Bad things happen in the world. As a coping mechanism, people distance themselves from it and cling to the thought that this could never happen where they are. We cerebrally know school shootings are a common occurrence in the United States but push the thought aside, rationalizing that it will never happen to us.
Former Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson East knows this all too well. Her kids' school was placed on lockdown during the recent Nashville school shooting. This was too close to home for her, and she feels forever changed by the incident.
On March 27, 2023, a school shooting occurred at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. Three 9-year-olds and three adults were killed. The shooter, who has been identified as 28-year-old Audrey Hale, was also killed in a shoot-out with police officers.
Shawn and husband Andrew East share two children. Daughter Drew Hazel East was born on October 29, 2019. Their second child, son Jett James East, was born on July 19, 2021. Their nearby school was locked down as a precaution during the shooting.
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Shawn took to Instagram to vent her sadness and frustration over the tragic situation. "I haven't been able to catch my breath since reading the news and getting a call from our school that they were on lockdown as well given the news," she wrote in her Instagram story. "Shaking. Crying. Heartbroken. Horrific."
As Shawn vented, her children were safe at home. She could not help but think of those who were not as lucky that day.
"I feel lucky and blessed but still so incredibly sad," she added. "No parent or family should ever have to deal with this."
Shawn struggled to get the images of the day out of her head. She worries she might not ever be able to.
"I've seen childrens ambulances, countless police cars, buses of children being transported to safety, parents flying down the street laying on their horns, people sprinting in and out of churches and schools looking for their kids. Today has changed me," she wrote.
Shawn will be praying for all those involved in the shooting: "Praying for the families whose baby won't be coming home from school today and the families who have lost a piece of themselves. I also pray for the children and adults who may have witnessed, first hand, the heinous acts of violence inflicted today. Jesus, please be near."
"My mama heart is shattered you guys," she continued. "You don't ever fully recover from this. Thinking of these beautiful innocent babies, their families, the first responders, the teachers, everyone affected by todays heinous acts. Helicopters are still circling. The silence in Nashville is very loud right now."
Shawn is especially impacted by this news because of the close nature of the city of Nashville. "A friend said it the best…. Nashville is way more than a city, it's a family," she explained. "Every single person is separated by two degrees and knows each other, prays for each other, goes to church together."
