Nashville shooting: Heartbreaking pic shows innocent children in classroom hour before Audrey Hale opened fire
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: A photo of a classroom clicked just moments before the mass shooting at The Covenant School shows young children sitting cross-legged as Pediatric Surgeon Britney Grayson speaks to them on Monday morning, March 27, about her missionary work in Kenya. Dr Grayson took it to Facebook and Twitter to share the pictures, both posts now being deleted. She later wrote, “There are no words for this feeling."
She described, “The kids were great. We taught them about life in Kenya, some Swahili words, and what it means to be a missionary. We drove away at 10:12am and less than 20 minutes later, at least 3 children were shot right there on the campus.” Three children and three adults were killed in the mass shooting by the 28-year-old former transgender student, Audrey Hale, at The Covenant School on March 27. They were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9, Hallie Scruggs, 9, William Kinney, 9, Katherine Koonce, 60, Cynthia Peak, 61, and Mike Hill, 61.
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The original text is here: "Just 4 hours ago, we arrived The Covenant School in Nashville. Our dear friends invited us to speak at Chapel and stay and visit their girls' classrooms. The kids were great. We taught them about life in Kenya and what it means to be a missionary."
— Britney Grayson, MD, PhD (@britneygrayson) March 28, 2023
'I feel guilty for being safe'
Dr Grayson further said, “I think the normal feeling is supposed to be relief — relief that we were already gone and our lives are safe. But to do what I do makes me literally one of the most qualified people on the planet to help in that situation. Why had we driven away just minutes before? Could I have helped those children if we were still there? I feel guilty for being safe."
But to do what I do makes me literally one of the most qualified people on the planet to help in that situation. Why had we driven away just minutes before? Could I have helped those children if we were still there? I feel guilty for being safe. (3/)
— Britney Grayson, MD, PhD (@britneygrayson) March 27, 2023
Who is Britney Grayson?
According to her website, she graduated with a PhD from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 2012. As per Vanderbilt Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), she completed her graduate studies in Thomas Aune’s laboratory, studying the genetics of autoimmune diseases. Since 2020, she and her husband, Micah Wilfong, have been serving as missionaries in Kenya where she works to train doctors in “spiritual growth and surgical skill” at AIC Kijabe Hospital, a faith-based hospital.
Following the news of the attack, Dr Grayson questioned, “WHY ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING MASSACRED IN THEIR SCHOOLS?!” In a tweet, Grayson wrote, "I have no idea when this country will have had enough and I'm utterly, completely, totally shocked that, as a nation, we aren't there yet," and added, "I have personally operated on a school shooting victim. I have told too many parents and family members that their loved ones are dead as a result of gun violence. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."
I have personally operated on a school shooting victim. I have told too many parents and family members that their loved ones are dead as a result of gun violence. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
— Britney Grayson, MD, PhD (@britneygrayson) March 27, 2023
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