NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Actress Melissa Joan Hart said that she and her husband helped a group of “tiny little kids” cross the street as they left The Covenant School in Nashville after a 28-year-old shooter opened fire at the private Christian school.
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Hart, 46, who lives in Nashville, posted an emotional video on her Instagram page. She noted that she and her husband, Mark Wilkerson, were heading to a parent-teacher conference at a nearby school when they stopped to help some kindergarten students cross the street as they left The Covenant School, The Tennessean reported.
“We helped a class of kindergarteners cross a busy highway,” said Hart, who rose to fame in the 1990s television shows “Clarissa Explains It All” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” “They were climbing out of the woods. They were trying to escape the shooter situation at their school. So we helped all these tiny little, little kids cross the road and get their teachers over there and we helped a mom reunite with her children.”
Three 9-year-old children — Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney — along with school head Katherine Koonce, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak and custodian Mike Hill, were killed when the shooter, identified as Audrey Hale, opened fire after shooting through glass doors to gain entry.
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Hale was killed by Metro Nashville Police Department officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo as police were able to take down the shooter within 14 minutes after receiving a 911 call, The Tennessean reported.
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It was the deadliest U.S. school shooting since 19 students and two staff members were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in May 2022. According to CNN, it was the 19th shooting at a school or university in 2023 that left at least one person wounded.
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After Hale was killed, students were evacuated in lines and many were placed inside Metro Nashville Public Schools buses, according to The Tennessean. They were taken to a reunification area at Woodmont Baptist Church, the newspaper reported.
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According to her video, Hart said she had moved to Nashville from Connecticut and that her children had attended a school near Sandy Hook Elementary when 26 children were shot and killed there in December 2012, The Associated Press reported.
“So this is our second experience with a school shooting with our kids being in close proximity,” Hart said. “Luckily we are all OK. Luckily our kids weren’t in today.”
“I don’t know what to say anymore. Enough is enough.”
A spokesperson for Hart did not immediately return a message from the AP seeking further comment.
An 8-year-old holds a candle at a public vigil for the victims and survivors of the shooting at The Covenant School on Wednesday.
A child holds a candle during a public vigil to honor victims and survivors of a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville.
Singer-songwriter Margo Price performs at a candlelight vigil to mourn and honor the lives of the victims, survivors and families of The Covenant School.
Singer-songwriter Ketch Secor performs at a candlelight vigil for the victims killed in a mass shooting at the Covenant School.
Devon Stewart weeps at a citywide vigil for the victims killed in a mass shooting at the Covenant School.
People listen during a public vigil to honor victims and survivors of a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville.
Roses are held during a vigil for the victims killed in a mass shooting at the Covenant School.
Candles are lit during a citywide vigil for the victims killed in a mass shooting at the Covenant School.
A group gathers around a cross to pray during a public vigil for the victims and survivors of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville.
First lady Jill Biden and Nashville Fire Department Chief William Swann attend a candlelight vigil to mourn and honor the lives of the victims, survivors and families of The Covenant School on Wednesday.
People listen during a public vigil to honor victims and survivors of a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville.
Nashville Chief of Police John Drake and Nashville Fire Department Chief William Swann attend a candlelight vigil to mourn and honor the lives of the victims, survivors and families of The Covenant School.
Nashville Mayor John Cooper speaks during a public vigil to honor victims and survivors of a shooting at The Covenant School.
People take part in a procession following a citywide vigil for the victims killed in a mass shooting at the Covenant School.
Hundreds of people attend a public vigil to honor victims and survivors of a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dan Beazley holds the cross he brought from Michigan during a public vigil to honor victims and survivors of a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville.
Pictures of the victims killed in a mass shooting on Monday at The Covenant School are fixed to a memorial by Noah Reich, left, and David Maldonado on Wednesday.
A couple embraces at a makeshift memorial for those killed in a mass shooting at the entrance of The Covenant School.
A woman prays at a makeshift memorial for those killed in a mass shooting at the entrance of The Covenant School.
Flowers, balloons, and other items in memory of victims of a mass shooting are left at a makeshift memorial at the entrance of The Covenant School.
A police officer walks by an entrance to The Covenant School after a shooting in Nashville, Tenn. on Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/John Amis)
A family leaves with their children from a reunification site in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 27, 2023. Officials say several children were killed in a shooting at Covenant School in Nashville. The suspect is dead after a confrontation with police. (AP Photo/John Amis)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: Children arrive at Woodmont Baptist Church to be reunited with their families after a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: School buses with children arrive at Woodmont Baptist Church to be reunited with their families after a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
A police crime scene tape is seen at the entrance to Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn. Monday, March 27, 2023. Officials say several children were killed in a shooting at the private Christian grade school in Nashville. The suspect is dead after a confrontation with police. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Children from The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, Tenn., hold hands as they are taken to a reunification site at the Woodmont Baptist Church after a deadly shooting at their school on Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Jonathan Mattise)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: School buses with children arrive at Woodmont Baptist Church to be reunited with their families after a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
A photograph released by Nashville police shows the doorway where the shooter entered The Covenant School.
A photo provided by Nashville police shows how Audrey Hale gained entrance to The Covenant School by shooting through the glass doors.
Active shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale, 28, drove this Honda Fit to the Covenant Church/school campus and parked at the site.
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: A parent walks with their kids from Woodmont Baptist Church where children were reunited with their families after a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: People attend a vigil at Woodmont Christian for those who were killed in a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 28: Mourners pray at the entrance of The Covenant School on March 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to reports, three students and three adults were killed by the 28-year-old shooter on Monday. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: A U.S. Marshal stands outside of Woodmont Baptist Church while waiting for children to be reunited with their families after a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 28: Chief of Police John Drake is prayed for at the entrance of The Covenant School on March 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee before a press briefing. According to reports, three students and three adults were killed by the 28-year-old shooter on Monday. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: People attend a vigil at Woodmont Christian for those who were killed in a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: A parent walks with their child from Woodmont Baptist Church where children were reunited with their families after a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: Law enforcement officers stand outside of Woodmont Baptist Church while waiting for children to be reunited with their families after a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 28: Chief of Police John Drake looks at memorial items left at the entrance of The Covenant School on March 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee before a press briefing. According to reports, three students and three adults were killed by the 28-year-old shooter on Monday. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 28: Chief of Police John Drake delivers a press briefing at the entrance of The Covenant School on March 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to reports, three students and three adults were killed by the 28-year-old shooter on Monday. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 28: Mourners listen as Chief of Police John Drake delivers a press briefing at the entrance of The Covenant School on March 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to reports, three students and three adults were killed by the 28-year-old shooter on Monday. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: People attend a vigil at Woodmont Christian for those who were killed in a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 27: A parent walks with their child from Woodmont Baptist Church where children were reunited with their families after a mass shooting at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. According to initial reports, three students and three adults were killed by the shooter, a 28-year-old woman. The shooter was killed by police responding to the scene. (Photo by Seth Herald/Getty Images)