Nashville School Shooting Partially Livestreamed by Gunman

Authorities say the shooter was "significantly influenced" by harmful online content found on non-traditional sites.

A tragic school shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, resulted in the death of a 16-year-old student and left another injured. Authorities revealed Thursday that the 17-year-old gunman livestreamed part of the attack before taking his own life. Investigators believe he was influenced by harmful online content.

According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, the shooter entered the school cafeteria Wednesday and opened fire 17 seconds later, discharging 10 rounds from a 9mm pistol. His mother had dropped him off at school earlier that morning, contradicting initial reports that he had taken the bus. Before carrying out the attack, he visited a nearby restroom and posted images to social media, police said.

The attack was partially broadcasted on the streaming platform Kick. The company swiftly removed the video and banned the account responsible for posting it. "Violence has no place on KICK," the company stated. "We are actively cooperating with law enforcement and taking appropriate action to support their investigation."

Authorities recovered a pistol with seven rounds on the cafeteria floor. Police reported that the firearm had been purchased in Arizona in 2022, though the original owner has not been identified, and the weapon was not reported stolen.

Investigators are also reviewing two documents left behind by the gunman, totaling 339 pages. Authorities say the content of these documents, combined with the shooter's internet activity, suggests he was "significantly influenced by web-based material, especially that found on non-traditional sites that most would find harmful and objectionable." The FBI is assisting with this aspect of the investigation.

The motive remains unclear, police said. The deceased victim has been identified as 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante. A 17-year-old male student sustained a minor gunshot wound and was treated at a hospital before being released.

A student who was present in the cafeteria at the time of the shooting described a scene of chaos. Speaking to NBC affiliate WSMV, he recounted hiding behind trash cans before fleeing through a back exit. "I saw people getting shot, on the ground, bleeding," he said. "I tried to help people who were falling, getting pushed."

School officials also revealed that an AI-powered weapons detection system, Omnilert, failed to detect the gunman’s firearm. The system, which integrates with the school’s camera network, did not pick up the weapon due to the shooter’s positioning, according to district spokesperson Sean Braisted.

"It wasn’t close enough to get an accurate read and trigger an alert," Braisted explained. "No system is foolproof in every scenario."

Police were ultimately responsible for activating the detection system during their response to the incident, officials said.

Authorities continue to investigate the shooter’s online influences and potential motives as the community grapples with the tragedy.