Rex Engelbert, one of the police officers who helped take down the Nashville shooter, is speaking out about his experience.
While speaking to reporters Tuesday, Engelbert reflected on the events of the day.
“I really had no business being where I was. I think you can call it fate or God or whatever you want, but I can’t count on both my hands the irregularities that put me in that position when a call for service came out for a deadly aggression at a school,” he said.
Engelbert acknowledged a call like that “demands ample resources.”
He explained he was unaware of the layout of the school when he arrived.
“Luckily, due to the bravery of two staff members, they stayed on scene, they didn’t run. And they gave me concise clear information for me to use to help anyone in danger,” Engelbert said.
According to the officer, it was “readily apparent” he would be making entry.
Engelbert shared he did not work with any of the officers there before so they had to use “plain speak.”
Upon hearing gunshots, Engelbert said he could not “get to it fast enough.”
Watch his remarks below:
“I really had no business being where I was. I think, you can call it fate, or God, or whatever you want.”
— Josh Breslow (@JoshBreslowTV) April 4, 2023
Officer Rex Engelbert recalls confronting the shooter responsible for killing 6 people at a Nashville Christian elementary school. @livenowfox
[Source: WZTV] pic.twitter.com/IGCshMJoZE
He continued, “I definitely wish I had also deployed my rifle, caliber rated, heavy plates when I found myself at the front of the stack, where I found the stimulus or the threat, the second floor of the school.”
Additionally, Engelbert said they did not know if there were any other threats as they began clearing rooms and escorting children and teachers out.
When his duty was done, Engelbert was asked to sit in his car.
“That was pretty difficult because I could tell there was more work to be done,” he said.
The shooting took place on March 27 at the Covenant School and left three children and three adults dead.
Detective Michael Collazo was the other officer who fired the shots that killed the shooter identified as 28-year-old Audrey Hale.
