She was in the middle of a Zoom call when she heard the first shot. She ended the call, stood up, and walked straight toward it.
A Headmaster Who Trained for This
Katherine Koonce, 60, headmaster of The Covenant School in Nashville, had taught staff and students how to respond in the event of a shooting. According to Nashville City Councilman Russ Pulley, a former FBI special agent, witnesses said Koonce was on a Zoom call around 10:13 a.m. when she heard the first shot, immediately ended the call, and headed toward the source of the gunfire.
Her Final Actions
Pulley said he did not have details of what happened in the moments after Koonce confronted the situation. Nashville Police Chief John Drake said investigators found her alone in a hallway, and that evidence indicated a confrontation had taken place, though the specifics of her final moments weren't fully documented. "She did what principals and headmasters do; she protected her children," Pulley said. Koonce's pastor later told her congregation, "She gave her life in defense of the children under her care."
Other Staff Killed
Substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and custodian Mike Hill, 61, were also killed in the attack. Police said Hill was shot while attempting to prevent entry to the school, firing had already been directed through locked glass doors before he was killed.
The Police Response
Officer Rex Engelbert was briefed on the building layout by a staff member upon arrival and led a team of officers through the school, searching classrooms before moving toward gunfire on the second floor, where they confronted and stopped the shooter.
Remembering Koonce
Colleagues and community members have remembered Koonce for the calm, decisive action she took in her final moments, consistent with the training and safety planning she had put in place at the school.
FAQ
What did Katherine Koonce do when the shooting began?
According to a witness account relayed by a local official, she ended a video call and headed toward the sound of gunfire, in what's been described as an effort to protect her students.
Was Katherine Koonce the only staff member killed?
No. Substitute teacher Cynthia Peak and custodian Mike Hill were also killed in the attack.
How did police end the shooting?
Officers, led by Officer Rex Engelbert, searched the building and confronted the shooter on the second floor, ending the attack.