MEAWW.COM / NEWS / CRIME & JUSTICE

Manifesto and map found in home of Nashville school shooter Audrey Hale who was 'prepared to do more harm'

The officials are looking into whether Audrey Hale’s identity as a trans person played a role in the deadly shooting

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Police have found a detailed manifesto and a map from the house of mass shooter Audrey Hale, 28, a former transgender student who gunned down three children and three staff members at The Covenant School on Monday, March 27, 2023. Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said, “We have a manifesto, we have some writings we’re going over that pertain to this day, the actual incident. We have a map drawn out of how this was all going to take place.”

Officials said that Hale entered the school by shooting through a door on the side of the building. Talking about a motive behind the school shooting, Drake said, "There’s right now a theory that we may be able to talk about later but it’s not confirmed, and so we’ll put that out as soon as we can. There is some theory to that. We’re investigating all the leads and once we know exactly, we will let you know." He further added, "Right now we believe it was a lone assailant, and we don’t anticipate any further damage at this time," reports Independent. The officials are also looking into whether Hale’s identity as a trans person, who was born as a female and used he/him as pronouns, played a role in the deadly shooting.

READ MORE

'Last chance to run': Mass-shooter who airdropped warning at NYC school threatened to kill himself

AMERICA'S FATAL NUMBERS: Highland Park massacre marks 309th mass shooting in 2022, with 11 attacks per WEEK

Who were the victims?

Hale was shot dead by cops just 14 minutes after The Covenant School first called police to report an active shooter. However, the former student fatally shot three 9-year-olds -- Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney -- and three school staffers -- Katherine Koonce, 60, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and school custodian Mike Hill, 61.

Audrey Hale was 'prepared to do more harm'

As stated by New York Post, the chief further said that Hale, who was an illustrator and graphic designer, was “prepared to do more harm than was actually done." He said, as per DailyMail, "There was another location that was mentioned but because of a threat assessment by the suspect, too much security, he decided not to."

Hale's neighbor Sandy Durham told Daily Beast, “I do know Audrey, I’ve known [him] since [he] was a baby. I had just gotten out of the shower when all of this started happening. I didn’t really know anything more than that. Something was going on next door. It’s just tragic for everybody. The sweet children that were hurt, killed, the adults. All of it.” When asked if there were any warning signs, the neighbor described, “Never. [He] was very sweet. I don’t know what happened. It’s very scary.”

An individual, who saw parents rushing to the scene, said, "Everyone as a parent are terrified. You don't send your kid to school thinking there would be an active shooting, especially in this area. Just hearing as a parent myself it's truly overwhelming. Seeing all the parents run up the hill to see if their children are okay," states DailyMail.

Susan Perkins, whose daughter, a communications director and step-grandson, a sixth-grade student, were in the school at the time of the attack, said, "I talked to my daughter and she was so busy she just couldn't talk, just enough to say she was okay. I'm just shaking with fear and so sorry that this happened. I just can't hardly believe that three children got killed. I did not think it would ever happen to my school and I would like to see the guns off the street."

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee tweeted, "I am closely monitoring the tragic situation at Covenant, & the @TNDeptofSafety & @TNHighwayPatrol are assisting local law enforcement & first responders at the scene. As we continue to respond, please join us in praying for the school, congregation & Nashville community."

However, many were quick to bash the governor and said, "Sir, children are dead. It’s past the time for thoughts and prayers. You need to do more." Another said, "No. Do an actual thing so this stops happening."

While a Twitter user wrote, "No! I'm not going to take time to pray. I don't want to hear about you praying, either. You weren't hired by #Tennessee voters to pray. If all you can do is pray then quit & go be a Minister. We want action today to stop this senseless killing of children. Get on the phone & call a mtg tonight w/Judges, police, teachers, Mayors & come up w/tangible actions & new laws that will be pushed through tomorrow morning. Be a hero or quit."

While one of many stressed, "No more prayers. Gun laws. Now."

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.