She had drawn a map of the school's entry points and conducted surveillance beforehand. Within minutes of opening fire, six people were dead.
The Shooting
On Monday, a 28-year-old former student opened fire at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school in Nashville serving roughly 200 children from preschool through sixth grade. The shooter, identified by police as Audrey Hale, entered through a side entrance carrying two rifles and a handgun, having reportedly drawn a map of the school's layout and conducted surveillance beforehand. Nashville Police Chief John Drake said investigators recovered a manifesto and detailed written plans connected to the attack, though a specific motive had not been determined; police said Hale appeared to have targeted the school itself, which she had previously attended, rather than specific individuals within it.
The Victims
Three children were killed: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all around 8 or 9 years old. Three staff members also died: headmaster Katherine Koonce, 60; substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61; and custodian Mike Hill, 61.
The Police Response
Officers arrived and were briefed by a staff member on the building layout and the location of two unaccounted-for children. A team led by Officer Rex Engelbert searched the building and moved toward the sound of gunfire on the second floor, where they confronted and fatally shot Hale. One officer was injured by broken glass during the response. Students not directly involved in the confrontation were evacuated to a nearby church, where they were reunited with parents.
Reporting on the Shooter's Identity
Police said they believed Hale identified as transgender. This detail became a significant point of public and media debate in the aftermath of the shooting, including disagreement over its relevance to the attack. Investigators have not identified being transgender as a motive or contributing factor in the shooting; the manifesto and planning materials recovered were the primary basis for investigators' understanding of Hale's intent.
FAQ
How many people died in the shooting?
Six: three children and three staff members, in addition to the shooter, who was killed by police.
Was a motive ever determined?
Police recovered a manifesto and planning materials but had not publicly confirmed a specific motive as of the available information.
How did the shooting end?
Police officers located and fatally shot the shooter on the school's second floor within minutes of arriving.