Who Is Solomon Henderson? Antioch High School Gunman Kept Photo Of 'Covenant School Shooter', Ashamed To Be Black

On 22 January, tragedy struck Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, when 17-year-old Solomon Henderson opened fire in the school cafeteria. The devastating incident claimed the life of 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante and left another male student injured. Following the shooting, Henderson tragically took his own life.

The Metro Nashville Police Department responded promptly to the scene, establishing a reunification site for parents and students. In the days that followed, details about Henderson's background began to surface, shedding light on the concerning factors that may have played a role in this heart-breaking event.

Who Was Solomon Henderson?

Solomon Henderson, a 17-year-old student at Antioch High School, had been drawn to extremist ideologies, and was actively involved in incel forums and white supremacist groups, including the neo-Nazi Goyim Defense League, according to a New York Post report.

These online activities revealed his involvement in toxic communities that often promote hate and violence. 'I was so miserable. I wanted to kill myself,' he also allegedly wrote at one point.

'I just couldn't take anymore. I am a worthless subhuman, a living, breathing disgrace. All my (in real life) friends outgrew me act like they didn't f–king know me. Being me was so f–king humiliating. That's why I spend all day dissociating.'

Teenager's Descent Into Violence

The Anti-Defamation League described Henderson's writings as filled with 'deep-seated misery, self-loathing, and an admiration for other mass shooters.' His actions have reignited the debate surrounding the role of online platforms in fueling hate and radicalisation.

Henderson also kept a photo of the Covenant School shooter, who tragically killed three children and three staff members in 2023 before taking their own life. According to the Tennessean, purported writings by Henderson included statements against 'race-mixing' and expressed a desire for 'revenge' on society.

The newspaper also reported that Henderson had statements praising Adolf Hitler and disturbing photos from past school shootings.

Chaos Erupts At Lunchtime

The shooting took place around 11:00 a.m. during the busy lunch period, with video footage capturing students scrambling for cover as gunshots erupted. Two school resource officers were present in the building when the shooting occurred around 11:00 a.m., according to Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron.

However, they were not near the cafeteria. By the time they reached the scene, the shooting had ended, and the gunman had taken his own life, Aaron stated. The school serves approximately 2,000 students and is located in Antioch, a neighbourhood situated about 10 miles (16 kilometres) southeast of downtown Nashville.

The school shooting on Wednesday comes nearly two years after a gunman opened fire at a different private elementary school in Nashville, tragically claiming the lives of six people, including three children.

Antioch: A Community Haunted by Gun Violence

Antioch, a diverse and growing suburb of Nashville, has experienced other acts of gun violence in recent years. In October, a 16-year-old Antioch High School student was arrested after school officials and resource officers uncovered social media evidence indicating he had brought a gun to school the previous day. When apprehended the following morning, officials discovered a loaded firearm concealed in his pants, according to police reports.

A 2017 shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ claimed the life of one woman and wounded seven others. In 2018, a gunman killed four people at a local Waffle House. Following her son's death in the Waffle House shooting, State Rep. Shaundelle Brooks ran for office.

A Call For Action

After the Covenant shooting, Brooks was elected. She emphasised that the Antioch High shooting underscores the urgent need for gun control reforms.

'We must do better,' she said. 'Ever since I lost my son, Akilah, in a mass shooting in 2018, I have been fighting to ensure this never happens again,' she said in a statement. 'Here we are almost 7 years later, and our communities are still being impacted by gun violence,' the Nashville Democrat added.