On Tuesday (Mar 28), police stated that the 28-year-old who shot dead six people at an elementary school in Nashville had bought and concealed multiple weapons in the family home, despite evidence of mental health issues. The Monday attack claimed the lives of two nine-year-old girls, a nine-year-old boy, two teachers, and a school custodian, instantly reviving the bitter public debate over gun rights in the United States.
According to Nashville police chief John Drake, the shooter, Audrey Hale, had been receiving treatment for an “emotional disorder,” and Hale’s parents believed their child – who lived at home with them – had bought and later resold a single gun.
However, Hale was heavily armed with two assault rifles and a handgun upon entering the Covenant School, a small Christian academy for about 200 students that the shooter attended as a pupil.
Drake also revealed that the shooter, who identified as female but used male pronouns on social media, had prepared detailed maps of the school and left a written manifesto that suggested planned attacks at other locations.
“Audrey bought seven firearms from five different local gun stores here legally,” Drake stated.
“She was under doctors’ care for an emotional disorder… Her parents felt that she should not own weapons.” As it turned out, she had been hiding several weapons within the house.
VIDEO OF POLICE RESPONSE
In chilling security camera video, Hale is seen shooting through glass doors to enter the school . That is before stalking the empty halls as emergency alarm lights flash. Hale, wearing a black military-style vest, camouflage pants and red baseball cap, moved through the building, opening fire on children and staff.
Officers were on the scene within about 15 minutes of the first emergency call.
Bodycam footage showed police making their way through classrooms filled with small desks and paper craftwork.
Officers closed in on a sun-filled atrium upstairs and heard multiple gunshots. They then shot and killed the assailant.
A former schoolmate, Averianna Patton, told CNN of a message that Hale sent on Instagram the morning of the shooting.
“One day this will make more sense,” Hale wrote. “I’ve left behind more than enough evidence behind. But something bad is about to happen.”
Patton said she called police to alert them at about the time the attack started.
In the search for a motive, Drake told reporters that “there’s some belief that there was some resentment for having to go to that school.”
One of the young children killed was Hallie Scruggs, the daughter of the church’s pastor, Chad Scruggs.
“We are heartbroken. She was such a gift,” Chad Scruggs said in a statement to local media.