On Monday, the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) provided an update on its ongoing investigation into the mass shooting at a Christian elementary school last week, revealing that the shooter, Audrey Hale, planned the massacre months in advance.
Last monday, a 28-year-old woman, who identified as a transgender man, attacked Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. She killed six people, including three children, before being shot and killed by police.
Police have said that the tragedy was a “targeted attack” and that the shooter was a former student of the private Christian school. Notably, the attack also took place just days before a planned “Day of Vengeance” by transgender activists in Washington, D.C., for March 31-April 2 which had been raising money for firearm training for individuals who identify as trans.
According to the MNPD’s update, the “ongoing investigation into the March 27 murders of six persons inside The Covenant School continues to show, from all information currently available, that killer Audrey Hale acted totally alone. In the collective writings by Hale found in her vehicle in the school parking lot, and others later found in the bedroom of her home, she documented, in journals, her planning over a period of months to commit mass murder at The Covenant School. The writings remain under careful review by the MNPD and the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The motive for Hale’s actions has not been established and remains under investigation by the Homicide Unit in consultation with the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. It is known that Hale considered the actions of other mass murderers.”
“The investigation shows that Hale fired a total of 152 rounds (126 5.56 rifle rounds and 26 nine millimeter rounds) from the time she shot her way into the school until she was killed by police. Two officers fired on Hale. Officer Rex Engelbert discharged a total of four 5.56 rounds from his rifle; Officer Michael Collazo discharged a total of four rounds from his department-issued nine millimeter pistol,” the MNPD added.
