Nashville police have launched body-camera video worn by officers who responded to the lethal mass taking pictures at a Christian grade college on Monday and fatally shot the shooter, a former scholar who authorities say killed three youngsters and three adults.
The slain youngsters had been recognized by police as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all aged 9. The adults had been Cynthia Peak, a 61-year-old substitute instructor; Mike Hill, a 61-year-old custodian; and the 60-year-old head of the varsity, Katherine Koonce.
The footage from Officer Rex Engelbert’s physique digicam reveals him arriving on the Covenant Faculty at 10:27 a.m., about 14 minutes after calls had been made that an lively shooter was on the varsity’s campus.
After pulling into the car parking zone and grabbing his gun, Engelbert is knowledgeable by a staffer that the scholars are inside and locked down however that two are lacking. “I want three, let’s go!” Engelbert yells to fellow officers earlier than coming into the varsity.
Alarms are heard blaring inside, as Engelbert, his fellow police officer Michael Collazo and three unidentified officers transfer from room to room with their lengthy weapons drawn.
Inside minutes, they arrive on the second flooring, the place gunfire could be heard. They then encounter and hearth on the shooter, recognized by police as Audrey Elizabeth Hale, who was fatally wounded.
Surveillance video reveals suspect shoot by means of doorways, roam halls
Footage from surveillance cameras launched by Nashville Police on Monday night time reveals Hale arrive on the college in a Honda Match shortly earlier than 10 a.m. native time.
The chilling video taken from inside the varsity at 10:13 a.m. captures the glass in a set of doorways shattering, earlier than Hale — sporting a vest, camouflage pants and a pink baseball cap turned backward — climbs by means of one of many door frames.
Hale is then seen roaming empty hallways with emergency lights flashing, pointing an extended gun at varied factors.
The footage launched Monday doesn’t present any of the victims, nor does it present Hale being fatally shot by police.
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Authorities additionally launched images of Hale’s automotive parked within the car parking zone and a police cruiser with bullet holes. In response to police, Hale fired on officers from a second-story window as they arrived on the college.
Shooter messaged former classmate on Instagram earlier than bloodbath
Kids are evacuated after a mass taking pictures on the Covenant Faculty in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday. (AP Photograph/Jonathan Mattise)
Averianna Patton, a former center college basketball teammate of Hale’s, informed Nashville’s WTVF-TV that Hale messaged her on Instagram minutes earlier than the assault and informed her she deliberate to kill herself.
“I’m planning to die in the present day,” Hale’s first message despatched to Patton learn. “THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!!”
“You’ll most likely hear about me on the information after I die. That is my final goodbye. I like you. See you once more in one other life,” she continued.
Patton responded by telling Hale “you might have a lot extra life to stay.”
“I do know however I don’t wish to stay,” Hale replied. “I’m so sorry. I’m not attempting to upset you or get consideration. I simply must die.”
“I needed to inform you first as a result of you’re the most lovely particular person I’ve ever seen and identified all my life,” Hale continued.
“My household doesn’t know what I’m about to do,” Hale added. “In the future it will make extra sense. I’ve left greater than sufficient proof behind. However one thing unhealthy is about to occur.”
The Honda Match automobile that Hale parked on the Covenant Faculty in Nashville on Monday. (Metropolitan Nashville Police Division/Handout through Reuters)
In response to Patton, the messages had been despatched round 9:57 a.m., or about 16 minutes earlier than the primary 911 name was made.
Patton informed WTVF-TV that she referred to as the Suicide Prevention Assist Line at 10:08 a.m., earlier than calling the Davidson County Sheriff’s Workplace 5 minutes later. The sheriff’s workplace informed her to name Nashville’s nonemergency line, which positioned her on maintain for almost seven minutes.
When she lastly bought by means of, Patton mentioned she was informed that an officer can be despatched to her dwelling.
An officer did come to her dwelling — at about 3:30 p.m., hours after shootings.
“My coronary heart is with the entire households affected,” Patton mentioned. “And I’m devastated by what has occurred.”