Monday, the head pastor of the church and school in Nashville that was targeted by a mass shooter stated in a statement that his daughter was among the three children slain by the perpetrator.
Audrey Hale, a transgender shooter, targeted the school on Monday morning, killing six people.
Hale fired her way inside the school, resulting in the deaths of three children and three adults before police were able to find and eliminate her.
The victims have been identified as nine-year-olds Hallie Scruggs, Evelyn Dieckhaus, and William Kinney.
Faculty members Mike Hill, Katherine Koonce, and Cynthia Peak also lost their lives.
Pastor Chad Scruggs stated in a statement received by WKRN-TV in Nashville that his family is “heartbroken” because his only daughter, Hallie, is among the deceased.
Yet, he made a compelling message about his beliefs.
“We are heartbroken,” he remarked. “She was such a gift. Through tears we trust that she is in the arms of Jesus who will raise her to life once again.”
NEW: Statement from Chad Scruggs, Senior Pastor for Covenant Presbyterian Church & father of Hallie Scruggs who died in the shooting:
"We are heartbroken. She was such a gift. Through tears we trust that she is in the arms of Jesus who will raise her to life once again." @WKRN— Ethan Illers (@EthanIllers_TV) March 28, 2023
On Twitter, a photo of the family with Hallie has gone viral.
Their little princess. 🙏😢🙏😢🙏😢 pic.twitter.com/eva7FtpafE
— wyntre (@Wyntre999) March 28, 2023
Furthermore, there is a photograph of Pastor Scruggs and his daughter.
This is Pastor Chad Scruggs and his daughter Hallie Scruggs.
Hallie was murdered along with 2 of her classmates in Nashville by a radical transgender activist.
When the media wants you to think about the "plight of transgender people," remind them of Hallie. pic.twitter.com/yZL32qlSrk
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 28, 2023
According to his Facebook profile, Scruggs was born in Tennessee and has been a member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church since 2018.
The majority of Scruggs’ page is private, but a few public postings have been swamped with comments from people across the world praying for him, his wife Jada, and their three boys.
“Praying for you your family your friends your church your community and our country!” one person wrote. “May God give you Peace.”
Someone else remarked, “I pray He brings beauty from ashes as only He can do.”
In a another remark, someone said, “I’m so brokenhearted for you and your wife. Sending you love from Chile.”