A Middle Tennessee community has been left heartbroken and traumatized, with many asking questions that can probably never be answered after the Wednesday fatal shooting of Josselin Corea Escalante at Antioch High School.
At 16, Escalante was described by many as someone who knew the direction she wanted to take with her life. She was also described as a light within her family.
Since her death, two fundraising campaigns have been launched to honor Escalante. Both seek to raise money for funeral costs and to repatriate her remains to Guatemala, where her family is from. A relative set up a GoFundMe and the Nashville-based nonprofit the Hispanic Family Foundation set up its own website, saying it did so with the family’s permission.
Linci Escalante, who organized the GoFundMe campaign, originally sought to raise $40,000. By the end of the week, she had far surpassed that goal. The additional funds, she said in a post on GoFundME, will also benefit the family by helping with day-to-day expenses during this difficult time.
“Josselin, a bright and compassionate young woman, dreamed of becoming a doctor. Just last year, she celebrated her Quinceañera, a milestone filled with joy and hope for the future,” Linci Escalante wrote on GoFundME. “Your support, whether through donations or by sharing their story, would mean the world to this grieving family. Together, we can help them find solace and ensure Josselin’s light continues to shine.”
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has also spoken publicly about the slain student.
He described Escalante as kind and loving during a weekly media roundtable on Friday. She was both a good student and soccer player, he added.
O’Connell said his “heart breaks for her family and friends.”
O’Connell shared some of those same anecdotes about Escalante at a Friday night vigil at Plaza Mariachi, as did other speakers who personally spoke with Escalante’s family over the past few days.
The mayor also touched on the newly-established Nashville School Violence Support & Healing Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee in partnership with the mayor’s office, the Nashville Office of Emergency Management and Metro Nashville Public Schools. The program will support victims of gun violence in area schools — faculty, students and their families — and Antioch High will be the inaugural recipient of an initial wave of relief funds, he said.
Hispanic community’s message: ‘We are family’
So far in their investigation, Metro Police have found no apparent connections between Escalante and the Antioch High School shooter, they’ve said.
Solomon Henderson, 17, walked into the school cafeteria shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday and opened fire, causing a chaotic scene as students tried to run, hide or otherwise seek safety, police said.
Escalante was fatally shot and a 17-year-old male student suffered a graze wound before the shooter turned the gun on himself. Police later said 10 shots were fired in the span of 17 seconds that day.
Afterward, Metro officials announced that Antioch High would shutter for the remainder of the week and counseling services would be offered to help students and staff through the grieving process.
Vigils have since sprung up across Nashville.
Melissa Alvarez, executive director and founder of the Tennessee Hispanic Action Network, a non-profit aimed at ending gun violence in the Latino community, said her organization would continue to work to prevent “senseless acts” from happening, as the Latino community, she said, is often overlooked and not well-resourced.
“Our lives matter, our experiences matter and our communities are meaningful,” she told The Tennessean Thursday. “We will always be here to heal with each other. Wherever you look, we are family — even if we don’t know each other.”
Antioch High School teacher offers condolences to victim families
Aaron Rodriguez remembers sitting by his classroom door Wednesday afternoon with an exacto knife, hoping the Antioch High School shooter, which he’d just been alerted to minutes before, wasn’t in his hallway.
“All I could think was, ‘If they want to get to these students, they’re gonna have to go through me,’” he told The Tennessean Wednesday evening.
The United States history and African-American studies teacher was just wrapping up his lesson for the day when he noticed a group of students outside in the front parking lot. He didn’t think too much about it until a student asked him, “Mr. Rodriguez, did someone get shot?”
Seconds later, an announcement came over the intercom. There was a shooter in the building.
He gathered his students on the other side of the classroom, barricaded the door and watched as his students frantically tried to contact their parents.
“You could see the fear in their eyes,” he said. For more than an hour, everyone sat in silence, waiting. And then it was over.
Rodriguez is still trying to process what happened. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and said he “can’t imagine the tragedy the parents are going through.”
“Of thinking I’m sending my child off to a place that’s supposed to be safe, where they’re supposed to be getting an education, where they’re supposed to be really finding themselves —my heart really goes out to them,” he said.
While Rodriguez acknowledges that access to guns is an issue, he also expressed concerns over the media children are consuming on a daily basis. It’s media that could potentially “warp their thinking” and “promote anti-social behaviors,” he said in warning.
But, Antioch, he says, is a strong community and he has no doubt it’ll bounce back.
To the Escalante family, in particular, he added, “I want them to know that the whole community is there for them. Anything they need, they will be able to get from the people at Antioch.”
Contributing: Austin Hornbostel and Liam Adams
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
Josselin was known for her infectious smile, kind heart, and unwavering positivity. She touched the lives of so many people in Nashville and her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
The vigil held in her honor was a beautiful tribute to a life taken too soon. As candles were lit and prayers were said, it was clear that Josselin’s presence will always be felt in the Nashville community.
As we continue to mourn the loss of Josselin, let us also remember to cherish the time we have with our loved ones and to spread kindness and love wherever we go. Josselin’s memory will forever be a reminder of the impact one person can have on the world around them. Rest in peace, Josselin Corea Escalante. You will never be forgotten.
Tags:
Nashville, Josselin Corea Escalante, Nashville remembers, memorial event, honoring Josselin Corea Escalante, Nashville community, justice for Josselin Corea Escalante, remembrance ceremony
#Nashville #remembers #Josselin #Corea #Escalante
![CNN Tribute – America Remembers – The Events of September 11th (Commemorative Edition) [DVD]](https://ziontechgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/71tt1Do5atS._SL1500_.jpg)
![CNN Tribute – America Remembers [DVD]](https://ziontechgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/81-geXVuiQL._SL1500_.jpg)
