fourteen. He loved his job, and more importantly, he loved the kids. He was a beloved figure who had been part of the school community for years.
Cynthia Peak was a substitute teacher. On that day, she was doing what she did best—stepping in to help. She was also a lifelong friend of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s wife, Maria. That detail alone shows how small and interconnected Nashville really is. Everyone knew someone.
The Aftermath and the Fight for Records
The legal battle following the shooting has been messy. You’ve probably seen the headlines about the shooter’s writings. It’s been a tug-of-war between public interest and the privacy of the families. The Covenant School shooting victims’ families have fought hard to keep the shooter’s "manifesto" or journals private. Their argument is pretty straightforward: they don't want to give the perpetrator the "fame" they sought, and they don't want to inspire copycats.
On the other side, you’ve got media groups and gun-rights organizations arguing that the public has a right to know the motive to help prevent future tragedies. It’s a delicate, painful balance. Judge Anne Martin has had to navigate some of the most emotionally charged courtrooms in Tennessee history.
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- The Families' Stance: They want the focus on the lives lost, not the person who took them.
- The Media's Stance: Public records laws exist for a reason, and understanding the "why" is part of the healing and legislative process.
- The Reality: Leaks happened anyway. Some pages were published by a YouTube personality, which caused even more trauma for the parents.
A Community Transformed
Nashville is different now. You see the "Covenant Strong" stickers everywhere. But beneath the slogans, there is a complex debate about school safety and mental health. The Covenant School shooting victims became the face of a movement called "Voices for a Safer Tennessee." This isn't just a partisan thing; it includes many conservative parents who suddenly found themselves demanding "red flag" laws and better background checks.
The school itself had to move locations temporarily. Imagine being a survivor and having to walk back into a classroom. The trauma doesn't end when the sirens stop. It's in the quiet moments, the empty seats at dinner, and the birthdays that will never be celebrated.
Understanding the "Why" and Moving Forward
Why does this keep happening? That’s the question everyone asks, but the answers are never simple. Some point to the failure of the mental health system. Others point to the ease of access to high-capacity firearms. In the case of the Covenant shooting, the shooter had legally purchased seven firearms from five different local gun stores despite being under a doctor's care for an emotional disorder.
This specific detail fueled the fire for legislative change. Governor Bill Lee, despite his historically pro-gun stance, called for a special session to address public safety. It was a chaotic session, to say the least. It didn't result in the massive overhauls many hoped for, but it kept the conversation on the front page for months.
Real Actions for Change
If you're looking for how to actually honor the Covenant School shooting victims, it’s not through thoughts and prayers. It’s through tangible support and advocacy.
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1. Support the Covenant Families Action Fund. This fund was set up specifically to help the families navigate the long-term financial and emotional costs of the tragedy.
2. Advocate for School Security Measures. Many experts, like those at the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), emphasize that physical security is only one part of the puzzle. We need better mental health resources inside schools to catch red flags before they turn into violence.
3. Engage in the Legislative Process. Whether you’re in Tennessee or elsewhere, the debate over "Red Flag" laws (Extreme Risk Protection Orders) is ongoing. These laws allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others.
4. Focus on "No Notoriety." Research by groups like the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center suggests that focusing on the victims rather than the shooter reduces the "contagion effect." Stop sharing the shooter's name. Share Evelyn’s art instead. Talk about Mike Hill’s 14 grandkids.
The healing process for Nashville is going to take decades. It’s a slow, agonizing crawl toward a "new normal." By remembering the Covenant School shooting victims as individuals—as the vibrant, living people they were—we refuse to let the tragedy be the only thing that defines them. They were students, teachers, grandparents, and friends. They were part of the fabric of a city that is still trying to sew itself back together.
To make a difference, consider donating to local Nashville trauma counseling centers or participating in community safety forums. Change happens when the momentum of a tragedy is channeled into persistent, everyday action. Keep the names of the six individuals lost at the forefront of the conversation, ensuring their legacy is one of lasting communal safety rather than just another date on a calendar.