NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SHOOTER IDENTIFIED AS AUDREY HALE, FORMER STUDENT AND TRANSGENDER MAN

The suspect in Monday’s shooting in Tennessee has been identified as 28 year old Audrey Hale who is a resident and a former student of the school.

Monday morning, Audrey Hale fatally shot 3 students and 3 adults at Covenant School, a school for students in preschool through sixth grade, before being shot and killed by the police.

According to the police, Hale, who identified as transgender, entered the school by shooting through the doors, she had at least 2 assault – style rifles and a handgun on her. The suspect was shot and killed by the authorities on the second floor of the school.

“The suspect had a map of what was to take place along with writings,” according to Nashville Police Chief John Drake. “It appears the shooting was a targeted attack.”

The children were identified by Nashville police as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all 9 years old. The slain adults were identified as Cynthia Peak, 61; Mike Hill, 6, and Katherine Koonce, 60, who was the head of the school, according to police.

The school has about 209 students and about 40 to 50 staff members, officials said. Police said the school does not have a school resource officer.

President Joe Biden called the shooting “a family’s worst nightmare.”