Nashville Covenant School Shooter Plotted Attack for Years, Final Report Reveals

Nashville police have released their final report on the devastating March 2023 Covenant School shooting, shedding light on the chilling level of planning by the shooter, Audrey Hale. The 28-year-old transgender attacker meticulously prepared for the assault over several years, leaving behind a trove of writings that detail her plans, inspirations, and even alternate targets.

Investigators revealed that Hale began "fantasizing" about mass shootings as early as 2017, drawing inspiration from the infamous 1999 Columbine High School attack. In one of her writings from 2018, she imagined carrying out shootings at her former middle school, targeting her father, and even her psychiatrist. Her obsession escalated over time, culminating in the tragic attack on the Covenant School, where three 9-year-old students and three staff members lost their lives.

Police discovered a staggering amount of material, including over two dozen notebooks, art books, and digital documents. However, despite this volume of information, they concluded that Hale did not leave behind a traditional manifesto explaining her motives. Instead, her thoughts were scattered across various entries, including a suicide note addressed to her parents.

The victims of Hale's assault included Hallie Scruggs, the 9-year-old daughter of a Covenant Church pastor, as well as Evelyn Dieckhaus and William Kinney. The adult victims were Head of School Katherine Koonce, 60, Cynthia Peak, 61, and Mike Hill, 61. Tragically, the attack also targeted a community Hale had once been a part of, as the school is attached to the church she previously attended.

Hale’s writings also revealed that she had considered additional targets, labeled "B" and "C" in her plans. These included the Opry Mills Mall and a stretch of Belmont Boulevard near the Belmont University campus in Nashville. Investigators noted that Hale had extensively practiced at a firing range and adorned her weapons and clothing with the phrase "Dark Abyss," a grim nod to her depression.

Despite her macabre preparations, Hale delayed the attack multiple times, including after the loss of a close friend in a car crash. In the years leading up to the assault, she had begun using the name "Aiden Williams." Hale was ultimately killed by responding officers during the attack, as captured in harrowing bodycam footage that shocked the nation.

Because of her detailed diaries spanning several years, police said they were able to gather more information about her than typically found in such investigations. Yet, the absence of a single unifying document explaining her actions has left many questions unanswered.

The Covenant School shooting stands as a heartbreaking reminder of the profound impact of such tragedies on communities, and the lengths to which some individuals will go in pursuit of notoriety and violence. This final report closes one chapter of investigation, but the scars left behind will linger for years to come.