'Worst nightmare': School board member responds to fatal shooting after Riverdale High graduation at MTSU

• Board member Claire Maxwell is a Riverdale graduate and former special education educational assistant at the school
• Rutherford County Schools canceled classes Thursday at Riverdale High
• Three candidates for the top job at the school district are interviewing today
• Approximately 450 students graduated Wednesday night at the Riverdale High ceremony; hundreds of supporters were in attendance

The Rutherford County Board of Education meeting began Thursday morning with a moment of silence for the families affected by a fatal shooting after the Riverdale High  graduation on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University.

School board members are tasked with interviewing three candidates for director of Rutherford County Schools, during a special-called meeting Thursday, lasting half a day.

On Wednesday, one person was killed and another critically injured after a shooting occurred before 9 p.m., following the high school graduation ceremony outside the Murphy Center near the university tennis courts.

Board member Claire Maxwell, a Riverdale graduate and former special education assistant, said her heart is breaking over the incident, as she read a full statement in response to the tragedy.

She represents Zone 5, which includes the Riverdale community. 

"What should've been the greatest night of their young lives, instead turned into everyone's worst nightmare," Maxwell said. "My thoughts and prayers go out to the young life lost and his family, and my prayers are also extended to the other young man critically injured."

A "person of interest" had been identified by Thursday mid-morning, according to the Murfreesboro Police Department, though no arrests had been made. 

Sheriff's office:1 dead, 1 hurt in shooting after Riverdale High graduation on MTSU campus, police say

"It's terrible and tragic, and my thoughts and prayers are with the Riverdale High School families," school board chairwoman Tiffany Johnson told Daily News Journal during a quick break at the meeting.

Rutherford County Schools spokesman James Evans said Riverdale High is closed Thursday as a precaution. He said around 450 students were set to graduate at the Wednesday night ceremony, and "several hundred" family members were in attendance.

Maxwell also vowed to extend support to the Riverdale High community. 

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"The Riverdale community is hurting today, and we, this board, promise to do all we can to help in any way," she said.

Rutherford County Schools shared a message on social media with parents, students and community members Thursday morning.

"We greatly appreciate the outpouring of support for Riverdale concerning the shooting that occurred after graduation last night," the tweet said. "We are working closely (with) law enforcement agencies which will release updates as the investigation continues."

A decision will be made on Thursday about Friday classes at Riverdale High, Evans said. Counselors will be available to students when classes return.

Murfreesboro Police Department Criminal Investigation Division homicide detectives are working closely with MTSU Police, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Highway Patrol.

All agencies are continuing their search for a suspect.  

Rachel Wegner and Scott Broden contributed to this story.