The investigation into the deadly shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville is focusing on troubling writings posted online by the gunman, 17-year-old Solomon Henderson. Authorities have found dozens of pages on social media, believed to be his, that express racist views and glorify violence. Some of the writings even hint at plans for the shooting, though they don’t specifically target the victim, 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante.
Henderson, who was Black, fatally shot Escalante, who was Hispanic, in the school’s cafeteria before turning the gun on himself. The tragic incident has once again cast a dark shadow over Nashville, a city still reeling from the 2023 Covenant School shooting that left six people dead.
Anti-hate analysts quickly identified the writings, which include neo-Nazi and white supremacist rhetoric, as well as praise for infamous shooters. Despite these violent ideologies, experts note that such movements have occasionally attracted people of color, though it remains unusual.
While local authorities haven’t shared much about Henderson’s writings, they did confirm that he fired 10 shots from a 9mm pistol within 17 seconds of entering the cafeteria. The gun, purchased in Arizona in 2022, was later recovered with nine rounds still in it. Investigators are still looking into where the gun came from.
This investigation has unfolded very differently from the legal battles that followed the Covenant School shooting, where the release of the shooter’s private writings became a controversial issue. Here, Henderson’s writings have been made public, though it’s not clear if there was a connection between him and Escalante, or if the shooting was random.
Several students were injured in the shooting, including one who was grazed by a bullet and another who fell and injured their face. The lack of a warning from the school’s AI-based weapon detection system has raised questions about security measures, including whether metal detectors should be installed in schools. Superintendent Adrienne Battle said that while metal detectors are a possibility, they’re still weighing the pros and cons.
Despite public outcry following mass shootings, Tennessee lawmakers have long resisted calls for stricter gun control. Last year, they passed a bill allowing some teachers to carry concealed handguns on school grounds, but efforts to introduce more comprehensive gun control remain stalled, especially with Republicans maintaining a supermajority.
Escalante’s father, German Corea, spoke to Nashville Noticias about his daughter, describing her as a bright, joyful young woman with dreams of becoming a doctor. He had been teaching her to drive, and they had planned to get her driver’s license this week. “We’re carrying her smile in our hearts,” he said, remembering his daughter fondly.
