The senior pastor at the Nashville church and school that was targeted by a mass shooter on Monday confirmed in a statement that his daughter was among three children who were killed by the suspect.
Six people died when transgender shooter Audrey Hale targeted the school on Monday morning.
Police acted quickly to locate and kill Hale in the school, but three children and three adults lost their lives after Hale shot her way into the building.
The victims have been confirmed as Hallie Scruggs, Evelyn Dieckhaus and William Kinney, who were each nine.
Mike Hill, Katherine Koonce and Cynthia Peak, who were faculty members, also lost their lives.
In a statement obtained by WKRN-TV in Nashville, pastor Chad Scruggs said his family is “heartbroken” that Hallie, his only daughter, is among the dead.
But he shared a powerful statement about his faith.
“We are heartbroken,” he said. “She was such a gift. Through tears we trust that she is in the arms of Jesus who will raise her to life once again.”
NEW: Statement from Chad Scruggs, Senior Pastor for Covenant Presbyterian Church & father of Hallie Scruggs who died in the shooting:
“We are heartbroken. She was such a gift. Through tears we trust that she is in the arms of Jesus who will raise her to life once again.” @WKRN
— Ethan Illers (@EthanIllers_TV) March 28, 2023
A photo of the family with Hallie has gone viral on Twitter.
Their little princess. ?????? pic.twitter.com/eva7FtpafE
— wyntre (@Wyntre999) March 28, 2023
So, too, has one image of Pastor Scruggs and his little girl.
This is Pastor Chad Scruggs and his daughter Hallie Scruggs.
Hallie was murdered along with 2 of her classmates in Nashville by a radical transgender activist.
When the media wants you to think about the “plight of transgender people,” remind them of Hallie. pic.twitter.com/yZL32qlSrk
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 28, 2023
According to Scruggs’ personal Facebook page, he is a native of Tennessee and has been with the Covenant Presbyterian Church since 2018.
Scruggs’ page is mostly private, but a number of public posts have been inundated with messages from people from across the world who are praying for him, his wife Jada and their three sons.
“Praying for you your family your friends your church your community and our country!” one person wrote. “May God give you Peace.”
Another person commented, “I pray He brings beauty from ashes as only He can do.”
In another comment, someone wrote, “I’m so brokenhearted for you and your wife. Sending you love from Chile.”
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.