Minutes prior to shooting and killing three children and three adults in Nashville, Audrey Hale sent her ex-middle school basketball teammate Averianna Patton a ‘suicide note’ on Instagram, saying “I’m planning to die today.” At 9:57am on Monday, this chilling message was received.
“So basically that post I made on here about you, that was basically a suicide note. I’m planning to die today,” Hale wrote, using the name Aiden, according to messages Patton gave the outlet.
Hale added: “This is my last goodbye. I love you … See you again in another life.” She signed the missive “Audrey (Aiden).”
Patton replied: “Audrey! You have so much more life to live. I pray God keeps and covers you.”
In response, Hale wrote: “I know but I don’t want to live. I’m so sorry. I’m not trying to upset you or get attention. I just need to die. I wanted to tell you first because you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen and known all my life.”
She added: “My family doesn’t know what I’m about to do. One day this will make more sense. I’ve left more than enough evidence behind. But something bad is about to happen.”
Hale burst out of The Covenant School, a Christian academy, carrying two assault rifles and a handgun. In mere moments, three 9-year-olds and three staffers had been shot before police officers arrived and fatally wounded her at 10:27am. This was only fourteen minutes after they had received the call about an active shooter.
“I tried to comfort and encourage her and subsequently reached out to the Suicide Prevention Help Line after being instructed to by my father at 10:08 a.m.,” Patton told NewsChannel 5.
“Audrey has shared with others that she had been suicidal in the past and I knew to take this serious [sic],” she added.
Hale burst out of The Covenant School, a Christian academy, carrying two assault rifles and a handgun. In mere moments, three 9-year-olds and three staffers had been shot before police officers arrived and fatally wounded her at 10:27am. This was only fourteen minutes after they had received the call about an active shooter.
“I called Nashville’s non-emergency line at 10:14 a.m. and was on hold for nearly seven minutes before speaking with someone who said that they would send an officer to my home. An officer did not come to my home until 3:29 p.m.,” Patton told the station.
“After phone calls from friends and Audrey’s name was released as the shooter at Covenant Nashville school, I learned that Audrey was the shooter and that she had reached out to me prior to the shooting,” she said.
“My heart is with all of the families affected and I’m devastated by what has happened,” Patton added.
Hale burst out of The Covenant School, a Christian academy, carrying two assault rifles and a handgun. In mere moments, three 9-year-olds and three staffers had been shot before police officers arrived and fatally wounded her at 10:27am. This was only fourteen minutes after they had received the call about an active shooter.
