Solomon Henderson, Antioch High School Shooting Suspect: A Troubled and Disturbed Individual’s Descent into Madness and Violence

A chilling 47-page manifesto, allegedly written by 17-year-old Solomon Henderson, the suspected gunman responsible for the deadly shooting at Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, has revealed a disturbing glimpse into the suspect’s thoughts, motives, and preparations leading up to the attack.

The manifesto, which surfaced online shortly before the tragic incident, details Henderson’s struggles with mental health, his feelings of isolation and abandonment, and his deep-seated anger and resentment towards society.

In one of the writings, Henderson reportedly expressed deep personal anguish and self-loathing, writing, “I was so miserable. I wanted to kill myself. I just couldn’t take anymore. I am a worthless subhuman, a living, breathing disgrace.”

He lamented feeling isolated and abandoned by friends, stating, “All my real-life friends outgrew me, acted like they didn’t f**ing know me. Becoming me was so humiliating. That’s why I spend all day dissociating.”

Much of the alleged manifesto touches on Henderson’s struggles with race and identity. In several passages, he expressed feelings of shame about his racial background and used inflammatory language targeting different ethnic and religious groups.

Henderson also mused over society’s perceptions of criminals, writing, “The difference between good and bad criminals depends on how well they were dressed. It depends on what weapon they used, their posture, their plan of attack… Even the very worst of criminal acts are forgiven by simply looking good.”

He also listed goals to improve his physical appearance in preparation for the attack. In a Q&A section of the manifesto, Henderson denied being a victim of bullying in the conventional sense but claimed he was “bullied in the cultural sense,” which he argued was a result of societal pressures and expectations.

His criticisms of Antioch High School were harsh, calling it “a daycare” and claiming that students were incapable of independent thought. “In school, we’re taught to wake up early, shut up, sit for long periods of hours, do tasks you hate, then repeat.”

Investigators believe Henderson meticulously planned the attack, including links in the document to other manifestos, mass shooting guides, and images of the handgun, lockpicking tools, and ammunition he intended to use.

On the morning of the shooting, Henderson arrived at the school via bus and proceeded to a restroom, where police believe he retrieved the firearm. Surveillance footage captured him wearing a hoodie as he entered the cafeteria just after 11:00 a.m., where he confronted 16-year-old Josselin Corea Escalante and opened fire.

Escalante was fatally shot, and another female student sustained a graze wound to her arm. Henderson then turned the weapon on himself, sustaining a fatal gunshot wound to the head. A third student, a male, was injured during the commotion, suffering a facial injury unrelated to gunfire.

Henderson reportedly live-streamed the attack, and posts on his social media accounts revealed he had considered purchasing a GoPro camera to document the event but refrained due to concerns over explaining the purchase to his parents.

The Metro Nashville Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including Henderson’s motives and any potential warning signs that may have been missed.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event, officials are urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation.

The Antioch High School shooting is a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence and the need for collective action to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.