'Tragedy beyond comprehension': Gov. Bill Lee, first lady close friends with Covenant victim

On Monday night, Tennessee's first lady Maria Lee was set to have dinner with one of her best friends, Cindy Peak, an old colleague from her teacher days who planned to spend the day as a substitute teacher at The Covenant School.

But Peak never arrived home on Monday. The 61-year-old was one of six victims slain in one of the deadliest school shootings in Tennessee history.

"What happened at Covenant School was a tragedy beyond comprehension," Gov. Bill Lee said in a recorded address Tuesday night, his first extended comments on the shooting.

"Like many of you, I’ve experienced tragedy in my own life, and I’ve experienced the day after that tragedy. I woke up this morning with a very familiar feeling, and I recognize that today many Tennesseans are feeling the exact same way — the emptiness, the lack of understanding, the desperate desire for answers and the desperate need for hope.

A person signs one of the six wooden crosses placed at a makeshift memorial by the entrance of the Covenant School Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Three children and three school staff members were killed by a former student in Monday’s mass shooting.
A person signs one of the six wooden crosses placed at a makeshift memorial by the entrance of the Covenant School Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Three children and three school staff members were killed by a former student in Monday’s mass shooting.

"All of Tennessee was hurt yesterday, but some parents woke up without children, children woke up without parents and without teachers, and spouses woke up without their loved ones. Maria woke up this morning without one of her best friends, Cindy Peak."

Lee was in Utah at the time of the shooting, Lee's office confirmed to The Tennessean, to attend an annual Republican Governors Association meeting but "immediately returned home on Monday as soon as we learned of the tragic shooting."

In the span of 15 minutes, Audrey Hale shot 9-year-olds William Kinney, Evelyn Dieckhaus and Hallie Scruggs, the daughter of Covenant Presbyterian Church's lead pastor. Peak, custodian Mike Hill and Katherine Koonce were also killed, according to police.

Koonce, the 60-year-old head of The Covenant School, spent nearly 16 years at Nashville's Christ Presbyterian Academy, per her online resume. Koonce and Peak's time at CPA overlapped with Maria Lee, who spent 14 years at the school as a third- and fourth-grade teacher and athletic coach. Lee said the three were longtime family friends.

Governor Bill Lee and first lady Maria Lee speak during the annual Christmas at the Capitol celebration event at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.
Governor Bill Lee and first lady Maria Lee speak during the annual Christmas at the Capitol celebration event at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.

"We are enduring a very difficult moment," Lee said. "I understand there is pain. I understand the desperation to have answers, to place blame, to argue about a solution that could prevent this horrible tragedy. There will come a time to ask how a person could do this. There will come a time to discuss and debate policy.

"But this is not a time for hate or rage. That will not resolve or heal. Everyone is hurting, and remembering that as we grieve and walk together will be the way we honor those who were lost.

Shortly before 10 a.m. on Monday, school security footage captured Hale driving on to the Covenant campus. A childhood friend received text messages from Hale describing suicidal ideations.

Monday at 10:11 a.m., Hale shot through a double set of glass doors in an entry vestibule and entered Covenant with two semi-automatic assault-style rifles and a pistol, according to police. School camera footage showed Hale initially walking through empty hallways as a school alarm blared.

Nashville police responded within minutes. Body camera footage shows two officers shooting Hale in a second-floor lobby area.

"Yesterday, while we saw the worst of humanity, we also saw the best of humanity in the police officers who ran into danger, directly toward a killer with no regard for their own life thinking only about those kids, those teachers, those administrators," Lee said. "I had the opportunity to speak with Officer Engelbert and Officer Collazo today — two brave Tennesseans whose actions saved lives. Gratitude doesn’t begin to cover it — for the utter selflessness of putting their lives between a killer and the innocent."

More: Victims of Covenant School shooting include daughter of pastor, head of school

Police said Hale had detailed maps of the building in Green Hills and its points of entry. Hale had no criminal history but police said Hale, who authorities say identified as transgender, was under a doctor's care for an "emotional disorder."

As of Tuesday, authorities had not nailed down a motive for the attack.

In his address, Lee called for Tennesseans to pray for the victims and the Covenant community. In a week where Democrats have called for gun access reform due to the shooting, Lee said prayer is "the first thing we should do, but it’s not the only thing."

"Law enforcement officials and educators across our state have been working for years, especially in the last year, to strengthen the safety of schools," Lee said. "That work was not in vain — the courage and swift response by the teachers, officers, and this community without a doubt prevented further tragedy. There will be a time to talk about the legislation and budget proposals we’ve brought forward this year. And clearly there’s more work to do."

Full transcript of Lee's remarks

Tennesseans, I want to say a few words about what our state experienced yesterday. What happened at Covenant School was a tragedy beyond comprehension. 

Like many of you, I’ve experienced tragedy in my own life, and I’ve experienced the day after that tragedy. I woke up this morning with a very familiar feeling, and I recognize that today many Tennesseans are feeling the exact same way – the emptiness, the lack of understanding, the desperate desire for answers and the desperate need for hope.

All of Tennessee was hurt yesterday, but some parents woke up without children, children woke up without parents and without teachers, and spouses woke up without their loved ones.

Maria woke up this morning without one of her best friends, Cindy Peak. Cindy was supposed to come over to have dinner with Maria last night after she filled in as a substitute teacher yesterday at Covenant.

Cindy and Maria and Katherine Koonce were all teachers at the same school and have been family friends for decades.

Four other Tennesseans and members of the Covenant family – Hallie Scruggs, Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney and Mike Hill – were taken in an horrific act of violence.  

Six innocent lives – three of them were children.

We are enduring a very difficult moment. I understand there is pain. I understand the desperation to have answers, to place blame, to argue about a solution that could prevent this horrible tragedy. 

There will come a time to ask how a person could do this. There will come a time to discuss and debate policy.

But this is not a time for hate or rage. That will not resolve or heal. Everyone is hurting, and remembering that as we grieve and walk together will be the way we honor those who were lost.

We can all agree on one thing – that every human life has great value. We will act to prevent this from happening again. There is a clear desire in all of us, whether we agree on the action steps or not, that we must work to find ways to protect against evil.

Yesterday, while we saw the worst of humanity, we also saw the best of humanity in the police officers who ran into danger, directly toward a killer with no regard for their own life thinking only about those kids, those teachers, those administrators. 

I had the opportunity to speak with Officer Engelbert and Officer Collazo today – two brave Tennesseans whose actions saved lives.

Gratitude doesn’t begin to cover it – for the utter selflessness of putting their lives between a killer and the innocent. 

I am calling on the people of Tennessee to pray.  For the families of victims, for the Covenant family, for those courageous officers, for the family of the shooter, for those who are hurting and angry and confused. 

Prayer is the first thing we should do, but it’s not the only thing.

Law enforcement officials and educators across our state have been working for years, especially in the last year, to strengthen the safety of schools. That work was not in vain – the courage and swift response by the teachers, officers, and this community without a doubt prevented further tragedy. 

There will be a time to talk about the legislation and budget proposals we’ve brought forward this year. And clearly there’s more work to do.

But on this day after the tragedy, I want to speak to that which rises above all else. 

The battle is not against flesh and blood, it’s not against people. The struggle is against evil itself. We can’t forget this – and it’s very difficult – but we are called to not only love our neighbors, but to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, to pray for those who intend harm. 

There is hope in the midst of great tragedy because God is a redeemer. What is meant for evil can be turned for good. 

May we grieve in the days ahead, but not without hope. May we also act with wisdom, discernment, and grace. 

And may we love, especially those who have lost.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee: Wife's best friend died in Nashville shooting