A Look At The Background Of 28-Year-Old Audrey Hale  Who Opened Fire At School

On Monday morning, a shooting occurred at The Covenant School in Nashville, resulting in the tragic deaths of three children and three adults. The perpetrator has been identified by the Nashville police as 28-year-old Audrey Hale, who is a former student of the private Presbyterian school and a transgender individual.

Although Hale's LinkedIn profile listed "He/Him" pronouns, Nashville police chief John Drake identified Hale as a transgender woman during a press conference on Monday afternoon.

The victims of the shooting have been identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all nine years old, as well as Cynthia Peak, Katherine Koonce, and Mike Hill, who were all adults between the ages of 60 and 61.

At around 10:13 a.m., Audrey Hale allegedly used two assault-style rifles and a handgun to shoot through a locked door in order to gain entry to The Covenant School in Nashville. Hale then proceeded to climb the stairs to the second floor, where she opened fire and tragically killed three children and three adults.

In response to the sounds of gunfire, two Nashville police officers entered the school and engaged with the shooter. According to police reports, Hale was fatally shot by the officers at approximately 10:27 a.m.

During the investigation, police were able to obtain clues about the shooter's identity from a nearby vehicle. Nashville Police Chief John Drake provided this information to the public during a press conference.

Public records indicate that Audrey Hale resided approximately three miles away from The Covenant School. On Monday afternoon, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and local police cordoned off Hale's home with crime scene tape as part of their investigation.

During the search of the residence, investigators discovered a "manifesto" and other written materials that they are currently examining in their efforts to determine a motive for the shooting.

Investigators searching Audrey Hale's residence found hand-drawn maps of The Covenant School that included detailed entry points.

In addition, a LinkedIn profile and personal website apparently associated with Hale describe her as a graphic designer who specializes in creating logos for businesses. According to her LinkedIn profile, she obtained a degree in illustration and graphic design from Nossi College of Art the previous year.

The Covenant School is a school in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood that was founded in 2001. It teaches students from pre-school to 6th grade. It's not known which years Audrey Hale attended the school.
It's the latest tragedy perpetrated at an elementary school in the U.S. by a former student.