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The Nashville Police Department has released a final report detailing the findings of its two-year investigation into the Covenant School shooting.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, back in 2023, a mass shooting occurred at Covenant School, a private Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee. 28-year-old Audrey Hale— who was trans and an alumnus of the school—entered the building armed with two assault-style rifles and a handgun. Over the span of roughly 14 minutes, Hale shot and killed six people: three 9-year-old students (Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs) and three adults (school head Katherine Koonce, custodian Mike Hill, and substitute teacher Cynthia Peak). Hale was ultimately confronted and killed by responding Metro Nashville Police officers.
What’s going on now: In the report released by Nashville PD, investigators revealed that Audrey Hale’s primary motive for the Covenant School shooting was a deep desire for notoriety. The report revealed that Hale did not hold hatred toward the school, its staff, or its students—many of whom she referred to as “innocents.” Instead, she specifically chose the school because of her personal connection to it and the symbolic value it held in her life. She wanted her death to have lasting impact and believed that committing an act of mass violence in a familiar, emotionally significant setting would ensure she would be remembered.
According to the report, Hale idolized other mass shooters—especially the Columbine killers—and saw them as “gods” whose fame she hoped to emulate. Her writings also revealed that she considered suicide alone to be insufficient and feared being forgotten unless she made a dramatic, violent exit.
Investigators also said Hale suffered from anxiety, depression, and social isolation, often retreating into a dream world populated by stuffed animals she treated as friends. During their investigation, they found that her loneliness and a long-standing sense of emotional rejection contributed to her growing obsession with mass shootings. Despite receiving mental health care, she deliberately misled her providers to avoid intervention, concealing her deteriorating mental state and her violent plans.
The report also highlighted that Hale was methodical and secretive in her preparations, determined to avoid detection while crafting what she referred to as “the perfect plan.”
Police uncovered a trove of materials that showcased the extent of her premeditation. This included a collection of journals, sketchbooks, and photos that documented years of fantasizing about the attack. Altogether, investigators reviewed over 1,200 pages of handwritten content, much of which detailed the attack’s planning, logistics, and desired legacy. Among the items recovered were thumb drives, computers, and notebooks found in Hale’s backpack and car.
In these writings, Hale expressed a desire for documentaries and books to be made about her, and even hoped that the weapons used in the shooting would be displayed in a museum. She also left behind instructions and diagrams on how others with similar mental struggles could execute their own attacks.
The level of detail in her journals was staggering. Hale created maps, timelines, and even staged a reconnaissance visit to The Covenant School in 2021, claiming to be a nostalgic former student. She discreetly photographed areas of interest within the building during this visit to aid in her planning.
Lawyer reacts: In a statement, a lawyer for some of the victim’s families said, “Please remember that there are real children and families who are suffering and who will never be the same. Keep your focus on the victims and survivors of that horrific day.”
