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2023 Nashville school shooting

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2023 Nashville school shooting
A CCTV still of Hale, carrying his pistol-caliber carbine, walking around the second floor of the school during the shooting
Location36°05′35″N 86°49′32″W / 36.09306°N 86.82556°W / 36.09306; -86.82556
Green Hills, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
DateMarch 27, 2023; 3 years ago (2023-03-27)
10:11 – 10:27 a.m. (CDT; UTC−05:00)
TargetStudents and staff at The Covenant School
Attack type
Mass shooting, mass murder, school shooting, pedicide
Weapons
Deaths7 (including the perpetrator)
Injuries2 (1 by gunfire)[a]
PerpetratorAiden Hale[b][8]
Defenders
  • Officer Rex Engelbert
  • Detective Michael Collazo
Motive

On March 27, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian Church in America parochial elementary school in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Aiden Hale (born Audrey Elizabeth Hale),[b] a 28-year-old transgender man and former student of the school,[11][12][13] killed three nine‑year‑old children and three adults before officer Rex Engelbert and detective Michael Collazo, members of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD), shot and killed him. Hale was a former student of the school who had been planning the attack for several years.[11][14][13]

In April 2025, the MNPD closed its investigation into the shooting, concluding that Hale had been motivated by numerous factors, including a desire for notoriety and media attention.[15][16] Hale had chosen The Covenant School as he wanted to die somewhere that made him happy, and he considered the years he attended the school to be the happiest of his life.[17][18]

Background

The Covenant School's campus pictured in October 2023

The Covenant School is a private Christian school in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville. It educates students from pre-kindergarten to the sixth grade. It was founded in 2001 as a ministry of Nashville's Covenant Presbyterian Church, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America; its enrollment is about 200 students.[19]

Shooting

CCTV footage released by Nashville Police showing Hale entering and walking throughout the school armed during the shooting

At around 8:00  a.m. CDT, Hale left his house with a large duffle bag containing his weapons and tactical gear. He then drove to a shooting range where he donned his tactical vest and prepared his weapons. He left the location at 9:33 and drove to The Covenant School, where he arrived at 9:53.[20] At 9:57, Hale sent an Instagram message to an old friend saying that an earlier post was "basically a suicide note" and that he planned to die that day.[21][22] The friend called the Suicide Prevention Help Line[23] and contacted the Davidson County Sheriff's Office at 10:13,[24] but was on hold with the sheriff's office for roughly seven minutes.[25]

At 10:09, Hale existed his vehicle with his firearms and approached one of the entrances on the building's West side. He was armed with an AR-15-style pistol, a KelTec SUB-2000 carbine, and a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield pistol.[20] At 10:11, he fired through a set of glass side doors, climbed through them, and entered the building.[23] Custodian Michael Hill was cleaning a room adjacent to the Youth Center but moved to investigate. They spotted each other at the same time. Hill attempted to flee but was shot several times in the back. Gun smoke from the AR pistol triggered the fire alarm and locked the doors separating the church from the school.[20]

Hale proceeded to a stairwell leading to the second floor. A class of third-graders were following evacuation protocols and descending the staircase. They were accompanied with a substitute teacher, Cynthia Peak, who had come from the office. As the students entered the stairwell, Hale fired several shots with the AR pistol and struck the substitute teacher and three students. The remaining students and teachers ran back into their classrooms and barricaded themselves. Hale emptied the remainder of his AR pistol's magazine into a classroom door on the second floor. He loaded another magazine and fired through the door of an adjacent classroom; one student was injured by flying debris. Attempting to find the source of the fire alarm, executive principal Dr. Katherine Koonce entered the hallway. She spotted Hale and asked him what he was doing in the school. Hale responded by firing at her with his AR pistol before switching to his Shield pistol and firing again. Upon hearing the gunfire in the hallway, the staff in the office realized there was a shooter. They barricaded themselves inside and contacted other teachers to alert them. Some classes had already assembled outside. Upon realizing the situation was not a fire and instead an active shooter, the teachers stopped evacuation measures and ordered everyone inside. Some instead ran through the woods to the fire station near the south entrance of the campus or to the north.[20] At 10:13, police received a 911 call about an active shooter.[23]

Hale spent the next several minutes moving through the hallways of the school with his carbine. He entered several rooms near Koonce's body but did not encounter anyone. He then walked towards the church offices and searched them around 10:18. He found nobody despite several staff members hiding there. At 10:19, Hale descended a nearby stairwell and entered the first floor by the northwest entrance. He walked through the lounge adjacent to the cafeteria and the student lobby area. Upon reaching the end of the hall leading to main lobby for the sanctuary, Hale fired several shots into wall-mounted television sets. He then fired through the doors leading to the Pre-K and Kintergarten. Hale then ascended back to the second floor and entered the sanctuary. He fired through a stained glass window depicting Adam and Eve before leaving and returning to the upper level of the lobby. Police officers had arrived at 10:19 and parked directly in front of the church, on the east side of the building.[20] When officers arrived at the scene, a teacher told them that the students were in lockdown and that two were missing.[26] The first officer entered through one of the west entrances at 10:20 but could not hear any gunfire. He then joined other officers at the south entrance.[20]

Around this same time, Hale spotted police and took up a firing position at a large window overlooking the south side parking lot. He then fired on the officers through the window for over two minutes, deflating the tires of two police vehicles. The gunfire forced officers to take cover behind their vehicles. Around the same time,[20] at 10:25,[23] officers entered the building from the south entrance.[20] They proceeded to several rooms on the first floor to look for the shooter,[23] but ascended to the second floor after hearing gunfire coming from there.[25] Due to the fire alarm, the sound of his gunfire, and his wearing of earplugs, Hale could not hear the officers approaching.[20] One officer fired his rifle and Hale collapsed. Officers shouted at him to stop moving.[25] They approached to take him into custody but found that he was still in possession of his firearms and that his arms were still moving. A second officer fired his pistol and fatally wounded him.[20] According to an autopsy report, the assailant was shot four times, once in the head, once in the torso, once in the left arm, and once in the right thigh.[27] Police confirmed Hale was dead at 10:27.[23]

A reunification center was set up by the Metro Nashville Police Department at the Woodmont Baptist Church; students were taken there by school bus in the afternoon.[28] An investigative report conducted by the MNPD concluded that Hale had fired 152 rounds during the attack: 126 from his AR-pistol, 25 from his carbine, and once from his pistol. Hale was also found with 272 live rounds on his person (199 5.56 cartridges and 73 9mm cartridges). In his car, several items were found, such as his wallet, car keys, cellphone, a backpack containing two notebooks, several stuffed animals, and five fully loaded 5.56 magazines. In Hale's residence, a short-barreled 12-gauge shotgun was found in his closet, and a suicide note addressed to his parents was found on his desk.[20]

Victims

Six people—three students and three staff—were killed at random.[11] Five were pronounced dead at a hospital and one at the scene.[29] The deceased students were Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs, all aged 9.[30][31][32][33][c] The deceased faculty members were substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61; custodian Mike Hill, 61; and the school's headmaster Katherine Koonce, 60.[34] In addition, a third-grade student was shot and injured, and a police officer was hurt after cutting his hand on shattered glass.[5]

Perpetrator

Aiden Hale[b] (March 25,[35] 1995 – March 27, 2023), was a 28-year-old former student of The Covenant School and a Nashville resident with no criminal record.[6] Hale had attended the Covenant School from 2001 to 2006 (kindergarten through fourth grade).[36][17][37][38] Hale considered those years the happiest of his life, claiming he felt "safe and accepted" there.[18]

Hale then attended Isaiah T. Creswell Middle School of the Arts (also known as Creswell Middle School). Here, he played on the girls' basketball team during the 2008-2009 school year.[39][40] While Hale was constantly bullied at the school, the girls on the basketball team were very kind to him, which reportedly led to Hale having a lifetime obsession with them. One of the girls told The Tennessean that Hale had proceeded to stalk her on social media years prior to the shooting, saying: "It felt obsessive. It felt like stalkerish behavior."[39] Another girl who was on the team passed away in a car crash in August 2022, which greatly upset Hale, who attended her funeral.[41] In 2010, Hale entered the Nashville School of the Arts, where he graduated in 2014.[42] According to a friend, Hale "had a childlike obsession with staying a child".[7] Hale was an illustrator and graphic designer who graduated from the Nossi College of Art & Design in 2022.[43] A neighbor said Hale lived with his parents.[44]

Hale became fascinated with school shootings in 2017, after watching numerous documentaries about the Columbine massacre. In 2018, Hale began planning an attack on Creswell Middle School, however in January 2021, he instead chose The Covenant School out of fear of being labelled a racist due to the middle school's mostly black population.[45] The attack was initially set to occur on April 13, 2021, to be near the anniversary of the Columbine massacre. He ultimately decided he wouldn’t be able to and chose a different date. On September 14, 2021, Hale went to The Covenant School and was able to get a faculty-guided tour soon after. Hale photographed and filmed locations within the school.[18] MNPD Police Chief John Drake said Hale was under care for an emotional disorder and had legally purchased seven firearms, including three recovered from the shooting scene, between October 2020 and June 2022.[1]

Gender

Police first referred to Hale as a woman and used his birth name. On the day of the shooting, MNPD Chief John Drake said that authorities "feel that [Hale] identifies as trans, but we're still in the initial investigation into all of that".[6] Media sources subsequently reported Hale was a trans man.[46] His former art teacher and a former classmate recalled him coming out as transgender on Facebook in 2022.[47][7] Reactions to Hale’s gender came under scrutiny and many criticized media outlets for misgendering him.[48][49]

Investigation

The MNPD took the lead of the investigation of the shooting, assisted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.[50] Two shotguns, one of which was sawed-off, and other evidence were found in a search of the Hales' house.[51] Evidence included a detailed map of the school with potential entry points and a manifesto.[52][53] Hale was believed to have undertaken reconnaissance, and had originally considered targeting another location but had decided not to carry out the attack due to the level of security on the premises.[53] On April 3, police said Hale planned the shooting for months and fired 152 rounds at the school, 126 of them 5.56 rifle rounds and 26 of them 9mm rounds.[54]

Hale's surviving writings, including diaries and a planning document, initially called a "manifesto", were described by police as "rambling" and empty of any specific political or social issues.[38] Three pages of Hale's diary, described by CNN as containing "hate-filled language" directed at the school and its children, were leaked by conservative commentator Steven Crowder on November 6, 2023.[55] In the pages released by Crowder, Hale allegedly wrote: "Wanna kill all you little crackers ... Bunch of little faggots w/ your white privlages [sic] fuck you faggots."[56]

In April 2025, the MNPD closed their investigation, concluding in a 48-page report that Hale was motivated by a desire for notoriety. Hale left behind 16 notebooks containing over 1,000 pages of writings expressing a desire to serve as an inspiration for books, documentaries, a museum containing the firearms used in the shooting, as well as further school shootings by others.[16] Hale watched a documentary about school shooters in 2017, and by 2018 had become obsessed with the issue, investigators claimed. Initially inspired by the Columbine massacre, Hale began to rank school shootings, believing that achieving a high kill count and media notoriety would make one a "god".[16]

In diary entries obtained by Megyn Kelly, Hale wrote about wanting to "kill my own race" and "kill all the white children", as well as hatred for the American people. Hale also expressed frustration dealing with autism, OCD, and a late gender transition.[16][57] The MNPD concluded that the shooting was not motivated by race (though he "frequently raged over these topics"), nor was it motivated by a grudge against the students or staff at The Covenant School.[16] The report stated that Hale targeted the school because he believed that "the Christian faith of those within would make them meek and afraid, which further assuaged Hale's self-doubts. The age of the children and the school being considered a Christian school made [him] recognize the instant notoriety the attack would bring."[16]

Reactions

The Covenant School issued a statement asking for privacy during the law-enforcement investigation.[58] Several vigils were held for the casualties. A memorial at the school gathered items such as flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals.[58] A memorial concert was held at the Fisher Center at Belmont University, with artists including Carrie Underwood, Tyler Hubbard, Colony House, and Thomas Rhett performing. All proceeds benefitted the school's staff, students and families.[59] The city of Nashville set up a fund to support those affected. The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee also established one for The Covenant School, and GoFundMe created a list with verified similar fundraisers.[60][61]

Several notable Nashville musicians including Mickey Guyton, Margo Price, and Sheryl Crow offered their condolences and anger about continual school shootings.[62] Actress Melissa Joan Hart, who was nearby when the shooting occurred and helped escort some of the fleeing children to safety,[63] recounted the experience on Instagram a day later.[64] Representative Andy Ogles, whose district includes Nashville, tweeted, "We are sending our thoughts and prayers to the families of those lost. As a father of three, I am utterly heartbroken by this senseless act of violence." Ogles's response was subsequently criticized on social media after a photo of him and his family posing with AR-15s in front of a Christmas tree resurfaced.[65] Arizona gubernatorial press secretary Josselyn Berry tweeted, hours after the shooting, a photo from the film Gloria of the film's protagonist pointing two pistols alongside the text: "Us when we see transphobes." The post was widely condemned, and she resigned two days later. Her former administration said the tweet did not reflect its values.[66][67]

As a part of a long-running Internet meme, posts misidentifying the shooter using an altered photo of comedian Sam Hyde circulated on social media.[68][69] A fake manifesto posted anonymously on 4chan was reposted on Twitter.[70] Media praised the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department's response to the tragedy, as responding officers succeeded in ending the shooting just 14 minutes after it was first reported.[71] Actions taken by MNPD officers were reported on in contrast to the significant criticism some Texas police received after the 2022 Uvalde Shooting.[72][73] On January 3, 2025, President Joe Biden recognized five Nashville police officers[d] for their actions by awarding each the Medal of Valor, the highest presidential award for public safety personnel in the United States.[75]

Policy debate and protests

In response to the shooting, U.S. President Joe Biden said, "We have to do more to stop gun violence. It's ripping our communities apart, ripping the soul of this nation, ripping at the very soul of the nation... we have to do more to protect our schools, so they aren't turned into prisons."[19] He ordered flags on all federal buildings to be flown at half-staff.[52][76] Nashville Mayor John Cooper called for the state to enact risk-protection laws and take action on gun safety.[77] Tennessee state representative Bob Freeman, a Democrat from Nashville, called for gun reforms in the wake of the shooting.[78]

Protestors called for increased gun control in reaction to the shootings. On March 30, thousands of protestors gathered at the Tennessee State Capitol to call for stricter gun control laws.[79][80] Some children held signs saying "I'm nine" in reference to the age of the children shot.[81] Within the chamber of the capitol, three state representatives, Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson led the public gallery in chants of "no more silence", "we have to do better", and "gun reform now", demanding that lawmakers strengthen gun laws. This protest delayed a hearing on a bill which would expand gun access.[82][78] On April 5, thousands of students across the United States demonstrated in a walkout to call on lawmakers to end gun violence.[83] The student group March for Our Lives organized walkouts across Tennessee as well as a march to the State Capitol.[84]

After their actions during the March 30 protest, Johnson and Jones were stripped of their committee assignments and, alongside Pearson, were notified that they could be expelled from the House. House Speaker Cameron Sexton said their actions were unacceptable, breaking rules of decorum and procedure.[85][86] Jones and Pearson were expelled from the House on April 6, with the vote to expel Johnson failing by a single vote.[87] Within a week, they were reinstated in interim capacities—the Nashville Metropolitan Council unanimously voted to reinstate Jones, and the Shelby County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to reinstate Pearson.[88] The expulsion and interim reinstatement garnered national attention.[89][90]

A Trans activist called out the school for abuse calling it a “Right wing institution” that needed to be regulated, allegedly giving the reason why Hale attacked the school. The activist denounced the attack, but said mandating LGBTQ+ friendly curriculum and providing free mental healthcare would prevent more attacks.[91][92][93]

Also on April 5, right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk spoke out against gun laws at a Turning Point USA rally, stating, "It's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights". He further stated that gun violence could be reduced with having armed guards at schools. Kirk's response was criticized by Shannon Watts, who stated in an email to Newsweek that gun safety laws were essential to saving lives.[94] After Kirk was shot dead on a college campus on September 10, 2025, his statement was reposted numerous times on social media.[95]

The state legislature passed bills designed to improve safety measures at schools. In March, it passed a law allowing private schools to hire school resource officers from police departments to help prevent shootings, effective immediately.[96] In April, the legislature passed a bill allocating $230 million towards school safety, including to place school-resource officers in every school; the bill was signed into law in May.[97] On August 8, 2023, Governor Bill Lee officially called for a special session of the General Assembly to be held on August 21 to focus on public safety in response to the shooting.[98][99]

Controversy over Hale's writings

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, police officers collected what was initially described as a "manifesto" authored by Hale.[43] David Rausch, the director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, later called the descriptor a "mischaracterization", describing the writings as a document detailing Hale's plan and "journal-type rantings".[38] The MNPD denied requests for the files by The Tennessean[100] and state senator Todd Gardenhire,[101] who argued, along with some open-government advocates, that Tennessee's public records laws required the release of the writings.[102] Metro Nashville Council Member Courtney Johnston said that the FBI had told her that the documents would not be released because they detailed a "blueprint of total destruction" and could inspire other shooters.[103] Several Tennessee politicians[101] and public figures—including Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr.—publicly called for the release of the documents.[102][100] Senator Bill Hagerty said, "I think people do deserve to know what took place [and] what was in the mind of this sick person that committed these heinous murders."[100] House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison attributed the lack of a legislative response to the shootings to the delayed release, saying, "We cannot possibly address this horrific situation until we know what was in [the] manifesto."[102][101]

On April 28, 2023, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that, per his communications with Drake, the writings would be released "very soon".[104] When the Tennessee Firearms Association, among other organizations, filed suit to obtain the writings,[105][106] the MNPD announced that, in the face of "pending litigation", it would delay the release on the advice of counsel.[107] The Covenant School sought to intervene in both cases[108] to protect "sensitive information owned by The Covenant School" from being released,[109][110] and a collection of Covenant parents, representing 75% of the families at the school, sought to provide argument that the writings—even in a redacted form—should not be released at all.[111][112] A judge granted the requests to intervene by the school and the parents.[113] In March 2024, a federal judge in Tennessee ordered the FBI to hand over the manifesto left behind by the shooter.[114] On May 29, 2025, the FBI released 112[115] pages from notebooks that had been found in Hale's car.[116] 231 pages were released in June and a further 485 pages were released in August.[115] The full "manifesto" consists of 2,056 pages. On February 4, 2026, the Court of Appeals of Tennessee issued a ruling that required the trial court to proceed in having the documents made available for inspection.[117]

Leaks

On November 6, 2023, images of three pages of Hale's diary were released by conservative commentator Steven Crowder.[118] Nashville Police chief John Drake confirmed the authenticity of the images,[55] and Nashville mayor Freddie O'Connell directed Nashville's Department of Law to investigate "how these images could have been released".[118][55] The leaks showed that Hale was hoping for "a high death count" and had a stated desire to "kill little crackers" and "faggots" with "white privilege".[119]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ An injured victim was a police officer who cut his hand on shattered glass.[5]
  2. 1 2 3 In the immediate aftermath of the murder rampage, police identified him by his birthname, Audrey Elizabeth Hale.[6] Hale was a transgender man who went by male pronouns.[7]
  3. ↑ Police Chief John Drake said in a press briefing on March 27, 2023, that one of the children was aged 8, while Public Affairs Director Don Aaron said that all the children were aged 9 in the same press briefing. Most sources say that all three were 9.
  4. ↑ Mike Collazo, Jeff Mathes, Rex Engelbert, Zach Plese, and Ryan Cagle[74]

References

  1. 1 2 Levenson, Eric; Alonso, Melissa; Salahieh, Nouran (March 29, 2023) [Originally published March 28, 2023]. "Covenant School shooter was under care for emotional disorder and hid guns at home, police say". CNN. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  2. ↑ Sanchez, Ray (March 31, 2023). "Here's what we know about the guns used in the Nashville school shooting". CNN.
  3. ↑ Rahman, Khaleda (March 28, 2023). "What We Know About The Guns Used in Nashville School Shooting". Newsweek. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Covenant School Shooting in Nashville, Tennessee: What Does it Mean for the Transgender Community?". thesewaneepurple.org. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Hauck, Grace; Ortiz, Jorge L.; Alund, Natalie Neysa (March 28, 2023). "Covenant School shooting in Nashville: 3 children, 3 adults dead; victims' names released". USA Today.
  6. 1 2 3 Li, David K.; Ortiz, Erik; Lenthang, Marlene (March 28, 2023) [Originally published March 27, 2023]. "Nashville Christian school shooter appears to be a former student, police chief says". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 Zdanowicz, Christina (March 28, 2023). "Nashville shooter Audrey Hale had a 'child-like obsession with staying a child,' college classmate says". CNN. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  8. ↑ "What we know about the alleged Nashville school shooter". KWTX-TV. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ Fiscus, Kirsten; Mealins, Evan; Shoup, Craig (April 3, 2025). "Covenant school shooter sought notoriety, Nashville police investigation finds". USA Today.
  10. ↑ "Covenant school shooter sought notoriety, Nashville police investigation finds". USA Today.
  11. 1 2 3 Kallingal, Mallika; Salahieh, Nouran; Levenson, Eric (March 30, 2023). "Some 911 calls from Nashville's Covenant School shooting are released". CNN. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  12. ↑ Elamroussi, Aya (March 31, 2023). "First funeral of Nashville school shooting victim comes a day after police release terrifying 911 calls of attack". CNN. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Cochrane, Emily; Shpigel, Ben; McGee, Jamie (March 28, 2023). "Nashville Shooting: Police Say Shooter Was Under Doctor's Care for 'Emotional Disorder'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  14. ↑ Elamroussi, Aya (March 31, 2023). "First funeral of Nashville school shooting victim comes a day after police release terrifying 911 calls of attack". CNN. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  15. ↑ John Miller; Holly Yan (April 2, 2025). "Mass shooter who killed 6 people at The Covenant School had no grudge against victims but was fueled by a quest for notoriety". CNN. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "MNPD Concludes Covenant School Mass Murder Investigation". Nashville.gov. April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  17. 1 2 Hale, Steven (April 2, 2025). "Motivated by Fame, the Covenant Shooter Prepared For Years Before Attack on Nashville School". Nashville Banner. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  18. 1 2 3 Wethington, Caleb (April 2, 2025). "Motive for Covenant School shooting revealed in final investigative report". WSMV. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  19. 1 2 Levenson, Eric; Henderson, Jennifer (March 27, 2023). "28-year-old woman kills 3 students and 3 adults at private Christian school in Nashville, police say". CNN. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Investigative Case Summary: Case number 2023-0181711" (PDF). Metro Nashville Police Department. March 27, 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  21. ↑ West, Emily; Gibbs, Kelsey (March 28, 2023). "She checked her Instagram. She didn't expect a message from The Covenant School shooter". WTVF. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  22. ↑ Yan, Holly (March 28, 2023). "Nashville school shooting: A timeline of key events".
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Petras, George; Loehrke, Janet; Beard, Stephen J.; Padilla, Ramon (March 28, 2023). "14 minutes: Visual timeline of Nashville school shooting from break-in to police response". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  24. ↑ Keller, Sydney (March 28, 2023). "Nashville school mass shooter reached out to former basketball teammate before tragedy". Nashville: WZTV. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  25. 1 2 3 Yan, Holly (March 28, 2023). "Nashville school shooting: A timeline of key events". CNN. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  26. ↑ Wright, Lucas; Baird, Brittney; Posey, Sebastian (March 28, 2023). "Bodycam video shows moments police killed active shooter at Nashville school". WKRN. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  27. ↑ JORDAN WHITTINGTON (June 13, 2023). "Autopsy report reveals Covenant School shooter shot four times by police". The National Desk. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  28. ↑ Davis, Molly (March 27, 2023). "Parents wait to be reunited with children in wake of Covenant School shooting". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  29. ↑ Hughes, Trevor (March 27, 2023). "Who is the Nashville school shooter who killed six at private Christian school?". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  30. ↑ Victims, suspect in Nashville school shooting identified. NewsNation. March 27, 2023. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  31. ↑ Beyeler, Kelsey; Butts, Logan; Rodgers, D. Patrick; Elliott, Stephen; Masters, Matt (March 28, 2023). "Covenant School Shooting Leaves Seven Dead in 'Targeted Attack'". Nashville Scene. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  32. ↑ McCullough, Erin; Patton, Alicia (March 29, 2023) [Originally published March 27, 2023]. "Covenant School Shooting: What we know about the victims". Nashville: WKRN-TV. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  33. ↑ McCullough, Erin; Patton, Alicia; Bink, Addy (March 27, 2023). "Headmaster, pastor's daughter among Nashville school shooting victims: What we know". NEWS10 ABC. Nashville: WKRN-TV. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023 – via WTEN.
  34. ↑ Delaney, Matt; Mordock, Jeff (March 27, 2023). "Nashville school shooter was transgender, had 'manifesto,' police say". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Investigate Case Summary" (PDF). Nashville.gov.
  36. ↑ Yan, Holly (April 2, 2025). "Mass shooter who killed 6 people at The Covenant School had no grudge against victims but was fueled by a quest for notoriety". CNN. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  37. ↑ Smithson, Daniel (March 27, 2023). "Nashville school shooter was former student, police say". WSMV-TV. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  38. 1 2 3 "Motive in Nashville shooting remains unclear weeks after 6 people were killed at a Christian school". NBC News.
  39. 1 2 Keefe, Josh (March 30, 2023). "Nashville school shooter was 'obsessive' about former middle school basketball team". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  40. ↑ Brownworth, Victoria A. (April 5, 2023). "Nashville shooter fired 152 bullets, left suicide note". Philadelphia Gay News. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  41. ↑ Buckler, Liam (March 30, 2023). "Nashville school shooter Audrey Hale was 'infatuated' with teammate killed in car crash". Mirror. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  42. ↑ Finley, Jeremy (March 30, 2023). "From hugging stuffed animals to school shooter: how Audrey Hale changed in nine years". WSMV. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  43. 1 2 Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (March 27, 2023). "The Nashville school shooter had a 'manifesto' and maps, police say". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  44. ↑ Bruggeman, Lucien; Romero, Laura; Levine, Mike (March 28, 2023). "Who was Nashville shooter Audrey Hale?". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  45. ↑ Hale, Steven (April 2, 2025). "Motivated by Fame, the Covenant Shooter Prepared For Years Before Attack on Nashville School". The Nashville Banner. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  46. ↑ Wegner, Rachel; Davis, Molly; Sharon, Keith (March 28, 2023). "'Truly horrific': Nashville mourns after mass shooting at elementary school". The Tennessean.
  47. ↑ Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas (March 28, 2023). "The shooter had posted on Facebook in recent years about the death of a romantic partner, a former teacher says". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  48. ↑ Richardson, Valerie (March 28, 2023). "Media outlets backpedal after being accused of 'misgendering' school shooter". The Washington Times. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  49. ↑ Pilkington, Ed (March 28, 2023). "Nashville school shooter's identity may make them an exceptionally rare perpetrator". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  50. ↑ Sharp, Rachel (March 28, 2023). "Audrey Hale: What we know about the Nashville school shooter". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  51. ↑ Aaron, Don; Mumford, Kristin; Reese, Brooke. "Investigation Continuing into Today's Active Shooter Murders at Covenant School" (Press release). Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  52. 1 2 Mattise, Jonathan; Loller, Travis; Meyer, Holly (March 28, 2023). "Nashville shooter who killed 6 drew maps, surveilled school". Associated Press.
  53. 1 2 Massie, Graeme (March 27, 2023). "Audrey Hale, 28, named as Nashville school shooter as map and manifesto found". The Independent. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  54. ↑ Alsharif, Mirna (April 3, 2023). "Nashville school shooter planned the attack for months, according to journals police found". NBC News. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  55. 1 2 3 Rosales, Isabel; Sayers, Devon M. (November 6, 2023). "Authorities are investigating online posts allegedly showing Nashville school shooter's writings". CNN. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  56. ↑ Baron, Julian (November 6, 2023). "Leaked Nashville shooter manifesto shows motivation behind attack: 'Kill all you little f******'". CBS. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  57. ↑ Smith, Reanna (April 8, 2025). "Trans school shooter's chilling motive detailed in newly-released diary entry". The Mirror US. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  58. 1 2 Davis, Miles; Leyva, Diana (March 28, 2023). "Covenant School community seeks prayer in wake of deadly mass shooting". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  59. ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (April 13, 2023). "Carrie Underwood, Tyler Hubbard & More Lead With Empathy at Covenant School Memorial Concert". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  60. ↑ Stephenson, Cassandra (March 29, 2023). "How to help those affected by the Covenant School shooting in Nashville". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  61. ↑ Salahieh, Nouran; Winter, Jeff; Levenson, Eric (March 29, 2023). "Police chief says no evidence Nashville shooter had specific problems or issues with school". CNN. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  62. ↑ Paulson, Dave (March 27, 2023). "Nashville musicians react to Covenant School shooting, call for action". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  63. ↑ Banfield, Ashleigh (March 28, 2023). "Melissa Joan Hart helped Nashville kids escape shooting". NewsNation. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  64. ↑ Rose, Andy (March 29, 2023) [Originally published March 28, 2023]. "Actress Melissa Joan Hart describes helping children flee campus after Nashville school shooting". CNN. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  65. ↑ Horowitch, Rose (March 28, 2023). "Rep. Andy Ogles, whose district includes Nashville, criticized over gun-filled Christmas photo". NBC News.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  66. ↑ Duda, Jeremy (March 29, 2023). "Arizona Gov. Hobbs' press secretary resigns over controversial tweet aimed at "transphobes"". Axios. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  67. ↑ Javaid, Maham (March 29, 2023). "Ariz. governor's press secretary resigns amid backlash over gun-toting post". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  68. ↑ Tuquero, Loreben (March 28, 2023). "Another false 'Sam Hyde' meme circulates after Nashville, Tennessee, shooting". PolitiFact. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  69. ↑ Rajini, KG (March 30, 2023). "The Nashville school shooter has been falsely identified as Samantha Hyde on social media". Logically Facts. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  70. ↑ Harwell, Drew (March 31, 2023). "How a fake Nashville manifesto fueled anti-trans rage online". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  71. ↑ Goodman, J. David (March 28, 2023). "The Key Differences Between Nashville and Uvalde Shooting Responses". The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  72. ↑ Young, Ryan (March 31, 2023). "'A sense of pride' swells across US police ranks as officers hail the quick, heroic Nashville school massacre response". CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  73. ↑ Bruggeman, Lucien (March 28, 2023). "Nashville vs. Uvalde shootings: A contrast in police responses". ABC News. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  74. ↑ Keller, Sydney (January 6, 2025). "PHOTOS: President Biden honors Covenant officers with Medal of Valor for shooting response". WTVC. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  75. ↑ Montague, Zach; Cochrane, Emily (January 3, 2025). "Biden Honors Police Officers and Veterans With Medals at White House". The New York Times. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  76. ↑ Judd, DJ (March 28, 2023). "Biden orders flags flown at half-staff to honor victims of Nashville school shooting". CNN. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  77. ↑ El-Bawab, Nadine (April 6, 2023). "Nashville mayor calls on lawmakers to enact risk protection laws, act on gun safety". ABC News.
  78. 1 2 Brown, Melissa; Fiscus, Kirsten (March 30, 2023). "'They're begging us to do something:' Nashville lawmaker calls for gun reform as hundreds protest after Covenant shooting". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  79. ↑ Otten, Tori (March 30, 2023). "Thousands of Protesters Demand Gun Control at Tennessee State Capitol After Nashville Shooting". The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  80. ↑ Gainey, Blaise (March 30, 2023). "Tensions high at the Tennessee Capitol as hundreds protest for more gun restrictions". WPLN-FM. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  81. ↑ "Hundreds protest at Tennessee Capitol for tighter gun controls after Nashville shooting". CBS News. March 30, 2023. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  82. ↑ Allen, Jonathan; Brooks, Brad (March 31, 2023). "Protesters demand action on guns at Tennessee statehouse". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  83. ↑ Hauck, Grace. "Thousands participate in national school walkout after Nashville shooting, urge gun control". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  84. ↑ Garcia, Tony; Bukovac, Joylyn (April 3, 2023). "March For Our Lives organizes Nashville school walkouts". WSMV-TV. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  85. ↑ Sforza, Lauren (April 4, 2023). "Tennessee lawmakers stripped of committees after joining gun violence protests". The Hill. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  86. ↑ Adams, Liam; Fiscus, Kirsten; Mazza, Sandy; Shoup, Craig; Brown, Melissa; Wegner, Rachel; Hester, Nicole (April 4, 2023). "Nashville school shooting updates: Students demand gun control; shooter fired 152 rounds". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  87. ↑ Breen, Kerry (April 7, 2023). "GOP lawmakers in Tennessee expel two Democrats over mass shooting protest". CBS News. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  88. ↑ "Second Tennessee lawmaker to return to chamber after expulsion". Al Jazeera. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  89. ↑ Davis, Molly; Adams, Liam; Leyva, Diana; Brown, Melissa (April 7, 2023). "Live Updates: 'Tennessee Three' meet VP Kamala Harris; speak with President Joe Biden". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  90. ↑ McCammond, Alexi (April 12, 2023). "Trump steps into center of youth-led "Tennessee Three" backlash". Axios. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  91. ↑ WATROBSKI, KRISTINA (March 28, 2023). "Trans activist calls Nashville school 'right-wing institution' day after mass shooting". Fox 11 News. Archived from the original on June 1, 2026. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  92. ↑ WATROBSKI, KRISTINA (March 28, 2023). "Trans activist calls Nashville school 'right-wing institution' day after mass shooting". KOMO. Archived from the original on June 1, 2026. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  93. ↑ WATROBSKI, KRISTINA (March 28, 2023). "Trans activist calls Nashville school 'right-wing institution' day after mass shooting". NBC15 News. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  94. ↑ Mordowanec, Nick (April 6, 2023). "Charlie Kirk says gun deaths "unfortunately" worth it to keep 2nd amendment". Newsweek. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  95. ↑ Kircher, Madison Malone; McKinley, Jesse (September 10, 2025). "Social Media Falls Into Well Worn Grooves After Charlie Kirk's Death". The New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  96. ↑ Kruesi, Kimberlee (March 31, 2023). "New Tennessee law allows police officers in private schools". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  97. ↑ Jones, Vivian (May 10, 2023). "Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs $230M school safety law: Here's what it does". USA Today.
  98. ↑ "Gov. Lee Issues Official Call, Presents Legislative Priorities Ahead of Public Safety Special Session". Office of the Governor. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  99. ↑ Brown, Melissa; Vivian Jones (August 8, 2023). "Gov. Bill Lee officially calls Tennessee lawmakers back for Aug. 21 special session". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  100. 1 2 3 Brown, Melissa (April 25, 2023). "A month after Covenant shooting, calls grow for police to release files". The Tennessean.
  101. 1 2 3 Stockard, Sam (April 25, 2023). "Republicans demand release of shooter's manifesto before special session". Tennessee Lookout.
  102. 1 2 3 Smithson, Daniel; Breslin, Ryan (April 27, 2023). "Demands for shooter's writings continue month after Nashville school shooting". WSMV.
  103. ↑ Rice, Matthew (April 29, 2023). "Nashville School Shooter's Manifesto Will Finally Be Released, Perhaps Shedding Light on Killer's Motive". The New York Sun.
  104. ↑ Morris, Chuck (April 28, 2023). "Governor Lee says journals of Covenant Shooter will be released soon". WSMV.
  105. ↑ Gerasimenko, Kat (May 1, 2023). "Tennessee Firearms Association sues Metro over Covenant shooter's manifesto". WTVC. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  106. ↑ "The National Police Association Files Suit to Obtain the Nashville Shooter 'Manifesto'". PR Newswire. May 1, 2023.
  107. ↑ Norman, Greg; Ruiz, Michael (May 3, 2023). "Nashville police delay Covenant School shooting manifesto release". Fox News.
  108. ↑ Andone, Dakin (May 19, 2023). "What we know about the complex court fight over the Nashville school shooter's writings". CNN.
  109. ↑ Mealins, Evan (May 16, 2023). "TN House GOP requests school shooting records; Covenant wants a say in what's released". The Tennessean.
  110. ↑ Garcia, Tony (May 16, 2023). "Covenant School files motions to intervene in the release of shooter's writings". WSMV-TV.
  111. ↑ West, Emily (May 17, 2023). "The Covenant School parents don't want the shooter's writings released at all. Here's why". WTVF.
  112. ↑ Wethington, Caleb; Cameron, Stacey (May 23, 2023). "Covenant School parents oppose the release of shooter's writings in court filing". WSMV-TV.
  113. ↑ Cochran, Emily (May 24, 2023). "Nashville Parents Can Have Say in Case Over Shooter's Writings, Judge Rules". The New York Times.
  114. ↑ Ruiz, Michael (March 20, 2024). "Judge orders FBI to hand over trans school shooter Audrey Hale's manifesto". Fox News. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  115. 1 2 Venn, Tatiana (October 29, 2025). "Judicial Watch: Hearing Set for Thursday in Lawsuit for Release of 'Manifesto' in Nashville School Shooting". Judicial Watch. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  116. ↑ WZTV (May 30, 2025). "FBI releases over 100 pages of writings by Covenant School shooter". WTVC. Retrieved October 28, 2026.
  117. ↑ Loller, Travis (February 5, 2026). "Tennessee appeals court says school shooter's writings can be made public". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  118. 1 2 "Nashville mayor's office investigating after images leaked claiming to be part of Covenant School shooter's writings". WBIR. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  119. ↑ Chung, Frank (November 7, 2023). "Photos of Nashville school shooter's alleged manifesto leak online". news.com.au. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
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