On Monday, four people, including three children, three adults, and the shooter, lost their lives at Nashville’s Covenant School.
The gunman, identified by the police as a male called Audrey Hale, was 28 years old and believed he was a woman. Hale grew up in the Nashville area and attended the local school.
“When we send our kids to school, we want them to live, learn, have fun, and return home with something from that day,” said John Drake, chief of police in Nashville. Something like this is not in our plans.
Three young children, 9 years old each, have been identified as victims: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney. The injured adults are identified as 61-year-olds Cynthia Peak, 60-year-old Katherine Koonce, and 61-year-old Mike Hill. Koonce is the dean of Covenant School and has been working in the Nashville area since July of 2016. According to NBC News, Hill worked as a cleaner, and Peak filled in as a teacher.
According to Drake, law enforcement was present at Hale’s residence. Drake also mentioned that a written plan for the day’s shooting was discovered alongside blueprints of the school with entrance locations. Hale considered shooting at another school in the Nashville area, but ultimately decided against it due to security concerns.
Drake stated that the shooter was a transgender woman and that the attack was targeted.
Police spokesman Don Aaron stated that Hale entered the building with two assault-style rifles and a handgun through an unlocked side door.
Drake said that a bullet had been fired through a door.
A team of five police officers came, and two of them immediately opened fire on the gunman, who had already fired six shots. The murder of Hale occurred at 10:27 a.m.
The FBI and a SWAT team were sent to a home in Nashville after neighbors reported hearing the sound of explosions coming from within. NBC News correspondents on the scene said that police had used explosives to break down the door of the house.
Drake also stated that the police have a theory as to what took place, but that they are unable to reveal this theory at this time. The police plan to disclose CCTV footage of the event within two days.
Drake stated that detectives are interested in hearing more from Hale’s father, who lived at the residence, and that police had already spoken with him. No one was home when police officers arrived at Hale’s house.
The Covenant School is a Christian-based private institution that serves children in grades pre-K through 6. According to NewsChannel5, the school staged a “live-fire” drill once before.
In past years, enrollment at the private school ranged from 195 to 210 students. According to the institution’s official website, the Covenant Presbyterian Church founded the school in 2001.