Two teenagers have lost their lives, including the shooter, and another student has sustained injuries following a shooting incident at a Nashville high school on Wednesday morning.

A 17-year-old student with a handgun opened fire at Antioch High School just after 11 a.m., as stated by Don Aaron, a spokesperson for the Metro Nashville Police Department.

The shooter fatally wounded a 16-year-old Hispanic girl in the cafeteria, reported Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake during a news conference in the afternoon. Initial reports incorrectly identified the victim as 17 years old.

One student received a minor injury from a grazing bullet, while another was hurt in a fall, authorities confirmed.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the police named the deceased student as 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante and the shooter as 17-year-old Solomon Henderson. Police are still working to identify the injured individual.

The White House released a statement indicating it was keeping an eye on the situation.

“The President and his team are monitoring the developments out of Nashville,” the statement said. “As more information becomes available, the White House extends its heartfelt condolences to those affected by this tragic event and expresses gratitude for the brave first responders dealing with the situation.”

This shooting follows an incident nearly two years prior when three 9-year-old students and three adult staff members lost their lives at The Covenant School in Nashville. In that case, the shooter was also killed by police.

Shooter identified as a 17-year-old student from Antioch High School

Police Chief John Drake explained that the 17-year-old shooter took the bus to Antioch High School before heading to the cafeteria, where he confronted and shot a fellow student.

The assailant fired multiple shots before turning the gun on himself, as detailed by Chief Drake.

The reason for the shooting has yet to be established.

There were two school resource officers present in the building, but they were not in the cafeteria at the time of the incident and were unable to intervene before the shooter took his life, according to Aaron.

Student recalls hearing ‘loud noises’ while heading to the cafeteria

Brandi Lemons, an 18-year-old senior, described entering the cafeteria for lunch when she heard gunfire.

“I heard a loud noise and we all turned to see what it was, and then three more shots followed. We all started running to the left side of the cafeteria,” Lemons recounted.

Just as she was about to escape over a milk container, she spotted the shooter coming towards her and saw him turn the gun on himself.

Lemons confirmed the shooter was a student at her school, although she had not interacted with him personally.

She managed to exit through the school’s kitchen to the back exit and called her father from the parking lot for a ride. She expressed that she and her classmates are still in shock.

“Right now, we’re scared and confused,” she said.

Tennessee governor expresses prayers for victims and community

Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee conveyed his sympathies to the victims and their community.

“I was briefed on the incident at Antioch High School and am thankful for the quick response of law enforcement and first responders,” Governor Lee stated. “As we wait for more details, I join the people of Tennessee in praying for the victims, their families, and the school community.”

Parent of Antioch High Student expresses resignation to violence

Chante Frye received a text from her daughter, a ninth grader, who informed her about hearing gunshots and that the school was in lockdown.

Frye described the experience as terrifying, adding, “It’s almost expected now, given the increased fights and violence in schools,” she commented while standing outside Ascension Saint Thomas Antioch hospital, which served as the reunion point for students and their parents.

School official outlines security protocols at Antioch High

Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Adrienne Battle stated during a news briefing that this is a “heartbreaking day” for Antioch High School, the school district, and the broader Nashville community.

“My heart goes out to the families facing this unimaginable tragedy,” she expressed.

Battle noted that multiple safety precautions are implemented at Antioch High, including school resource officers, a secured entrance area, and surveillance cameras with weapon-detection capabilities.

She reflected on how personally painful Wednesday’s event felt for her, recalling a tragic accidental shooting that occurred in 1994 when she was a student at John Trotwood Moore Middle School in Nashville.

Battle also extended her appreciation to the school staff who reacted promptly following the shooting, calling their actions “heroic during this dark time for our school community.”

Contributors: Evan Mealins, Kirsten Fiscus, Diana Leyva, Austin Hornbostel, Melissa Brown, Craig Shoup, Vivian Jones, and Andy Humbles, Nashville Tennessean; Janet Loehrke, YSL News

(This story has been updated with new information.)