Nashville Shooting – A targeted attack on a school

On March 27, 2023, an attacker took the lives of at least three children and adults. This happens in
The Convenant School which is a private school in Nashville. The shooter is identified as 28-year-old
Audrey Hale who was a transgender and former student. He was killed by the police while entering
the school. The incident appeared to be a targeted attack because the assumption is based on a
detailed map including entry points, also conducted different surveillance on the school and
associated writings found by the attacker. As per the investigation, Hale was in emotional distress
and taking help from a doctor. Recently, Hale legally purchased seven weapons and hid them from
his parents.

The massacre that happened on Monday shook everyone because three little kids and three staff
members are shot dead. The first call about the incident was received by police at 10:13 am local
time.

The shooter has targeted Covenant School in Nashville where the suspect was a former student.
There were around 200 students from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade. Among the victims, three
children were of age 9 years old and also head of the school got shot.

Audrey Hale didn’t have the targeted victims because he was openly fired in school. He was under a
doctor’s care and seeking help for his emotional distress.

According to Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake, if they would have any idea about his
condition, they first try to take all the weapons rather than kill him.

Previously, police identified Hale as a female but later cleared that he used the pronouns him or
himself. Surveillance footage clearly shows how he was driving toward the school in his Honda Fit.
Firstly, he shoots a glass of the side door and crawls inside to get access to the building. On receiving
the first call, the local police arrived within the minutes. When they arrived at the building, the
gunfire was still going on.

Politicians including President Biden are making reignited calls to Congress regarding the shooting in
schools. Far this year, about 130 mass shootings are reported.

As the investigation goes on, the motive behind the shooting is still not clear. Police Chief Drake on
Tuesday's press briefing highlighted that the shooter had purchased the weapons legally from five
local dealers. Among seven, three were used on Monday's school attack. At night, Police released a
video showing how the shooter was entering the building and firing various gunshots.

The dead children were identified as Hallie Scruggs, Evelyn Dieckhaus, and William Kinney. The adult
victims were Katherine Koonce, 60 years old (Head of School); Cynthia Peak, 61 years old and Mike
Hill, 61 years old.

People are coming and paying their tributes at a makeshift memorial for victims outside the school.