A tragic shooting on Monday at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee left three children and three adults dead.
Responding to whether this incident was targeted at people of faith, President Joe Biden stated, “I have no idea,” a comment that was later criticized by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO).
Senator Hawley views the incident as a “targeted” assault against Christians, urging the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to treat it as a hate crime.
“Biden should be acknowledging the targeting of people of faith,” Hawley told Fox News, adding that the President should ensure a thorough investigation into the matter.
In contrast, US Attorney General Merrick Garland during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing stated that it was too early to classify the incident as a hate crime. “We are certainly working full-time with [authorities] to try and determine what the motive is, and, of course, motive is what determines whether it’s a hate crime or not,” Garland said.
The assailant, a former student named Audrey Hale, committed the crime, and further investigations are underway to reveal her motivations.
