Jump to content

2023 Nashville school shooting

Coordinates: 36°05′35″N 86°49′32″W / 36.09306°N 86.82556°W / 36.09306; -86.82556
Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2023 Nashville school shooting
Hale carrying a Kel-Tec SUB-2000
Map
LocationGreen Hills, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Coordinates36°05′35″N 86°49′32″W / 36.09306°N 86.82556°W / 36.09306; -86.82556
DateMarch 27, 2023 (March 27, 2023)
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)
Injured2 (1 by gunfire)[a]
PerpetratorAiden Hale[b][4]

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 when 28-year-old Aiden Hale (born Audrey Elizabeth Hale), a transgender man and former student of the school,[5][6][7] killed three nine‑year‑old children and three adults before being shot and killed by two Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) officers. It is the deadliest mass shooting in Tennessee history.

Background

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.[8]

Shooting

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

Hale drove to the school, arriving at 9:54 a.m. CDT.[9][10] At 9:57, Hale sent an Instagram message to an old friend saying an earlier post was "basically a suicide note" and anticipating dying that day.[11] The friend who received the message called a crisis hotline, then contacted the Davidson County Sheriff's Office at 10:13.[12]

At 10:11, Hale, armed with a rifle, a carbine and a pistol, shot through a set of glass side doors and entered the building.[13][14][15] In a statement of facts released in an affidavit, a timeline of the movement of the perpetrator was revealed. A school custodian noticed Hale shooting his way into the school and tried to run away; Hale fired several times with his AR pistol and shot him to death. The smoke from the gunfire triggered the fire alarm. Several staff members and students initiated an evacuation without knowing there was an active shooter.

Hale then went up to the second floor via a stairway, where he encountered several students and faculty members. Hale fired his AR pistol several times, fatally shooting three children and a substitute teacher. Most of the students and staff escaped unharmed. Hale then walked up to the four victims and fired more shots into them. He then entered the second floor hallway and shot into the doors of two nearby third grade classrooms, injuring one student with a graze wound. Hale stopped shooting and continued searching for potential victims in the second floor hallway.

Hearing the fire alarms go off, the head of the school exited the school office on the second floor, unaware that an active shooter incident was happening. Hale rounded the corner into the same hallway and fatally shot her multiple times with the AR pistol, then walked up to the headmaster and shot her once more with his handgun. At this point, Hale continued walking around the second floor hallway, looking in the hallway and in various church offices for more potential victims.

Hale went downstairs to the first floor again and fired randomly in the lobby without shooting anyone. He then returned to the second floor and entered the emptied-out church sanctuary, where he fired seven times at a stained-glass window depicting Adam and Eve with his carbine before leaving. Hale then walked by a window at the church vestibule and noticed police cars arriving. He fired at the officers outside through the window for over two minutes.[16][17]

At 10:13, police received a call about an active shooter.[18][19] When police arrived at the scene, a teacher told an officer that the students were in lockdown and two were missing.[20] Officers entered the building at around 10:23.[21][22][5] While clearing the first floor of students and staff, they heard gunshots coming from the second floor.[23][24] Officers stepped over a victim on the second floor as they made their way to Hale.[25] At 10:25, a five-member team approached Hale,[26] and two officers fired four times each, killing Hale. By 10:27, 14 minutes after the initial 911 call was made, the threat was neutralized.[27][28][26] In total, Hale fired more than 150 rounds.[29] 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.[30] A reunification center was set up by the MNPD at the Woodmont Baptist Church; students were taken there by school bus in the afternoon.[31]

Victims

Six people—three students and three staff—were killed at random.[5] Five were pronounced dead at a hospital and one at the scene.[32] The deceased students were Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs, all aged 9.[33][c] The deceased faculty members were substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61; custodian Mike Hill, 61; and head of school Katherine Koonce, 60.[34] In addition, a police officer was injured after cutting his hand on shattered glass.[3]

Perpetrator

Aiden Hale (previously referred to by the police by his birthname of Audrey Elizabeth Hale) was a 28-year-old former student of the Covenant School and a Nashville resident with no criminal record.[35] According to a former headmaster of the Covenant School, Hale attended the school when "around 10 years of age".[36][37] 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]

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".[35] Media sources subsequently reported Hale was a trans man.[38] His former art teacher and a former classmate recalled him coming out as transgender on Facebook in 2022.[39][40] According to a friend, Hale "had a childlike obsession with staying a child".[40]

Hale was an illustrator and graphic designer who graduated from the Nossi College of Art & Design in 2022.[13] A neighbor said Hale lived with his parents.[41]

Investigation and perpetrator's writings

The MNPD took the lead of the investigation of the shooting, assisted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.[42] Two shotguns, one of which was sawed-off, and other evidence were found in a search of the Hales' house.[43] Evidence included a detailed map of the school with potential entry points and a manifesto.[24][44] 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.[44] 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.[45]

As of April 14, 2023, police have not publicly disclosed a motive for the shooting. 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.[37] 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.[46] 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."[47]

Reactions

The Covenant School issued a statement asking for privacy during the law-enforcement investigation.[48] Several vigils were held for the casualties. A memorial at the school gathered items such as flowers, balloons, and stuffed animals.[48] 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.[49] 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.[50][51]

Several notable Nashville musicians including Mickey Guyton, Margo Price, and Sheryl Crow offered their condolences and anger about continual school shootings.[52] Actress Melissa Joan Hart, who was nearby when the shooting occurred and helped escort some of the fleeing children to safety,[53] recounted the experience on Instagram a day later.[54]

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.[55]

Arizona gubernatorial press secretary Josselyn Berry tweeted, hours after the shooting, a meme of an actress from Gloria 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.[56][57]

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.[58][59] A fake manifesto posted anonymously on 4chan was reposted on Twitter.[60]

Policy debate and protests

Further information: 2023 Tennessee House of Representatives expulsions

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."[8] He ordered flags on all federal buildings to be flown at half-staff.[24][61] Nashville Mayor John Cooper called for the state to enact risk-protection laws and take action on gun safety.[62] Tennessee state representative Bob Freeman, a Democrat from Nashville, called for gun reforms in the wake of the shooting.[63]

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.[64][65] Some children held signs saying "I'm nine" in reference to the age of the children shot.[66] 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.[67][63] On April 5, thousands of students across the United States demonstrated in a walkout to call on lawmakers to end gun violence.[68] The student group March for Our Lives organized walkouts across Tennessee as well as a march to the State Capitol.[69]

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.[70][71] Jones and Pearson were expelled from the House on April 6, with the vote to expel Johnson failing by a single vote.[72] 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.[73] The expulsion and interim reinstatement garnered national attention.[74][75]

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.[76] 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.[77]

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.[78][79]

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.[13] 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".[37] The MNPD denied requests for the files by The Tennessean[80] and state senator Todd Gardenhire,[81] who argued, along with some open-government advocates, that Tennessee's public records laws required the release of the writings.[29] 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.[82] Several Tennessee politicians[81] and public figures—including Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr.—publicly called for the release of the documents.[29][80] 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."[80] 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."[29][81]

On April 28, 2023, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that, per his communications with Drake, the writings would be released "very soon".[83] When the National Police Association[84] and the Tennessee Firearms Association,[85] separately, filed suit to obtain the writings, the MNPD announced that, in the face of "pending litigation", it would delay the release on the advice of counsel.[86] The Covenant School sought to intervene in both cases[87] to protect "sensitive information owned by The Covenant School" from being released,[88][89] 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.[90][91] A judge granted the requests to intervene by the school and the parents.[92] In March 2024, a federal judge in Tennessee ordered the FBI to hand over the manifesto left behind by the shooter.[93]

Leaks

On November 6, 2023, images of three pages of Hale's diary were released by conservative commentator Steven Crowder.[94] Nashville Police chief John Drake confirmed the authenticity of the images,[46] and Nashville mayor Freddie O'Connell directed Nashville's Department of Law to investigate "how these images could have been released".[94][46] 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".[95]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ An injured victim was a police officer who cut his hand on shattered glass.[3]
  2. ^ Has been identified by law enforcement and the press by his birth name, Audrey Elizabeth Hale.
  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.

References

  1. ^ a b 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".
  3. ^ a b 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.
  4. ^ "What we know about the alleged Nashville school shooter". KWTX-TV. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Hara, Amanda; Garcia, Tony (March 27, 2023). "Nashville school shooter fired at glass doors to gain entry, fired at police". WSMV-TV. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ a b c 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.
  14. ^ Pengelly, Martin; Vargas, Ramon Antonio (March 27, 2023). "Three children and three adults killed in Nashville elementary school shooting". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  15. ^ Shoup, Craig; Gadd, Chris; Wegner, Rachel; Fiscus, Kirsten (March 27, 2023). "Nashville school shooting: Seven fatally shot at Covenant School, including female suspect". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  16. ^ Pappert, Tom (June 7, 2024). "MNPD Learned on Day of Covenant Shooting Audrey Hale Had Been Treated by Vanderbilt Psychiatric for 22 Years from 2001 Until Her 2023 Death". The Tennessee Star. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  17. ^ Hillard, Graham (April 27, 2023). "Shooting Adam". National Review. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  18. ^ West, Emily; Broderick, Kelly (March 27, 2023). "Seven dead: three children killed plus the shooter dead at The Covenant School on Monday". WTVF. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  19. ^ Wurm, Kevin (March 27, 2023). "Woman shoots dead 3 children, 3 adults in Nashville school attack". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ Pereira, Ivan; Faul, Alexandra; Bruggeman, Lucien; Margolin, Josh; Wash, Stephanie (March 29, 2023). "Nashville shooting timeline: How the massacre unfolded at the Covenant School". ABC News.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "What we know about the Nashville Christian school shooting that left 6 dead". PBS. March 28, 2023.
  24. ^ a b c Mattise, Jonathan; Loller, Travis; Meyer, Holly (March 28, 2023). "Nashville shooter who killed 6 drew maps, surveilled school". Associated Press.
  25. ^ Fiscus, Kirsten; Brown, Melissa; Jones, Vivian; Humbles, Andy; Wegner, Rachel; Nguyen, Thao (April 4, 2023). "'All of us stepped over a victim': Nashville officers describe response to Covenant School shooting". USA Today.
  26. ^ a b Latham, Angele (March 28, 2023). "A timeline of Covenant School shooting in Nashville: What we know". The Tennessean.
  27. ^ Li, David K.; Obregon, Natalie (March 27, 2023). "Nashville Christian school shooting leaves 3 children, 3 adults dead". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  28. ^ McShane, Julianne (March 28, 2023). "Body camera footage shows moment police confront and kill Nashville shooter". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  29. ^ a b c d Smithson, Daniel; Breslin, Ryan (April 27, 2023). "Demands for shooter's writings continue month after Nashville school shooting". WSMV.
  30. ^ WZTV, JORDAN WHITTINGTON | (June 13, 2023). "Autopsy report reveals Covenant School shooter shot four times by police". The National Desk. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  31. ^ Davis, Molly (March 27, 2023). "Parents wait to be reunited with children in wake of Covenant School shooting". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^
  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. ^ a b 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.
  36. ^ Smithson, Daniel (March 27, 2023). "Nashville school shooter was former student, police say". WSMV-TV. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  37. ^ a b c "Motive in Nashville shooting remains unclear weeks after 6 people were killed at a Christian school". NBC News.
  38. ^ Wegner, Rachel; Davis, Molly; Sharon, Keith (March 28, 2023). "'Truly horrific': Nashville mourns after mass shooting at elementary school". The Tennessean.
  39. ^ 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.
  40. ^ a b 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.
  41. ^ 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.
  42. ^ 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.
  43. ^ 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.
  44. ^ a b 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.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ a b c 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.
  47. ^ 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.
  48. ^ a b Davis, Miles; Leyva, Diana (March 28, 2023). "Covenant School community seeks prayer in wake of deadly mass shooting". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  49. ^ Nicholson, Jessica (April 13, 2023). "Carrie Underwood, Tyler Hubbard & More Lead With Empathy at Covenant School Memorial Concert". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  50. ^ Stephenson, Cassandra (March 29, 2023). "How to help those affected by the Covenant School shooting in Nashville". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  51. ^ 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.
  52. ^ Paulson, Dave (March 27, 2023). "Nashville musicians react to Covenant School shooting, call for action". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  53. ^ 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.
  54. ^ 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.
  55. ^ Horowitch, Rose (March 28, 2023). "Rep. Andy Ogles, whose district includes Nashville, criticized over gun-filled Christmas photo". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023.
  56. ^ 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.
  57. ^ 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.
  58. ^ 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.
  59. ^ 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.
  60. ^ 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.
  61. ^ 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.
  62. ^ El-Bawab, Nadine (April 6, 2023). "Nashville mayor calls on lawmakers to enact risk protection laws, act on gun safety". ABC News.
  63. ^ a b 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.
  64. ^ 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.
  65. ^ 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.
  66. ^ "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.
  67. ^ 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.
  68. ^ 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.
  69. ^ 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.
  70. ^ 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.
  71. ^ 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.
  72. ^ 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.
  73. ^ "Second Tennessee lawmaker to return to chamber after explusion". Al Jazeera. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  74. ^ 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.
  75. ^ McCammond, Alexi (April 12, 2023). "Trump steps into center of youth-led "Tennessee Three" backlash". Axios. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  76. ^ 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.
  77. ^ Jones, Vivian (May 10, 2023). "Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs $230M school safety law: Here's what it does". USA Today.
  78. ^ "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.
  79. ^ 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.
  80. ^ a b c Brown, Melissa (April 25, 2023). "A month after Covenant shooting, calls grow for police to release files". The Tennessean.
  81. ^ a b c Stockard, Sam (April 25, 2023). "Republicans demand release of shooter's manifesto before special session". Tennessee Lookout.
  82. ^ 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.
  83. ^ Morris, Chuck (April 28, 2023). "Governor Lee says journals of Covenant Shooter will be released soon". WSMV.
  84. ^ "The National Police Association Files Suit to Obtain the Nashville Shooter 'Manifesto'". PR Newswire. May 1, 2023.
  85. ^ Gerasimenko, Kat (May 1, 2023). "Tennessee Firearms Association sues Metro over Covenant shooter's manifesto". WTVC.
  86. ^ Norman, Greg; Ruiz, Michael (May 3, 2023). "Nashville police delay Covenant School shooting manifesto release". Fox News.
  87. ^ Andone, Dakin (May 19, 2023). "What we know about the complex court fight over the Nashville school shooter's writings". CNN.
  88. ^ Mealins, Evan (May 16, 2023). "TN House GOP requests school shooting records; Covenant wants a say in what's released". The Tennessean.
  89. ^ Garcia, Tony (May 16, 2023). "Covenant School files motions to intervene in the release of shooter's writings". WSMV-TV.
  90. ^ West, Emily (May 17, 2023). "The Covenant School parents don't want the shooter's writings released at all. Here's why". WTVF.
  91. ^ Wethington, Caleb; Cameron, Stacey (May 23, 2023). "Covenant School parents oppose the release of shooter's writings in court filing". WSMV-TV.
  92. ^ Cochran, Emily (May 24, 2023). "Nashville Parents Can Have Say in Case Over Shooter's Writings, Judge Rules". The New York Times.
  93. ^ Ruiz, Michael (March 20, 2024). "Judge orders FBI to hand over trans school shooter Audrey Hale's manifesto". Fox News. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  94. ^ a b "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.
  95. ^ Chung, Frank (November 7, 2023). "Photos of Nashville school shooter's alleged manifesto leak online". news.com.au. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=2023_Nashville_school_shooting&oldid=1263493977#Background"