The closely armed shooter accused of killing six individuals at a Nashville Christian college left behind a manifesto and map outlining motives for the assault, authorities stated Monday.
Police recognized the attacker as Audrey Elizabeth Hale, 28, a transgender man who was assigned feminine at beginning. Hale entered the Covenant college with an AR-style rifle, and AR-style pistol, and one other handgun, police stated.
“We’ve got a manifesto, we’ve some writings that we’re going over that pertain to this date, the precise incident,” Metro Nashville Police Division Chief John Drake stated at a day press convention. “We’ve got a map drawn out of how this was all going to happen.”
Responding officers killed Hale, a Nashville resident, in a foyer space inside the varsity, Drake stated.
5 of the victims have been pronounced useless at close by Monroe Carell Jr. Kids’s Hospital at Vanderbilt; the sixth was pronounced useless on the scene, in keeping with authorities.
“It might have been far, far worse,” Drake stated.
Who’s the Nashville college shooter?
Police officers stated Hale had previously been a scholar on the small, non-public Christian college however they have been nonetheless investigating when. Drake stated authorities imagine they perceive Hale’s motive, which Drake indicated was linked to being transgender.
“There’s some idea to that,” he stated in response to a query. “We’re investigating all of the leads and as soon as we all know precisely we’ll let you understand.”
Hale parked a automotive close by earlier than coming into the varsity by capturing open a aspect door, police stated.
Drake stated Hale apparently thought of a second Nashville-area goal for an assault however did not undergo with it as a result of it had extra safety.
In response to police, the assault happened three days after Hale’s twenty eighth birthday.
How was Hale armed?
Drake on Monday afternoon stated Hale entered the varsity with an AR-style rifle, and AR-style pistol, and one other handgun. AR-style weapons are sometimes utilized in mass shootings as a result of they permit the shooter to fireside many rounds quickly.
Talking Monday afternoon, President Joe Biden renewed his name for a ban on related firearms.
In a press convention Monday afternoon, Drake declined to debate whether or not Hale was sporting physique armor, which has change into widespread amongst mass shooters.
Go deeper:
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The White Home reacts: President Biden renews name to ban assault weapons
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Nashville college capturing suspect: Who’s the Covenant shooter?