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Haunting photo shows young kids in class before Nashville school massacre

A heartbreaking picture has emerged of a group of innocent kids in their classroom just hours before mass shooter Audrey Hale unleashed hell.

Pediatric surgeon Britney Grayson shared this photo of her speaking to students at The Covenant School just before the mass shooter stormed in and gunned down six people. Picture: Facebook/Britney Grayson
Pediatric surgeon Britney Grayson shared this photo of her speaking to students at The Covenant School just before the mass shooter stormed in and gunned down six people. Picture: Facebook/Britney Grayson

A heartbreaking photo has emerged of a group of innocent young children sitting cross-legged in their Nashville classroom just hours before mass shooter Audrey Hale stormed in and unleashed hell on their school.

Pediatric surgeon Britney Grayson — who had been invited to speak to students at The Covenant School on Monday morning about her missionary work in Kenya — shared the haunting photo on Facebook in the aftermath of the massacre, the New York Post reports.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the three nine-year-old students who were gunned down by the shooter were pictured in the photo. Three school staffers, including the headmaster, were also shot dead.

US school shooter Audrey Hale killed six people at the school, including three nine-year-olds. Picture: LinkedIn
US school shooter Audrey Hale killed six people at the school, including three nine-year-olds. Picture: LinkedIn

Dr Grayson, who revealed she has previously operated on a school shooting victim, said she drove away from the private Christian school just minutes before Hale arrived and started stalking the halls for victims.

“The kids were great. We taught them about life in Kenya, some Swahili words, and what it means to be a missionary,” Dr Grayson wrote of her time with the students.

“We drove away at 10.12am and less than 20 minutes later, at least three children were shot right there on the campus.”

Dr Grayson said the horror of what unfolded — and the fact that she dodged the bloodbath – continues to haunt her.

Pediatric surgeon Britney Grayson shared this photo of her speaking to students at The Covenant School just before the mass shooter stormed in and gunned down six people. Picture: Facebook/Britney Grayson
Pediatric surgeon Britney Grayson shared this photo of her speaking to students at The Covenant School just before the mass shooter stormed in and gunned down six people. Picture: Facebook/Britney Grayson

“There are no words for this feeling. I think the normal feeling is supposed to be relief – relief that we were already gone and our lives are safe,” she said.

“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.”

Cops have since released haunting surveillance footage that shows Hale brandishing two rifles and a handgun as Hale went on a shooting spree through the hall. Cops are referring to Hale with female pronouns, despite her being transgender.

A makeshift memorial for victims is pictured by the Covenant School building. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP
A makeshift memorial for victims is pictured by the Covenant School building. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Separate bodycam video captured two heroic cops, Rex Englebert and Michael Collazo, storming in moments later and subsequently engaging in a shootout that left Hale dead.

Hale’s nine-year-old slain victims have been identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and Williams Kinney.

Custodian Mike Hill, 61, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and headmaster Katherine Koonce, 60, were also killed.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and has been reproduced with permission

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/haunting-photo-shows-young-kids-in-class-before-nashville-school-massacre/news-story/d8edf86ab8a570c752c330e24c9ccbf5