Police search for motive in Nashville school attack

He told CBS News that Hale, a 28-year-old from Nashville, may have been considering targeting family members and a local mall as well.

He said during a search of Hale’s home, police had found “more maps pertaining to maybe some thinking about some other incidents”.

The police chief said other evidence found at the house – including a manifesto and a “booklet” – indicated the shooting was highly planned.

“We have maps that show the entry point into the school, the weapons that were going to be used, the clothing that she was gonna wear, and she had drawn it up, almost like a cartoon character. It was exactly what she had on during this incident,” Drake told CBS.

Police have identified the shooter from the Convenant School attack as 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale.

The shooter, who was killed by officers at the scene, was a former student of the school and had no criminal record.

Late last night, Metropolitan Nashville police chief John Drake told reporters they had found a manifesto belonging to Hale, as well as a detailed drawn map of the school, with entry points.

In CCTV footage from inside the school, Hale is seen wearing what looks like a protective vest and carrying an assault-style rifle in one hand, with a second, similar weapon also visible hanging from the left hip.

“Resentment” may have been a motive, according to the police, who said they had had found more firearms during a search of her home.

Hale was “a biological woman who, on a social media profile, used male pronouns,” a police spokesperson has told the Washington Post.

It’s just after 08:00 local time in Nashville as we bring you the latest on yesterday’s deadly shooting at Covenant School – a private Christian school for students aged three to 11.

Attacker

Police have identified the shooter as 28-year-old Audrey Elizbeth Hale, who was shot and killed by officers during the attack.

Hale was a former student at the school and officers are studying a manifesto and a detailed map of the school, with entry points, that Hale had.

Victims

Three children aged nine and three adult staff members were killed in the shooting.

The children have been named as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, William Kinney and the adults as school head Katherine Koonce, 60, Cynthia Peak, 61, and Mike Hill, 61.

Firearms

The shooter had two “assault-style” weapons and a handgun.

At least two of the weapons were purchased legally and police say they have found more firearms during a search of Hale’s home.

Vigils

Overnight vigils have been held in Nashville in honour of the six victims and people have been gathering at a makeshift memorial outside the school building.

Biden’s appeal

Since the shooting, US President Joe Biden has renewed calls for gun control legislation – something he’s done multiple times since taking office.