Nashville shooter planned the school attack for months, say police

The shooter who killed three children and three adults at a Christian school in Nashville last week planned the attack “over a period of months” and studied other mass murders, the Nashville police said in a statement released on Monday. 

As part of the ongoing investigation into the shooting, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit is reviewing the writings left behind by the shooter, former student Audrey Hale. According to authorities, the writings found in Hale’s vehicle and bedroom contained evidence of Hale’s planning. 

“It is known that Hale considered the actions of other mass murderers,” the release said.

On March 27, Hale entered the Covenant School with three firearms by firing through the building’s locked glass doors. Police arrived at the scene within minutes to confront Hale, who was “firing through a window at arriving police cars.” 

Two police officers, Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo, opened fire at the suspect, killing Hale around 14 minutes after the attack began, according to Nashville police spokesperson Don Aaron. 

Hale killed three nine-year-old students, Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs, as well as school custodian Mike Hill, 61, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and the head of the school, Katherine Koonce, 60. 

A subsequent investigation found that Hale, 28, fired 152 rounds: 126 of which were 5.56 rifle rounds and 26 were 9 mm rounds, police said.  

Police are still working to determine the motive for the attack. However, they are certain that it was “calculated and planned” and believe Hale acted alone. Authorities believe that Hale purposefully targeted the school, but think that the victims were fired upon at random, according to police spokesman Don Aaron. 

Hale’s writings also outline a second possible attack at a mall near the school, Aaron added.