Chicago native, and local Catholic schools graduate, Rex Engelbert, a four-year veteran with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, was one of the police officers who helped taken down the recent school shooter in Nashville, Tenn.
“I really had no business being where I was. You can call it fate or God or whatever you want, but I can’t count on both my hands the irregularities that put me in that position,” said Engelbert at a press conference after the shooting.
Engelbert, who attended Queen of All Saints elementary school in Sauganash and Loyola Academy High School in Wilmette, said the day of the shooting began as a “regular workday" for him, the Chicago Tribune reported. He was on his way to the Metro Police Academy to work on administrative tasks when he received a call about an act of deadly aggression at a school nearby. Engelbert said he recognized “the severity of such a call" and immediately activated his lights and siren.
The March 27, 2023 shooting was carried out by 28-year-old Audrey Hale at The Covenant School in Nashville. Hale, a former student at the school, killed three adults and three children before police officers, including Engelbert, stopped the attack. Human Events reported that Hale was a female who began using "male pronouns" on her LinkedIn profile in recent months.
When he arrived at the school, Engelbert and other officers were in the process of clearing the building room by room when they heard shots fired on the floor above, reported the Chicago Tribune. Engelbert said when he heard the shots, he "couldn’t get there fast enough." With his rifle drawn, he and the other officers located Hale and ultimately killed her. He then assisted in escorting teachers and children out of the school.
The Metro Nashville Police Department recognized Engelbert and Officer Michael Collazo for their role in taking down the shooter and released their body camera footage on Twitter.
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