
In a devastating incident on January 22, 2025, at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, two students lost their lives, and another two were injured during a shooting that unfolded in the school’s cafeteria on Wednesday morning.
The assailant, identified as 17-year-old student Solomon Henderson, opened fire at approximately 11:09 a.m., fatally wounding 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante. Another student sustained a graze wound to the arm and was treated at a local hospital, while another suffered a facial injury whilst running from the attack. Following the attack, Henderson turned the gun on himself, resulting in his death.
Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron confirmed the sequence of events, stating that the shooter killed one student before taking his own life. He added that two school resource officers were present in the building but were not in the cafeteria at the time of the shooting.
The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation. Authorities are examining Henderson’s online activities for potential insights. So far, investigators have discovered a 300-page document linked to the shooter, which contained alt-right materials alongside statements opposing “race mixing,” expressions of a desire to “take revenge” on society, praise for Adolf Hitler, and explicit photos from past school shootings, according to a statement made by Nashville Police Chief John Drake to the Tennessean.
Mayor Freddie O’Connell issued a statement published by Fox News addressing the tragic Antioch High School shooting: “As a city, as a community, it is impossibly difficult to be here once again dealing with the devastation of gun violence in one of our school communities. I extend my sincere condolences to all the families impacted. Thank you to all the first responders and mental health officials who responded quickly to support the school community. As a Metro Schools parent, I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to receive the notification that there has been this level of violence in a school. We will continue to work with MNPD and community partners on advancing public safety. Working with Dr. Battle, in the days ahead we will continue to wrap our arms around this community and share additional ways to offer support.”
Antioch High School, which serves approximately 2,000 students, has faced challenges related to gun violence in the past. In 2018, the school received media attention following a walkout for gun control, during which a group of students tore down the American flag and stomped on it.
The school will remain closed for the remainder of the week. Metro Nashville Public Schools will provide resources, meals, and grief counseling at the nearby Cane Ridge High School for students and families affected by the incident.
Dr. Jonathan Metzl, a sociology professor and director of the Center for Medicine, Health, and Society at Vanderbilt University, described the shooting as a tragedy that must serve as a learning opportunity: “Like so many other shootings in Nashville, they happen in places where we shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of our family or our children or ourselves,” Metzl said. “We need to study this and learn from it what went wrong, and then try to rectify it through common sense policies and regulations that will respect the rights of gun owners, but also keep schools safer,” as reported by the Tennessean.
Similarly, State Senator Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) expressed his sorrow and frustration following the Antioch High School shooting, emphasizing the need for stronger measures to ensure student safety: “Tragic news in Antioch today. High school kids really ought to be able to go to the cafeteria without fear of being shot. We’re praying for the victims and the entire community, but we clearly should start doing the work needed to keep kids safe,” Yarbro said, as reported by WKRN.
As the community mourns the loss of young lives, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, seeking answers to prevent such tragedies in the future.