Details about the lives of the three adults who were murdered Monday at a Nashville elementary school emerged quickly, but information about the three 9-year-old boys whose short lives were tragically ended has been leaking more slowly since a community fell in pain.
The three minors murdered at Covenant School were Hallie Scruggs, a girl who was “always online,” as one aunt put it; Evelyn Dieckhaus, the “light” of her family; and William Kinney, of “steadfast spirit”.
A woman posing as Hallie’s aunt, Kara Scruggs Arnold, wrote on Facebook that the girl was “incredibly smart and determined enough to keep up with her three brothers and my four boys.”
Hallie had a “love of life that made her smile, run, jump and play, always on the go,” Arnold said in a social media post.
Hallie’s father, Chad Scruggs, is the senior pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, which is affiliated with the school. Covenant School, a private institution, has about 200 students in kindergarten through sixth grade and about 50 employees, according to its website.
Evelyn was described as a “shining light” of the Dieckhaus family on a GoFundMe page set up in her name. But even her family was reluctant to talk about her or the tremendous loss her departure brought.
Friends of the Kinney family created a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses. A message posted to the site said William was in “unshakable spirits.”
“He was always kind, gentle when the situation called for it, had a quick laugh and was always connecting with others,” according to the page. “He loved his sisters, he adored his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and was always happy to welcome friends of all ages. Sweet Will knew no strangers and our hearts break for his family as they try to find their way forward.”
The adults killed were Katherine Koonce, 60, the headmistress; Mike Hill, 61, janitor, and Cynthia Peak, 61, substitute teacher.
___ Associated Press writers Travis Loller in Nashville and Beatrice Dupuy in New York contributed to this report. Sainz reported from Memphis. Finley of Norfolk, Virginia.