Photos of excerpts from the notebook of Covenant School mass shooter Audrey (Aiden) Hale have purportedly leaked online by conservative political commentator Steven Crowder.
? BREAKING: Nashville School Covenant Shooter Audrey Hale’s “DEATH DAY” Manifesto Targeted “Cr*ckers” with “white privlages”
“wanna kill all you little cr*ckers”
“I hope I have a high death count”
"I'm ready…I hope my victims aren't."
"Ready to die."#NashvilleManifesto pic.twitter.com/89Ie6TlgRf
— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) November 6, 2023
NOTE: This is not believed to be everything within the notebook. Some have commented online that these excerpts were purposefully shown, while others were not, to push specific narratives.
EXCEPRT 1:
KILL THOSE KIDS!!! 2/3/23
THOSE CRACKERS
GOING TO PRIVATE FANCY SCHOOLS WITH THOSE FANCY KHAKIS + SPORTS BACKPACKS
W/ THEIR M— DADDIES MUSTANGS + CONVERTABLES.
FUCK YOU LITTLE SHITS
I WISH TO SHOOT YOU WEAKASS DICKS W/ YOUR MOP YELLOW HAIR,
WANNA KILL ALL YOU LITTLE CRACKERS!!!
BUNCH OF LITTLE FAGGOTS W/ YOUR WHITE PRIVLAGES
FUCK YOU FAGGOTS
EXCEPRT 2:
Death Day
(6:30)- – DESIRED [COVERED BY STICKY NOTE]
7:00AM – GET DRESSED [COVERED]
7:05AM – 8:55AM – [COVERED] W/ STUFFED ANIMALS + POSSESSIONS
9:00AM – EAT BREAKFAST AT HOME [HOME ENCIRCLED IN HEART SHAPE]
9:30AM – PACK UP SPECIAL BELONGINGS IN BACKPACK(S)
9:50AM – TEST KNIFE CAR GLASS BREAKER (DADS OLD CARS)
10:00AM – LEAVE FOR ROYAL RANGE (19-20 MIN)
10:20AM – GEAR UP + SETUP GUNS IN TRUNK (ASSEMBLE) – GET OUT REST (W/ MAGS INSIDE)
11:20AM – FINAL VIDEO TAPE (1O MIN)
11: 35AM – LEAVE FOR COVENANT SCHOOL
12:00PM – ARRIVE AT COVENANT (CHECK PARKING LOT FOR SECURITY)
12:05 – ARRIVE IN DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE
12:05-12:10 – PREPARE FOR ATTACK
12– LOCK + LOAD ALL WEAPONS
12:33- (CIRCLED) OPEN FIRE TOWARDS SW ENTRANCE
TIME 2 DIE (CIRCLED) XXX
EXCEPRT 3:
DEATH DAY 3/27/23
TODAY IS THE DAY YES, THE DAY HAS FINALLY COME!
I CANT BELIEVE ITS HERE.
DON’T KNOW HOW I WAS ABLE TO GET THIS FAR, BUT HERE I AM.
I’M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT EXCITED TOO.
BEEN EXCITED FOR THE PAST 2 WEEKS.
THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES I COULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT ESPECIALLY BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2021.
NONE OF THAT MATTERS NOW.
I’M ALMOST AN HOUR + 7 MINUTES AWAY.
CAN’T BELIEVE I’M DOING THIS, BUT I’M READY..
I HOPE MY VICTIMS AREN’T. MY ONLY FEAR IS IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG, I’LL DO MY BEST TO PREVENT ANY OF THE SORT. (GOD LET MY WRATH TAKE OVER MY ANXIETY)
IT MIGHT BE 10 MINUTES TOPS. IT MIGHT BE 3-7. ITS GUNNA GO QUICK.
I HOPE I HAVE A HIGH DEATH COUNT.
READY TO DIE HAHA
-AIDEN
GEOLOCATION
Analysis of one of the photos indicates that it was recovered from Hale’s vehicle at the school. As seen in the photo of the notebook, a Nashville Metro Police department cruiser can be seen in the background. Analysis of the school and its parking lot show that the photo was taken at approximately (36.092630, -86.825116), with the trees, pole, stairs, and guard rails matching in the background.
Likewise, the color and frame in the photo match that of Hale’s vehicle, which matches the location at the school where the photo of the manifesto was taken.
EVENTS
At approximately 10:13 am local time on March 27, 2023, Hale arrived at the Covenant School, a private Presbyterian school in Nashville’s Green Hills, after driving themself to the location armed with an AR-15 platform rifle, Kel-Tec Sub2000, and Smith & Wesson M&P Shield handgun. About 15 minutes before arriving at the school, Hale texted a friend that they planned on committing suicide that day, but did not say anything about the shooting that was about to occur.
Security camera footage shows Hale walking up to one of the school’s doors before shooting it out and making entry. Over the next 10 minutes, Hale makes their way through the halls of the school, fatally shooting three 9 year old students and three adult staff across two floors.
BREAKING: Video shows Audrey Hale methodically targeting Christian school in Nashville https://t.co/zUAX9VqwRg pic.twitter.com/FNmmypOGlZ
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 28, 2023
It remains unclear when emergency calls were made about the active shooter, but responding police units began to arrive on scene at about 10:20 am and started to assemble a party to locate and eliminate Hale. At some point, Hale reaches the second floor of the school and begins to open fire on responding units out a window, however, nobody was struck.
?BREAKING: Nashville Police release bodycam footage showing officers neutralizing trans shooter of Christian school pic.twitter.com/XUIhSceGiq
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 28, 2023
Body camera footage released by the Nashville Police show officers quickly enter the building and begin clearing operations to look for Hale. Officers soon found out that Hale was possibly on the second floor and started to make their way to the location. Upon entering the second floor from a staircase, officers are met with a long narrow hallway that lead to an open area. Pushing down the hallway, officers pass one of the deceased victims and confronted Hale. Hale was fatally shot by officers Michael Collazoi and Rex Engelbert, who were armed with a rifle and handgun, at approximately 10:27 am.
The shooting lasted approximately 14 minutes.
VICTIMS
- Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9; student
- William Kinney, 9; student
- Hallie Scruggs, 9; student
- Cynthia Peak, 61; teacher
- Mike Hill, 61; custodian
- Katherine Koonce, 60; school head
SUSPECT AND MOTIVE
Nashville Police Chief John Drake identified the gunman as 28 year old Audrey Hale, a former student of the school and local resident of the area. Drake clarified that Hale identified as a transgender male and social media profiles confirm that Hale went by the name “Aiden” and used male pronouns. Hale was identified through their personal car that was driven to the scene. Authorities initially described Hale as appearing to be a “teenage female,” but later changed their assessment.
Even months after, authorities had not commented on a potential motive behind the shooting, other than stating that it was a premeditated and targeted attack against the school, although the victims appear to have been killed at random. Drake said that investigators believe Hale harbored “resentment” for having gone to the school, but did not elaborate.
The leaked writings offer a glimpse into Hale’s potential motives and resentment towards perceived “White privilege” of those at the school, as noted in the February excerpt, calling the future victims “crackers” and “faggots.” However, without viewing all the excerpts within the notebook, no clear analysis can be made.
