Body-cam police footage released of trans school shooter Audrey Hale being neutralized

Mia Cathell
Townhall
Tue, 28 Mar 2023 10:45 UTC

© Metropolitan Nashville Police Department

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has released the body-worn camera footage of the heroic officers who took down 28-year-old transgender shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale, a former Covenant School student who went by the trans name "Aiden."

In the six-minute video posted to YouTube, two points-of-view are compiled, showing the perspectives of Officer Rex Engelbert, a four-year MNPD veteran, and Officer Michael Collazo, a nine-year MNPD veteran, the officers credited with fatally shooting Hale:

"The kids are all locked down but we have two kids that we don't know where they are," a woman tells Engelbert arriving on the scene. She adds, "Upstairs are a bunch of kids," where the active shooter is at the time. An alarm is blaring as the team of first responders clears each classroom. "Let's go!" the cops shout before heading up the school stairwell, running toward the gunfire.

In the second-floor common area, a team of responding officers encounters Hale firing through a window at arriving police cars. "Reloading!" an officer yells when Engelbert pulls the trigger several times. Hale can be seen dropping to the ground, neutralized.

"Move! Move!" Collazo commands the other officers. He then shoots Hale, whose hands were still gripping the firearms. "Get your hand away from the gun!" an officer orders Hale. "Suspect down! Suspect down!" Collaza repeatedly shouts, disarming Hale.

A map and writings, including a "manifesto," written by Hale revealed that her attack was "calculated and planned," MNPD says. A search warrant executed at Hale's home resulted in the seizure of a sawed-off shotgun, a second shotgun, and other evidence.

Three children were killed in the private Christian school shooting in addition to three faculty members: Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs, all age 9; Mike Hill, age 61, Cynthia Peak, age 61, and head of school Katherine Koonce, age 60.

In earlier footage released by MNPD, the armed trans militant, who attended the school years ago, arrived on campus in her Honda Fit. She was heavily armed with three guns and shot her way into the school through doors on the side of the building.

The surveillance video shows Hale stalking the school hallway, where the children's ministry is located, looking for victims.

Comment: See also: Nashville school shooter Audrey Hale identified as transgender and had detailed manifesto to attack Christian academy, shot and killed six people

More from the New York Post:

While Nashville Police Chief John Drake said Hale targeted the school, he noted that the victims were picked at random.

Hale was a former student at the school, according to police.

"We have a manifesto, we have some writings that we're going over that pertain to this date, the actual incident," Drake said during a press conference Monday. "We have a map drawn out of how this was all going to take place."

During the search of the shooter's home, police said, they also recovered a sawed-off shotgun and a second shotgun.

During a press conference, Drake referred to Hale by female pronouns but also said the shooter identified as transgender without providing more clarity.

The Tennessean later reported that a police spokesperson said Hale used he/him pronouns and those pronouns were listed on a LinkedIn page used by Hale.

The victims in Monday's awful attack were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and Williams Kinney, all just 9, as well as custodian Mike Hill, 61, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and Katherine Koonce, 60, who was the school's headmaster.

Multiple vigils across the community Monday night grieved for the slain students and staffers.

At Belmont United Methodist Church, mourners prayed, sang, and lit candles as they at one point said together "we confess we have not done enough to protect" the children killed or wounded in shootings.

"We need to step back. We need to breathe. We need to grieve," said Paul Purdue, the church's senior pastor.

"We need to remember. We need to make space for others who are grieving. We need to hear the cries of our neighbors."