Two students died and two more were injured at an Antioch High School shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The suspect, 17-year-old Solomon Henderson, opened fire in the cafeteria and killed 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante before shooting and killing himself. Another male student was transported to the hospital with a graze wound, and a fourth with minor facial injuries from falling.
Josselin Corea Escalante was a soccer player, good student, and daddy’s girl, according to her father and aunt. “Every day I told her how much I loved her,” her father, German Corea, told reporters.
Donate to the family’s GoFundMe.
Donate to the Nashville School Violence Support & Healing Fund.
Here’s a list of therapists available for Antioch High School students.
The Family Assistance Site is located at 3754 Murfreesboro Pike. (Martin R. Cherry / Nashville Banner)
Henderson partially livestreamed the incident from his social media account, where he also poasted that he was “ashamed to be Black,” and reposted content from a neo-Nazi white supremacy group. Antioch High School’s AI-powered weapon detection camera software, Omnialert, failed to detect the shooter’s gun. The software is used at all MNPS campuses.
In an MNPS email communication to families, Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle said Antioch High School will be closed for the rest of the week to allow time for grieving. Counselors and support staff are available at all schools to assist students and staff in need. Antioch High School students, families, and staff can visit the Southeast Community Center for grief counseling, hot meals, and food boxes.
This shooting comes nearly two years after The Covenant School shooting, where three 9-year-olds and three staff members died. Several gun control bills are being considered this legislative session, and the Office of Youth Safety was created in November.
Rep. Jason Powell has asked Gov. Bill Lee to call a special session to discuss bills that address school shootings.
A student-led “Rally for Antioch" demonstration is taking place Monday, Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. on the Capitol Steps.
State Sen. Charlane Oliver, who represents the district, said in a statement, “My heart is broken over the devastating shooting at Antioch High School today. As a mother and a representative of this community, I grieve with the families, students, and staff who are enduring this unimaginable tragedy. My heart goes out to the victims who were shot, their loved ones, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence. No child should ever feel unsafe in their school, and no family should face the anguish of such a senseless loss.”
As an MNPS parent, my heart aches for Antioch High School students and families.
This is a breaking news story, and we will add to it as more news becomes available. We’ll also have further information in the City Cast Nashville podcast and Hey Nashville newsletter tomorrow, and in the days to follow.
