Audrey Elisabeth Hale, the perpetrator of the shooting at the Covenant School of Nashvillein Tennessee, where six people died, sent several private messages on Instagram to a friend just a few minutes before he carried out the massacre.
“This post I made to you is basically a suicide note. I plan to die today. You’ll probably hear about me on the news after I die.says part of the message Hale sent to her friend Averianna Patton at 9:57 a.m. Monday.
Hale then threw his final farewell: “This is my last goodbye. I love you. I will see you in the afterlife. Audrey (Aiden)”.
Averianna tried to talk her friend out of doing something crazy. “Audrey! You have a lot of life to live. I pray to God to keep you and protect you, ”she told him.
I know, but I don’t want to live. Very sorry. I’m not trying to annoy you or get your attention. I just need to die. I wanted to tell you first because you are the most beautiful person I have ever seen and met in my life,” Hale replied.
Patton, what immediately called the police she looked totally surprised.
Finally, Hale said: “My family doesn’t know what I’m going to do. One day everything will make sense. I’ve left enough evidence behind. But something bad is going to happen“.
The 28-year-old suspect had a detailed map of the Covenant School and shot through a locked door to enter the building, before fatally shooting three students and three staff members.
“We have not yet been able to determine a motive. The investigation is still ongoing,” Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said today.
The murdered children were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all 9 years old. The adults were 61-year-old substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61-year-old custodian Mike Hill and 60-year-old school principal Katherine Koonce, according to police.
The author of the shots was a former student of the institution and was killed by the police during the attack.
Authorities reported that Hale identified as transgender, and was apparently under medical treatment for an “emotional disorder.”
Hale had in his possession seven firearms that were purchased legally at five different local gun stores, three of which were used in yesterday’s shooting, and were hidden in his home, the police chief said.
Keep reading:
• Nashville shooting: Highland Park survivor reacts to reporters
• Shooting in Nashville: Who is Audrey Hale, alleged perpetrator of the attack at The Covenant School?
• Nashville police reveal video of how they subdued a school shooter where 3 children and 3 adults died