She encouraged people to seek help or support if they need it, and to extend it to others. Investigators with the police department and the FBI's Behavioral. Destanee Thomas, a former middle school classmate told ABC News Hale would vent on social media. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images While MNPD believes the shooter acted alone, we do not know for sure, wrote Lt. Brent Gibson, overseeing MNPDs investigation of the Covenant School shooting, in a May 17 court filing. Evil people do evil things. Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. Cops swarm a school after six people, including three children, were gunned down in a mass shooting in Nashville on Monday Credit: AP. Hale graduated from Nashville's Nossi College of Art & Design in 2022, school president and CEO Cyrus Vatandoost confirmed to ABC News. Police quickly worked through the first floor clearing classrooms and encouraging each other to move faster. The shooting occurred at the Covenant School, a private elementary school on the grounds of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood. The suspect -- identified as Audrey Hale, 28, of Nashville -- had legally purchased seven guns from five different local gun stores, the Nashville police chief said. HOW TO HELP: How to help those affected by the Covenant School shooting in Nashville. Officer Collazo fires four, according to the Nashville Tennessean. Hale was fatally shot by a five-member police team around 10:27 a.m. in a second floor lobby. [67][68] Jones and Pearson were expelled from the House on April 6, with the vote to expel Johnson failing by a single vote. Police identified 28-year-old Audrey Hale as the suspect in the shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., Mar. Police gave an update on the existence and status of some of those records in a May 17 court filing. Hardcastle struggled to reconcile the kind teenager she knew a decade ago as the same person who fatally shot three 9-year-olds, a school administrator, a custodian and a substitute teacher Monday. Six people, including three children, are dead following a mass shooting at an elementary school in Nashville,. This protest delayed a hearing on a bill which would expand gun access. A police spokesperson told ABC News that Hale was assigned female at birth and pointed to a social media account linked to Hale that included use of the pronouns he/him. The shooter, Audrey Hale, 28, of Nashville, may have planned to attack multiple locations, Police Chief John Drake told Lester Holt in an interview. Obtained by ABC News Hale graduated from Nashville's Nossi College of Art & Design in 2022, school president and CEO Cyrus Vatandoost confirmed to ABC News. [29][c] The staff who died were substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61; custodian Mike Hill, 61; and head of school Katherine Koonce, 60. [42] Evidence included a detailed map of the school with potential entry points and a manifesto. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 130 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year. Engelbert and at least two other officers begin searching the school's first floor as an alarm blares. Investigators must still work to gather and analyze evidence in the case and to determine if related crimes were committed, are being planned, or whether other people were involved, Gibson wrote. ", Shooting renews gun control push:'How many more classrooms must become crime scenes?'. Nothing in the brief encounter at Patton's show gave Hardcastle any belief something was going to go horrifically wrong. Metro Nashville Police Department, Nashville Tennessean, Video shows Covenant School shooter arriving, entering school. Nashville Mayor John Cooper, MNPD chief John Drake, Metro Council member Russ Pulley and State Rep. Rev. hide caption. Three of those weapons were used in Monday's attack. It's ripping our communities apart, ripping the soul of this nation, ripping at the very soul of the nation we have to do more to protect our schools, so they aren't turned into prisons. Police declined to give an update on other requested records because they are part of the criminal investigation. [71][72], The state legislature passed bills designed to improve safety measures at schools. [85][86] A judge granted the requests to intervene by the school and the parents.[87]. . The Zion community, mirroring the Covenant community, also houses a school, Zion Christian Academy, serving over 520 students in grades Pre-K-12. 'Our heart is broken,' Nashville mayor says as city comes together to grieve 6 killed in school shooting By Eric Levenson, Jeff Winter and Nouran Salahieh, CNN Updated 11:37 PM EDT, Wed March. 8. Drake said that had it been reported to police that Hale was suicidal, MNPD would have intervened. Even though the assailant died at the school, the criminal investigative file does not automatically, instantly close. MNPD said in an April 24 denial letter to Sen. Todd Gardenhire that it is unable to release the records because doing so during an open criminal investigation would violate Rule 16 of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure. Founded in 2001, the Covenant School is a private Presbyterian school in Nashville with some 200 students in pre-K through sixth grade, according to the school's website. "In this moment, we remember that we are one Nashville, regardless of our school affiliation.". Theres some belief that there was some resentment for having to go to that school, Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake told Lester Holt of NBC News. Hale was a former student at The Covenant School, according to police. [31] According to a former headmaster of the Covenant School, Hale attended the school when "around 10 years of age". Some doors are locked, and the rooms are dark. "The police department response was swift," Aaron said. For an hour, city leaders, including Mayor James Maness, Police Chief James Hambrick and several church pastors, prayed and offered their condolences to The Covenant School and the entire Nashville community. A car near the scene helped police determine who the shooter was, and investigators were combing through Hales home, he said. When they reach the shooter, Officer Engelbert fires at least three rounds. A mass shooting on Monday at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, left three children, three adults, and the killer dead.. [1], Police referred to the 28-year-old as a woman and used his birth name, Audrey Elizabeth Hale. Drake said the officers were trying to decompress the day after the shooting. Hale shot multiple rounds into glass doors to make entry into the school. Audrey Hale - a 28-year-old former student of the private Christian school . Hardcastle, a middle school art teacher, last ran into Hale a month ago in downtown Nashville at a show by their mutual friend and radio personality Averianna Patton. A few people trickled in to lay flowers against the stone wall where the memorial was set up. The high school version of Hale showed no signs of resentment of anyone, Hardcastle said. She recalled Hale as dressing in a "quirky, 90s style" and seeming "nice and quiet." Engelbert fires four times, and the shooter falls to the ground. Responding officers shot and killed the suspect -- identified as Audrey . So far this year, the nation has witnessed the . "I think I lost my daughter today," she said. Ms Patton tried to be supportive, according to screenshots of the social media conversation. Her former administration said the tweet did not reflect its values. The maps noted entrances to the school and the location of security cameras, police said. [66], After their actions during the March 30 protest, Johnson and Jones were stripped of their committee assignments and, alongside Pearson, were notified that they could be expelled from the House. [49] Actress Melissa Joan Hart, who was nearby when the shooting occurred and helped escort some of the fleeing children to safety,[50] recounted the experience on Instagram a day later. "We think (Monday's shooting) was targeted and planned," Drake said. Nashville police release Covenant School shooting body camera video. President Joe Biden was briefed on the shooting Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Vanderbilt baseball is donating ticket proceeds from Tuesday's game against Lipscomb to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee benefitting The Covenant School and supporting those affected by Monday's shooting. "Together, we trust in the power of Christ to draw near and give us the comfort and hope we desperately need.. "She was loved and appreciated like all of our students.. Evelyn. The 28-year-old, who attacked The Covenant School on Monday,was devastated by the death in August of Sydney Shere Sims in a traffic accident, former classmate Samira Hardcastle said. After shooting and killing the attacker, officers from the Metro Nashville Police Department found writings in the shooters car in the Covenant School parking lot. Picture: Metro Nashville Police Department. One of Tennessee's top law enforcement officials said in a recent meeting that the writings of the 28-year-old shooter, Audrey Hale, appear to be ramblings and indicative of a mental health. [21][58] Nashville Mayor John Cooper called for the state to enact risk-protection laws and take action on gun safety. Officers also found a sawed-off shotgun and a second shotgun at the home. On Monday night, Tennessee's first lady Maria Lee was set to have dinner with one of her best friends, Cindy Peak, an old colleague from her teacher days who planned to spend the day as a substitute teacher at The Covenant School. Police said Hale was armed with "significant ammunition.". [12] A neighbor said Hale lived with his parents. Todd McGhee, a 24-year veteran with the Massachusetts State Police, said MNPD's response is a prime example of how a swift response can save lives. First pitch is at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Hawkins Field, and tickets are $5. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. According to Drake, Hale's parents thought their child shouldn't own any weapons and believed Hale had sold the only gun that Hale owned. They said Hale's parents believed the suspect only had one gun and sold it. The shooter was identified by police as Audrey Hale, a 28-year . FILE - A child weeps while on the bus leaving The Covenant School following a mass shooting at the school in Nashville, Tenn., March 27, 2023. Station 20 is the closest fire station to the school. We love the Scruggs family and mourn with them over their precious daughter Hallie," Mark Davis, senior pastor at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, said in a statement. Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/AP CNN A judge soon could decide if the writings of a shooter who killed three 9-year-olds and three adults in March at a Christian school in Nashville become. David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. Has been identified by law enforcement and the press by his. Communications between MNPD and the Office of the Mayor regarding the shooters writings: Nine emails. Follow the latest updates on the Covenant School shooting as they happen in our live blog here. [60], Protestors called for increased gun control in reaction to the shootings. Police reports or received complaints about the shooter from Jan. 1, 2020, until the shooting: None. The Nossi College of Art & Design has said the shooter was a 2022 graduate of the school, which is based in Nashville. Most sources say that all three were 9. ATF shootout in Nashville: Breaking down the surveillance video. "What detectives have said so far is there is possibly some resentment for having to go to that school. "I saw the [police] body camera videos, and the way she was dressed on Monday is exactly what she looked like in high school," Hardcastle said. Officials said that Hale was being treated for an unspecified emotional disorder. He praised the quickness of the police response. The scene was muted Tuesday morning, especially compared to the swarm of emergency vehicles and helicopters that descended upon the school just after 10 a.m. the day before. "I would say that under extreme circumstances, they went above and beyond," said McGhee, who trains defense tactics and gun safety. Neither of the two officers who fired on the shooter, Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo, had been in a similar situation, MNPD chief John Drake said Tuesday. 'Above and beyond':Nashville police moved fast, saved lives in Covenant shooting, experts say. As a father of three, I am utterly heartbroken by this senseless act of violence." Around 9 a.m. Tuesday, a makeshift memorial was set up at the main drive that leads to Covenant School, which was otherwise blocked off by police. A day after the shooting at the Covenant School, Robin Wolfenden prays at a makeshift memorial for the victims outside the school building. Officers prevented more deaths thanks to their fast work, Nashville Mayor John Cooper said. She targeted random students in the school whoever she came in contact with, she fired rounds, Drake said, referring to the shooter. Moments before Audrey Hale entered the Covenant School in Nashville and killed six people, including three children, the former Covenant student sent Instagram messages to a former middle. 3 children and 3 adults are dead in a shooting at a Christian school in Nashville. [36][37], Hale was an illustrator and graphic designer who graduated from the Nossi College of Art & Design in 2022. She'd wear a ball cap sometimes," Hardcastle said. "I doubt that there's anyone you can talk to who would even be able to answer why. During a search of the shooters residence later that day, police located some writings and a map of the attack and possible other targets, police said. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [41] Two shotguns, one of which was sawed-off, and other evidence were found in a search of the Hales' house. "Our entire city stands with you. Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality. "It's heartbreaking, a family's worst nightmare," Biden said Monday afternoon. The Covenant School is a private Christian school in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville. Attorneys for the parents wrote they were worried that releasing the shooter's writings would cause further trauma for their children. Three children and three adult staff members were slain at a Nashville school Monday in one of Tennessee's deadliest school shootings. "Audrey definitely admired Sydney," Hardcastle said. Audrey Hale "was a talented artist and a good student" while at the college . [46] The city of Nashville set up a fund to support those who were affected. [7], Hale drove to the school, arriving at 9:54a.m. She and her husband Micah Wilfong were speaking to students Monday morning about their mission trip to Kenya. While the shooter might have targeted The Covenant School, Drake stopped short of saying Hale was going after any specific people. "Our community is heartbroken," the school said in a statement on Monday. It educates students from pre-kindergarten to the sixth grade. Nashville school shooting: Audrey Hale and the making of a school shooter. We will do our best to be mindful and respectful of the more important things in society today, continuing to pray for the shooting victims, their families and the entire Covenant School family, our hearts filled with love and hope for everyone affected.". Six people including three children were killed in the shooting, and the suspected attacker was killed by police within minutes of the first call of an active shooter. The Covenant School was founded in 2001 as a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church and has students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The video begins when Englebert arrived on scene where a staff member outside the school directed officers to the second floor of the school. Police said Hale drove to the campus, parked and entered after shooting out the glass in a set of double doors. There were also indications that Hale had planned to target other locations, Drake told NBC News. In middle school, Hale played basketball on a school basketball team, and one of her former teammates, Paige Patton, told ABC News that Hale was at first "a little timid" on the court, but "she grew" and became "a little feisty out there.". Having responded to mass shooting at Virginia Tech, Orlandos Pulse Night Club and the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Jeff Gorter, vice president of clinical crisis response with R3 Continuum, said finding a return to routine is a great coping mechanism strategy for adults. In an interview with CBS Mornings on Tuesday, Metro Nashville police chief John Drake said there were other targets, including a mall, outlined in materials obtained at Hale's residence following Monday's shooting. Reuters, March 29, Fact Check-Photo of room with transgender, pride and NATO flags falsely linked to Nashville shooter. [45] Several vigils were held for the casualties. Its hard, because if I had been there, maybe I could have been shot.. In the chaotic hours after the shooting, scores of parents gathered at Woodmont Baptist Church to reunite with their children. Tonight, the Preds and Bruins will wear these helmet decals to show their support for The Covenant School. 8. ", "My heart goes out to the families of the victims," Cooper said. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. A candlelight vigil will be held Wednesday night at Public Square Park to honor the victims of Monday's shooting. Mass shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, US. Two of those three weapons were legally obtained in the Nashville area, he added. President Joe Biden spoke with reporters Tuesday and again pleaded for Congress to act on gun reform, one day after three children and three adults were killed in a school shooting in Nashville. [78] When the National Police Association[79] and the Tennessee Firearms Association,[80] separately, filed suit to obtain the writings, the MNPD announced that, in the face of "pending litigation", it would delay the release on the advice of counsel. [53][54], As a part of a long running Internet meme, posts misidentifying the shooter using an altered photo of comedian Sam Hyde circulated on social media. They check several rooms, including what appear to be classrooms. Families leave a reunification center in Nashville on Monday after three children and three adults were killed in a shooting at the Covenant School. Hale and Sims attended Isaiah T. Creswell Middle School of the Arts and the Nashville School of the Arts. There's a connection with that family.". "I'll never understand, it because it's not a logical thing to do. [26] Metro Nashville Council Member Courtney Johnston said that the FBI had told her that the documents would not be released because they detailed a "blueprint of total destruction" and could inspire other shooters. As a public service, The Tennessean has made this content free. The school employs about 33 faculty members. Besides law enforcement, the only person known to have viewed some of the writings is Davidson County Chancery Court Judge IAshea Myles. "There is a child-like part about me that loves to go run to the playground. "Mike was the beloved father of eight children. Armed to the hilt with weapons and ammo, Hale had just fatally shot three students and three adults. Senators, Mayor John Cooper, and MNPD chief John Drake. Adrienne Battle, the director of Metro Nashville Public Schools, opened a Tuesday night school board meeting by sharing a few thoughts about the shooting. A verified GoFundMe fundraiser to support the family of Mike Hill, The Covenant School custodian who was killed in Monday's shooting, has surpassed $150,000 in money raised, according to the website as of 6 p.m. Tuesday. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? "I think about this student and our relationship at the time she was there, there was nothing extraordinary and unusual," the former school administrator said. Accordig to police, Hale's alleged victims appeared to be randomly selected and the school and church building itself were the targets. "My heart aches," she said. As a pediatric surgeon, my first thought was, if I had still been there, could I have rendered immediate aid to these victims, Grayson said. At one point, teachers were asked to raise their hands, and others placed their hands on them and prayed over them. A majority of Republican House lawmakers signed onto a letter to Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake requesting the records ahead of a special legislative session on gun reform scheduled to begin Aug. 21. "But I dont know if I could go off that two-minute interactionand say how she was feeling.. Three other verified funds are also available for support relief on GoFundMe's website. Therefore, the MNPD does not object to the release of the redacted [writings], if after having heard from all interested parties and the Covenant parents, if this Court should so direct, Hagar wrote. [73] In April, the legislature passed a bill allocating $230 million towards school safety, including to place school-resource officers in every school; the bill was signed into law in May. According to Drake, Hale appeared to have some training to shoot from a higher level, and knew to stand away from the glass so (he) wouldnt be an easy target., 'A WAKE UP CALL': Channel 4 reporter 'immediately was taken back' to school shooting she witnessed in 2010. A neighbor of the family told ABC News that Audrey Hale lived at the family's home with Hale's parents, who the neighbor described as "very nice" and "very religious.". Collazo follows closely behind Englebert, then moves to the right of him firing four shots at Hale. [27], Six peoplethree students and three staffwere killed at random. ", As officers approached, Hale fired upon them from a second story window, MNPD said. Clergy members embrace during a community vigil at Belmont United Methodist Church in the aftermath of the school shooting in Nashville on Monday. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.