FBI Documents Reveal Details on Nashville School Shooter
Recently unveiled FBI documents shed new light on the motives and plans of Audrey Elizabeth Hale, the shooter involved in the Covenant School incident in Nashville. The release followed a lawsuit and includes over 100 pages of Hale’s writings, which appear to date back to late 2021.
The documents feature diaries, handwritten notes regarding the attack, and mentions of firearms Hale intended to acquire. Some texts suggest a motive tied to “Christian schools (religious hatred),” pointing to a specific target.
On March 27, 2023, Hale was killed by police after committing the tragic act, which resulted in the deaths of six individuals at the school where Hale had previously attended. The victims included school employee Katherine Koonce, 60, alongside Cynthia Peek and Mike Hill, both 61, and three 9-year-old students: Harry Scruggs, Evelyn Diekhaus, and William Kinney.
Surveillance footage released post-attack showed Hale navigating the school with multiple firearms, having entered through a side door and traversed several areas before confronting officers.
Days before the shooting, Hale texted a friend, characterizing the plan as a “suicide mission,” ominously stating, “If I die, you’ll hear about me on the news,” per an official summary.
Among the unveiled documents was a handwritten page labeled “Account Savings Record” that mentioned federal student aid. Hale recorded a grant amount starting at $2,050.86, alongside a ledger of payments from Nossi College of Art and Design, where Hale was a student.
Financial details appear alongside notes about the firearms Hale purchased for the attack. Reports suggest these documents might validate statements made by Hale’s parents to detectives shortly after the tragedy.
According to Hale’s parents, their child used Pell Grant funds to buy the weapon used in the shooting. They indicated that since Hale was over 25 and enrolled as a student, their income did not affect Hale’s financial aid eligibility, allowing for the grant despite unemployment.
Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake previously confirmed that a manifesto and a handwritten map were found in Hale’s car after the incident. While some of Hale’s writings have been released, both city police and the FBI continue to deny requests for the complete manifesto.
