The authorities revealed in the last hours new details of the attack that occurred this Monday at the Covenant school in Nashville, Tennessee, in which three 9-year-old students and three adults died.
The suspect in the attack was identified as Audrey Hale, 28 years oldwho died in a confrontation with the police officers who came to the scene of the shooting.
There has been some confusion about Hale’s gender identity: At first the police described her as a woman, although it was later clarified that she was transgender, since on social networks she identified herself as a man and “used masculine pronouns”.
During the shooting that took place on Monday, the shooter was wearing what appeared to be a protective vest and an assault rifle in one hand, with a second, similar weapon hanging from his left hip. In total he carried three weapons, according to police.
According to the authorities, Hale had no criminal record. However, she was being treated by “emotional disorder”.
She had been a student at the school, although it is unknown which pudo have been a reason of the attack. The attacker left a manifesto that could clarify this last point.
A former high school basketball teammate of Hale’s told local news outlet NewsChannel5 that she had received an Instagram message from her minutes before the attack.
Hale told him that he no longer wanted to live and that he needed to die.
“I have left behind more than enough evidence. But something bad is about to happen“, the message said.
More weapons were recovered in Hale’s home search. Authorities said he had legally purchased a total of 7 guns and sold one of them.
Nashville Police Chief John Drake said authorities believe the shooter had “training”based on their behavior during the attack.
Hale’s mother, Norma, told ABC News: “It is very, very difficult right now”before asking for privacy.
What is known about the victims?
Katherine Konce
Katherine Koonce, 60, was the principal of the Nashville Covenant School, a position she had held since July 2016.
She had over 23 years of experience as an educator. She had a master’s degree and a doctorate in her area.
In messages of condolences, her relatives describe her as a committed educator, a fervent believer in the word of God and a persistent woman.
“He always made his students feel that they were loved by a God who cared about them personally and that it was our job to show that love to one another as fellow human beings,” said Robert Gay, who studied at the institution from 2000 to 2006.
Cynthia Peak
Cynthia Peak, 61, worked as a substitute teacher at school.
According to local media, he was a native of Leesville (Louisiana) and spent most of his youth in Vernon Parish.
She lived in Alabama with her husband and three children until they moved to Tennessee.
Mike Hill
Mike Hill, 61, had worked as a janitor at the school for more than a decade.
Local media describe him as a caring man who loved his job and considered his colleagues like family.
Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney
The three students shot to death at the elementary school were all 9 years old and were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney.
So far, only information is known about Hallie Scruggs, who was the daughter of Chad Scruggs, senior pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, which shares premises with the Covenant school.
Chad Scruggs described his daughter as “a gift”. “We are heartbroken,” she told ABC News in a statement. “Through tears we trust that she is in the arms of Jesus, who will raise her again.”
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