'Gives me chills': Internet horrified as DISTURBING video shows Nashville shooter Audrey Hale breaking into school
Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department released footage of Nashville school shooter Audrey Hale driving his car and breaking into the Covenant School, carrying his firearm. The 28-year-old White transgender woman was a former student at the school but it is unclear when or for how long. Hale murdered three students and three staffers before being shot dead by cops.
Hale was biologically female but preferred the pronouns 'he/him'. However, police have used female pronouns for the shooter. "The active shooting suspect 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," the police department captioned a video of the footage it shared on social media. The video, about two-minute long, shows Hale breaking a glass door by firing a few shots, and then entering the school. He is seen walking along the school corridors, armed with his gun, at times aiming it at potential subjects.
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What was Audrey Hale's motive?
Hale was an illustrator and graphic designer, according to his social media profile. His motive remains unclear, but he left behind a manifesto, according to the Daily Mail. He was wielding two assault-style rifles and a pistol at the scene of the crime, and was gunned down by responding officers who found him on the second floor of the Covenant School. He had no record of mental health problems, and did not have police records.
“There’s some belief that there was some resentment for having to go to that school,” Police Chief John Drake told NBC News. “Don’t have all the details to that just yet and that’s why this incident occurred.”
How did Audrey Hale carry out the shooting?
In a series of tweets, Metro Nashville PD described how the shooting was carried out. "Active shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale, 28, drove this Honda Fit to the Covenant Church/school campus this morning and parked. MNPD detectives searched it and found additional material written by Hale," it wrote, adding, "Hale entered the Covenant building after shooting out the glass of these doors."
"As officers responded to the Covenant campus, Hale fired on arriving police vehicles from a 2nd story window," the department tweeted, It added, "Hale fired a number of rounds inside the Covenant Church/School building. She was armed with these 3 guns and significant ammunition."
Active shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale, 28, drove this Honda Fit to the Covenant Church/school campus this morning and parked. MNPD detectives searched it and found additional material written by Hale. pic.twitter.com/ftGX74ecKr
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 28, 2023
The victims of the attack have been identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all aged 9, Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Mike Hill, 61.
'This video makes me feel sick'
Social media users reacted to the "terrifying" shooting, with one user saying, "This video makes me feel sick An armed officer could have taken her out before was able to get to anyone! No where is safe anymore." Another said, "This video is terrifying." "I'm glad they showed the video cause this will help other schools on what needs to be done to prevent another active shooting. Praying for Nashville," one user said. "All these cameras didn’t keep these babies save," said another.
"Difficult to watch and imagine the horror unfolding. Thank you for being so transparent," one user said, while another wrote, "Oh my gosh- gives me chills." "So sickening to watch. Breaks my heart that this is the world that we live in. Our kids/school staff deserve better. Why would anyone want to hurt a CHILD?!" one user asked, while another said, "3M film on the door would have slowed her down, School Resource Officer in the building would have ended it."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.