"Audrey Hale was the 28-year-old former art student accused of fatally shooting three students and three adult staff members at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 27, 2023, according to Nashville police," notes a report by Heavy.com.
"At 9:57 a.m., just minutes before the shootings, Hale’s former middle school basketball teammate received a message from Hale that read, 'so basically that post I made on here about you, that was basically a suicide note. I’m planning to die today. THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!! You’ll probably hear about me on the news after I die,'" Heavy.com noted further, citing News Channel 5.
“This is my last goodbye. I love you. See you again in another life,” Hale, who used the name Aiden, added. The friend responded, “Audrey! You have so much more life to live. I pray God keeps and covers you.” Hale responded, according to the local station, “I know but I don’t want to live. I’m so sorry. I’m not trying to upset you or get attention. I just need to die. I wanted to tell you first because you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen and known all my life.”
The outlet noted further that Hale wrote: “My family doesn’t know what I’m about to do. One day this will make more sense. I’ve left more than enough evidence behind. But something bad is about to happen.”
According to police, Audrey Elizabeth Hale, a Nashville resident who was a former student of the private Christian school, is dead. Of the six victims, five were taken to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead, while the sixth was declared dead at the scene. Officer Rex Engelbert, who has served in the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department for four years, and Officer Michael Collazo, who has served for nine years, were the two officers who shot and killed Hale, according to a police news release.
Video of the takedown of Hale was released by the department and made its way to social media.
WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC
WOW - Here’s the moment the breeze Nashville police took out the deranged liberal mass shooter.
Who else thinks the Nashville PD are heroes? pic.twitter.com/MjvGBGQv1N
— The Trump Train ??? (@The_Trump_Train) March 28, 2023
The Nashville police have also made public the footage captured inside the Covenant School during the shooting incident. The video shows a person, who police identify as Hale, shooting through the glass doors of the school and then walking around the building, opening doors, while dressed in camouflage pants, a red baseball cap, and a vest, and holding weapons.
Active shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale drove to Covenant Church/School in her Honda Fit this morning, parked, and shot her way into the building. She was armed with 2 assault-type guns and a 9 millimeter pistol. pic.twitter.com/mIk2pDmCwQ
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 28, 2023
Police have identified the victims as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9, along with 61-year-old Cynthia Peak, 60-year-old Katherine Koonce and 61-year-old Mike Hill. Koonce was the head of school, Hill was a custodian, and Peak was a substitute teacher.
"While police called the suspect a female and a woman and used she/her pronouns during their first press conferences, on LinkedIn, Hale indicated the use of he/him pronouns. Nashville Police Chief John Drake said in a later press conference that Hale did identify as transgender," Heavy.com reported.
Subsequent reporting claimed that Hale was under treatment for a mental disorder.
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