New Insights from Audrey Hale’s Writings Released
After a lengthy legal process, the FBI has made public over 100 pages of writings from Audrey Hale, the transgender individual involved in the tragic March 2023 shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.
These newly available documents, which come from a larger collection of journals and notebooks, provide a disturbing look into the intent and financial aspects of the attack that resulted in the deaths of three children and three adults.
Hale, who was biologically female but identified as a transgender man, funded the firearms used in the assault with federal financial aid known as Pell Grants. These grants are given to low-income students and can be allocated for living expenses, allowing for personal use.
The documents reportedly include Hale’s handwritten financial records demonstrating the Pell Grant funds received through the FAFSA, including checks from Nossi College of Art and Design, where she was a student.
This financial information aligns with statements made by Hale’s parents to investigators in 2023. Hale, independently qualifying for Pell Grants due to being over 25 and unemployed, used these funds to buy seven firearms—three of which were used in the school attack, while others were found at her home.
The FBI’s release includes Hale’s writings that detail comparisons of different guns, focusing on aspects like accuracy and sight options. Additionally, a redacted 230-page journal outlining her planning, maps, and home videos were also part of the findings, indicating a lengthy, meticulous preparation process.
In her journal, Hale noted beginning with a balance from a FAFSA grant, adding details about subsequent checks and purchases made from the grant money—some firearms were bought with leftover funds, while others were financed through loans or credit cards.
Among the purchases were firearms bought in 2020 and 2021, with records suggesting she sometimes sold guns to fund new acquisitions while attempting to obscure her spending from her family and therapist by using cash and deleting transaction histories.
Despite passing all necessary background checks for firearm purchases, there were no indications of fraud in obtaining the student aid. It appears the money was legitimately awarded but misused for illegal activities.
Hale’s writings included alarming sentiments, expressing desires to harm individuals based on race, alongside strong feelings of resentment towards her upbringing and societal norms. In one entry, she described a disdain for being White and articulated a desire for violent rebellion, which she correlated with her gender identity.
“Being White sucks, but being Black is so cool. Black people should rule. White people should fall, every White person, living or dead. I hate you all,” she articulated in her writings.
The journals also reflect a tumultuous struggle with gender identity and feelings of alienation from her conservative upbringing. By the time of the assault, Hale had adopted a more masculine persona and viewed her actions as a form of rebellion against societal constraints.
Investigators suggest Hale was driven by feelings of extreme isolation and bullying experienced during her school years, alongside aspirations for notoriety modeled after previous shooters. She seemed to believe that targeting Christian children would provide her actions with purpose and prevent her from being forgotten.
The attack unfolded on March 27, 2023, when Hale entered the Christian school and opened fire with multiple firearms, as captured by security footage.
Prior to the attack, she had warned a friend via text about being on a “suicide mission,” suggesting a desire for media attention. Tragically, she claimed the lives of six individuals, including staff members and students, before being confronted and shot by police officers.
The complete manifesto remains unreleased to the public. Further updates may follow.
