One of the police officers who stopped the shooter who killed six people at The Covenant School in Nashville on Monday morning is from Chicago.
And those who know Rex Engelbert — including his brother, who called him a “gentle giant” — were not surprised to learn of his heroics.
Engelbert, an officer with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, was part of the five-person team that entered the small, private Christian school just south of downtown Nashville after receiving an active shooter call about 10:15 a.m., police spokesperson Don Aaron told The Associated Press. Hearing shots being fired on the second floor of the building, two officers opened fire in response, killing the shooter about 10:27 a.m.
[ What we know about the Nashville Christian school shooting ]
According to the department, those officers were Engelbert and Michael Collazo.
The person who killed the six people — three of whom were students — was identified by police as 28-year-old Audrey Hale.
The incident was captured on bodycam video, which was released by Nashville police.
Engelbert grew up in the city’s Jefferson Park neighborhood. He attended Queen of All Saints School in Sauganash and graduated in 2010.
Emily Carlson, Queen of All Saints’ principal, referred to him as a “police hero” in a statement she released.
“We are proud of Officer Engelbert’s response to the tragedy in Nashville,” Carlson said. “His career as a police officer and his response to yesterday’s horrific events exemplify Queen of All Saints school creed, which encourages students to act with charity, putting others above themselves. Queen of All Saints teachers, Stacia Kuchuris and Sherry Penkala, remember Rex as a kind, respectful student from a faithful, community focused family. The Queen of All Saints community joins the nation in prayer for the Nashville school community as well as all first responders.”
Following his time at Queen of All Saints, Engelbert attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette. He graduated in 2014.
“We recognize the important role Loyola Academy alumnus Rex Engelbert, (Class of) ‘14, played in the quick response to this tragic situation and pray for him and all our first responders who are called to a life of service to others every day,” the school said in a statement released by spokesperson Lynn Eagan.
“Loyola Academy joins the nation in mourning the tragic loss of life at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee,” the statement said. “Our community stands wholly against violence. May our prayers, and the prayers of so many, be a source of strength and comfort for the families who are experiencing unimaginable loss. We stand in solidarity with The Covenant School community, first responders, and law enforcement officers who acted swiftly and courageously to save lives.”
According to a Nashville Police Department tweet, Engelbert has been with the department for four years.
Engelbert’s older brother, Kevin, said Rex has always been a “gentle giant” and compassionate toward neighbors and friends. He said his brother’s courage likely comes from their mother, who taught her children to always be brave.
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Kevin Engelbert said he’s “nothing but proud” of his brother.
“His bravery was shown in his actions,” Kevin Engelbert told the Tribune. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Video from Rex Engelbert’s bodycam shows a woman telling police outside the school that the children were locked down, “but we have two kids that we don’t know where they are.”
Three officers armed with rifles, including Engelbert, search rooms one by one, according to the video.
Officers are shown climbing stairs to the second floor and entering a lobby area. A barrage of gunfire follows and an officer twice yells, “Get your hands away from the gun.” Then the shooter is shown motionless on the floor.
The Associated Press contributed.
