{"id":17181,"date":"2023-03-28T11:50:34","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T15:50:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=17181"},"modified":"2023-03-28T11:50:34","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T15:50:34","slug":"pastors-daughter-killed-in-nashville-christian-school-shooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2023\/03\/pastors-daughter-killed-in-nashville-christian-school-shooting","title":{"rendered":"Pastor’s Daughter Killed in Nashville Christian School Shooting"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chad Scruggs\/Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the nation processes the tragedy that unfolded at The Covenant School, a Christian elementary academy in Nashville, Tennessee, heartbreaking details continue to arise. Officials said a shooter opened fire at the private Christian grade school, killing three children and three adults. Authorities said police fatally shot the shooter at the school.<\/p>\n

Among the tragic stories, a pastor’s daughter was reportedly one of the six victims killed during the mass shooting. “The New York Post<\/a>” reported that 9-year-old Hallie Scruggs was the youngest daughter of Chad Scruggs, the senior pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church, the church affiliated with the school, and his wife, Jada.<\/p>\n

Chad Scruggs previously served as the pastor of Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, for close to six years and serves as a campus minister at Reformed University Fellowship at SMU. Mark Davis, the senior pastor of Park Cities, told WFAA-TV<\/a> that the Scruggs family is still close with the Park Cities members and the church community. Some Park Cities members have flown to Nashville to comfort the Scruggs family.<\/p>\n

Davis said, “They are so deeply connected to this church body. Even now, members of our church are flying to Nashville to be with them. The impact they had here was enormous.” Davis said the Scruggs’ children always seem to have a “radiance” and a profound faith. He told WFAA-TV<\/a>, “All four children had that radiance; we talk about the radiance of Christ, even at a young age. They’re gifted children; they really are. But they’re godly children.”<\/p>\n

Davis said he talked to Scruggs hours before the shooter, 28-year-old Audrey Hale, allegedly entered The Covenant School and opened fire. Davis said he listened to the grieving Scruggs’ faith shine through the unbelievable pain in addition to hearing despair in the pastor’s voice. Evelyn Dieckhaus and William Kinney, both 9 years old, were also killed, in addition to Hallie Scruggs.<\/p>\n