This piece was last updated at 5:43 p.m. CST on Jan. 22, 2025.
Antioch High School is on lockdown after shots were fired at 11:09 a.m. CST. The school is on Hobson Pike, approximately 18 miles southeast of Vanderbilt. Metro Nashville Schools announced the lockdown on X and that the Metro Nashville Police Department is on the active crime scene.
According to police, the shots were fired in the cafeteria with a pistol. Two female students were shot by the suspect — a male 17-year-old student since identified as Solomon Henderson — who then turned the gun on himself and is now deceased. An additional fourth student suffered a non-gunshot facial injury. The three victims were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. One female student — identified as 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante — is dead; the other two victims are stable.
At 12:18 p.m. CST, Metro Nashville Schools announced on X that students would be moved to Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital as a reunification site. Other students are being gathered in the school auditorium as they await transportation to the site.
Across the United States, this is the first school shooting of 2025 but the 15th mass shooting of the year, according to The Gun Violence Archive. This comes approximately one year and 10 months after a shooting at The Covenant School in Green Hills.
In a message to The Hustler, Becky Peterson — interim director of secondary education and lecturer in education — provided an update on the Vanderbilt students working at Antioch High School.
“The two Peabody student teachers assigned to the school are safe and accounted for,” Peterson said. “We as a department and college are working with campus partners to support our students and our community both immediately and ongoing.”
Representative John Ray Clemmons, who represents District 55, where Antioch High School is located, issued a statement following the shooting.
“Again, our community has suffered an unspeakable tragedy in a school that has detrimentally impacted innocent children and families,” the statement reads. “We will be praying for the children reportedly injured and all the students of Antioch High School whose lives have been forever altered today. Our efforts will not stop at thoughts and prayers. We will continue to fight for common sense gun safety solutions that protect our children and communities from gun violence.”
A representative from the university said Student Affairs will be reaching out to offer support to students who attended Antioch High School. Additionally, they encouraged affected students, faculty and staff to share any concerns with the Student Care Network and reach out to the University Counseling Center to speak with a clinician.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Jorie Fawcett assisted in reporting for this story.