Flags in Florida at half staff to honor Nashville school shooting victims

Following a directive from President Biden, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed flags to fly at half staff "in honor of the victims of the tragedy in Nashville, Tennessee."

The Associated Press reported that three 9-year-old students and three adults – the head of the grade school, a custodian and a substitute teacher – were shot and killed Monday at The Covenant School, a Christian school in Nashville. 

The suspect, later shot dead by police, was a former student at the school whom authorities said was under a doctor’s care for an undisclosed emotional disorder, according to the AP. 

"As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on March 27, 2023, by a murderer at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. directed all flags to be lowered to half-staff immediately," DeSantis said in a statement.

"Pursuant to this direction, I hereby direct the flags of the United States and the State of Florida to be flown at half-staff at all local and state buildings, installations, and grounds throughout the State of Florida immediately until sunset on Friday," he added. 

Monday's shooting "marked the 15th time since 1999 that gun violence has left four or more dead in a school in the United States," the AP reported, starting from the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado.