FBI Releases Documents on Covenant School Shooting
Recently obtained FBI records regarding the Covenant School tragedy in Nashville reveal writings from the shooter, Audrey Elizabeth Hale, offering insight into her motives, plans, and financial situation.
In response to a legal challenge, the FBI disclosed over a hundred pages of Hale’s writings, which include diaries dating back to late 2021 and handwritten notes detailing her preparations for the school shooting, as well as information about the firearms she intended to acquire.
Some documents suggest “Christian schools (religious hatred)” might have influenced Hale’s choice to target the Covenant School.
Tragic Background of the Incident
Hale, 28, was shot dead by Metro Nashville police on March 27, 2023, after she killed six people at her former elementary school associated with a church.
The victims included Katherine Koonce, 60; Cynthia Peek, 61; and Mike Hill, 61, along with three nine-year-old students: Harry Scruggs, Evelyn Diekhaus, and William Kinney.
Surveillance footage released after the incident shows Hale moving through the school armed with various weapons.
Authorities reported that she entered through a side door and navigated multiple areas of the building before encountering responding officers.
Insights from Hale’s Writings
Just before the shooting, Hale sent a text to a friend characterizing her planned attack as a “suicide mission,” mentioning, “If I die, you’ll hear about me on the news,” according to official sources.
Among the documents released by the FBI was a handwritten page titled “Account Savings Record,” mentioning federal student financial aid.
In one note, Hale referred to FAFSA grant checks and recorded payments from Nossi College of Art and Design, indicating she was enrolled there at the time.
Her writings also included extensive notes about the firearms she had purchased and planned to use. Reports suggest these records could align with statements made by Hale’s parents to police shortly after the shooting, revealing that their child had allegedly used federal Pell Grant funds to acquire the weapon used in the attack.
Hale’s mother informed police that because Hale was over 25 and a student, her parents’ income was not considered when determining financial aid, thus allowing Hale to qualify for the grant despite being unemployed.
Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake has previously indicated that authorities found a manifesto and a handwritten map in Hale’s vehicle following the shooting.
Although some of Hale’s writings have been made public, both the city police and the FBI have been reluctant to fulfill requests for the entire manifesto.
A memorial for the six victims has been placed outside the Covenant School, signifying the community’s mourning and remembrance for those lost in this devastating incident.
