27 March 2023 , 21:38
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Police have announced the shooter who killed six people in the Nashville school shooting was transgender.
The suspect, who has been identified as 28-year-old Audrey Elizabeth Hale, was killed by police at the scene at the Covenant School, Nashville, Tennessee, US.
Police searched their house and found a detailed map of the school, including potential entry points, and evidence she had clearly done surveillance before the shooting.
Authorities also described Hale as a "lone zealot", who had written a manifesto ahead of the attack.
Hale is believed to be a former student at The Covenant School in Nashville, who used two assault rifles and a pistol to kill six.
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Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said: “We have a manifesto, we have some writings we’re going over that pertain to this day, the actual incident.
Children being led away from the shooting (AP)“We have a map drawn out of how this was all going to take place.
“There’s right now a theory that we may be able to talk about later but it’s not confirmed, and so we’ll put that out as soon as we can.”
The three children killed were Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all 9 years old.
School buses with children arrive at Woodmont Baptist Church to be reunited with their families (Getty Images)The adults killed were identified as Cynthia Peak, 61, a substitute teacher, Mike Hill, 61, a janitor, and Katherine Koonce, 60, who was the head of the school.
Drake said: “I was literally moved to tears to see this and the kids as they were being ushered out of the building."
Children were led away from the scene to be later reunited with their parents.
Police, who previously said the female gunman appeared to be in her teens, have revealed Hale was gunned down by officers on the second floor of the school, where they were firing on staff and students in a lobby.
Police crime scene tape is seen at the entrance to Covenant School (John Amis/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Joe Biden called the shooting "heartbreaking, a family's worst nightmare."
The president, who was speaking at an unrelated event said more needs to be done to stop gun violence.
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He described the shooting a “family’s worst nightmare”.
“It’s ripping our communities apart," he said.
Biden called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, saying we "need to do more to protect our schools."
Police swarmed the area (John Amis/AP/REX/Shutterstock)“It's about time we began to make some more progress," he said.
Immediately following the shootings, hundreds took to social media to criticise Tennessee’s Governor, Bill Lee.
Two years ago, the Republican refused to tighten state firearm laws going on to sign a bill allowing permitless gun carry despite opposition from police.
Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, which advocates for gun safety, criticised Lee for not putting out a statement immediately after yesterday’s (MON) shooting.
President Joe Biden speaks about the school shooting in Nashville (AP)“Tennessee Governor Bill Lee hasn't had time yet to tweet his thoughts and prayers for Covenant School, but when he does, remind him that this is exactly why police and citizens opposed the permitless carry bill he signed into law at a gun maker's factory in 2021,” Watts tweeted.
Mr Lee signed legislation in 2021 that allowed people to carry a loaded handgun either concealed or openly without a permit, but not rifles or shotguns.
Minutes after her tweet, Lee asked people to “please join us in praying for the school, congregation and Nashville community” in a post.