Nashville, Tenn. — The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department released its final report on the deadly shooting at Covenant School in Green Hills on Wednesday, offering detailed insights into the attack that claimed six lives, including three children.
The 48-page report, which delves into various aspects of the incident, confirms that the shooter, 28-year-old Audrey Hale, was the sole individual responsible for the attack, with no assistance from others in planning or executing the deadly assault. Hale, a former student at Covenant School, was confronted by Metro officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo, who fatally shot the assailant after a tense standoff.
On March 27, 2023, Hale opened fire inside the private Christian school, killing three 9-year-old children—Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney—as well as three adults: Cynthia Peak, 61; Dr. Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61. The victims’ deaths sent shockwaves through the Nashville community and beyond.
Despite the tragic nature of the attack, key questions remain unanswered. The report indicates that Hale appeared to be seeking notoriety, but there was no manifesto or any documentation left behind that could explain the reasons for the shooting. Investigators found no clear motive for why Hale specifically targeted the Covenant School or what, if anything, Hale hoped to achieve through the attack.
Police also examined Hale’s mental state at the time of the shooting. While the investigation considered whether Hale was sane, no definitive conclusion was reached in the report regarding Hale’s mental health. Detectives found no evidence that Hale was receiving outside help or had any accomplices in planning the assault. The investigation made it clear that Hale acted alone both in the days leading up to the shooting and during the attack itself.
One of the most disturbing findings is the lack of an explicit motive. Despite thorough investigation, police were unable to identify any substantial clues that would clarify why Hale chose the school or the victims. The absence of a manifesto or clear written explanation leaves many in the community grappling with the why of the attack, a crucial piece of the puzzle that may never come to light.
The final report provides a thorough recounting of the events of that tragic day, but with no clear answers as to what drove Hale to carry out the massacre, many questions still linger. The lack of a clear motive, along with the absence of any public statement or explanation from Hale, has left families, friends, and the wider Nashville community seeking closure that may never fully come.
As law enforcement continues to investigate the broader implications of the attack, the community remains in mourning, grappling with the loss of innocent lives and the uncertainty of what might have driven such a violent act.
