Sister of girl, 9, killed in Nashville school massacre sobs at vigil for her ... trends now
Heartbreaking vigils were held in Nashville last night as the community came together to pray for the six families who lost loved ones in Monday's school massacre that saw three young children and three adults lose their lives.
One of those killed, nine-year-old, Evelyn Dieckhaus was a third grader, and one of three in that year group shot dead at The Covenant School.
She leaves behind an older sister who sobbed, 'I don't want to be an only child' at Woodmont Christ Church.
In an online tribute to the little girl, a Sunday School teacher, Sarah Drury, described her as 'adorable.'
'One of the 9 year old victims of the Nashville school shooting goes to my church. Her name is Evelyn Dieckhaus. She was adorable. I taught her equally angelic big sister in Sunday Sunday school,' Drury explained.
'Her mom Katy volunteered in our children's ministry... such a sweet Christian family. We had a prayer vigil tonight at our church. We are, the whole city, saturated in grief. Now. It's time to marry prayer and grief with action.'
At Monday night's vigils, boxes of tissues were placed at the end of each church pew. They were a much needed addition to the short service as people came into the church, many with tears streaming down their faces.
The crowd grew silent as candles were lit and Nashvillians began to grieve.
Dr. Michael Dieckhaus is seen holding his baby daughters, named Eleanor and Evelyn. Evelyn Dieckhaus, who was nine, was one of six people shot and killed at Covenant School in Nashville
Hallie Scruggs is seen with her father Chad Scruggs, the pastor at the Presbyterian church affiliated with the school
Substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, aka Cindy Broyles Peak, is shown with her daughter Ellie. Peak was one of six people shot to death at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee on March 27, 2023
Katherine Koonce, head of school (left), and Mike Hill, a custodian (right) were among those shot dead by Audrey Hale
People gather at Belmont United Methodist Church during a vigil for the victims killed earlier in the day at the Covenant School, Covenant Presbytarian Church in Nashville, Tennessee
Boxes of tissues were placed at the end of each pew. They were a much needed addition to the short service as people came into the church with tears streaming down their faces
'It has been a hard day. We are sad. Sad for the families who came rushing to our church. Sad for those whose lives will never be the same because of the trauma inflicted on them. Sad because we live in a world broken by sin, suffering, and death,' senior pastor Nathan Parker said in statement.
The reeling city mourned during multiple vigils on Monday evening.
At Belmont UnitedMethodist Church, teary sniffling filled the background as vigil attendees sang, knelt in prayer and lit candles.
They lamented the national cycle of violent and deadly shootings, at one point reciting together, 'we confess we have not done enough to protect' the children injured or killed in shootings.
'We need to step back. We need to breathe. We need to grieve,' said Paul Purdue, the church's senior pastor. 'We need to remember. We need to make space for others who are grieving. We need to hear the cries of our neighbors.'
Skyler Bush of Nashville lights a candle at Belmont United Methodist Church during a vigil
Pastors Kate Fields and Ingrid McIntyre lead during a vigil for the victims killed earlier in the day at the Covenant School, Covenant Presbytarian Church in Nashville, Tennessee
Senior Pastor Paul Purdue preaches at Belmont United Methodist Church during a vigil for the victims killed earlier in the day at the Covenant School
A group of girls appear heartbroken after leaving a prayer vigil at Woodmont Christian Church for victims of a mass shooting at Covenant School
Two girls hug at a prayer vigil at Woodmont Christian Church for victims of the mass shooting
Two women cry at a prayer vigil at Woodmont Christian Church during a vigil
A woman hugs her daughter during a prayer vigil on Monday night
Family members pray during a vigil at Woodmont Christian Church for victims of the mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville
On Monday night, Covenant School which also lost the school's top administrator, a substitute teacher and a custodian, released a statement regarding the tragedy.
'Our community is heartbroken. We are grieving tremendous loss and are in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church. We are focused on loving our students, our families, our faculty and staff and beginning the process of healing,' the school wrote.
The massacre at Covenant was the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country that has grown increasingly unnerved by bloodshed in schools.
'I was literally moved to tears to see this and the kids as they were being ushered out of the building,'
