Nashville police have released disturbing footage of the recent shooting at The Covenant School, showing 28-year-old Audrey Hale storming the private Christian academy with assault rifles. The released video captures Hale entering the school by shooting through the glass doors, then stalking the hallways with two rifles and a handgun.
The footage reveals the shooter, dressed in military fatigues, a dark vest, and a red backwards hat, entering various rooms through unlocked doors, seemingly searching for victims. Additional video shows Hale arriving at the school in a Honda Fit and parking outside the building.
Hale killed three nine-year-olds and three school staff members before being fatally shot by police. The confrontation that ended the rampage occurred after Hale fired at police officers from a second-floor window.
The two officers who engaged Hale were identified as Rex Englebert, a four-year veteran, and Michael Collazo, a nine-year veteran of the department.
Nashville Police Chief John Drake stated that while Hale targeted the school, the victims were chosen at random. Police have confirmed that Hale was a former student at the school. Authorities are currently examining a manifesto and other writings related to the incident, as well as a map detailing the planned attack.
During a search of the shooter’s home, police discovered a sawed-off shotgun and a second shotgun. Although Chief Drake referred to Hale using female pronouns during a press conference, it was later reported that Hale identified as transgender and used he/him pronouns, as listed on a LinkedIn page attributed to Hale.
The victims of the tragic attack have been identified as nine-year-olds Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and Williams Kinney. The adults killed in the attack were custodian Mike Hill, 61, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and the school’s headmaster Katherine Koonce, 60.