New developments have been made in the horrendous shooting at the Nashville Covenant School on Monday, with authorities having identified the shooter as transgender woman Audrey Hale. The 28-year-old, who goes by he/him pronouns is furthermore said to have once attended the Christian educational institution and was a local resident in Nashville, per NBC News.
Following the shootout between cops and Hale, which subsequently ended the shooter’s life, law enforcement officials found his car located close to the school, giving them more information about Hale’s identity. Metro Nashville Chief of Police John Drake said in a statement that despite the details they have obtained so far, “the investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
BREAKING: Nashville police confirm the Nashville shooter was self identified transgender Audrey Hale.
Just two weeks ago Jane Fonda called for the murder of pro-lifers.pic.twitter.com/mtrvXpiqhh
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 27, 2023
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Hale’s online social media profiles show that they only used he/him pronouns, worked as a commercial illustrator and studied at the Nossi College of Art.
His motive behind the heartbreaking attack that killed three students and three staff members within a 14-minute shooting spree still remains unknown at this point, as well as how long he attended the Nashville Covenant School. “There’s right now a theory that we may be able to talk about later but it’s not confirmed,” Police Chief John Drake shared during a press conference. When asked if his identity factored into what transpired at the school this morning, he added, “There is some theory to that, we’re investigating all the leads.”
According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, nearly 1 in 4 transgender individuals have experienced some form of violence because of their gender identity. This violence can take many forms, including physical assault, sexual assault, and verbal harassment.
Transgender individuals also face discrimination in many areas of their lives, including employment, housing, and healthcare. This discrimination can lead to poverty, homelessness, and other negative outcomes.
The shooting at Nashville Covenant School had a profound impact on the entire Nashville community. It was a stark reminder of the prevalence of gun violence in America and the need for better mental health resources.
The shooting also highlighted the challenges faced by LGBTQ students in Christian schools.
*Unconfirmed* reports identify the Nashville shooter as “Audrey Hale”, a biological female that identifies as “He/Him” on their LinkedIn
Authorities believe the transgender shooter previously attended the Christian school
Instagram account “creative.aiden” has been deleted pic.twitter.com/ybdQVQsZ6H
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) March 27, 2023
During Monday’s press conference, it was also said that Hale had intended to attack a different school but those plans were quickly diverted due to fears of there being too much security.
T”here was another location that was mentioned but because of a threat assessment by the suspect, too much security, they decided not to,” Drake said.