Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documents have unearthed unsettling details regarding the financing of the Covenant School shooting in Nashville on March 27, 2023. In a legal disclosure, over 100 pages of records were released, offering insights into the shooter, Audrey Elizabeth Hale's preparations, motives, and the financial path that culminated in the tragic event at the Christian elementary school, resulting in six fatalities.
Central to these revelations is a "Account Savings Record," a handwritten ledger specifically referencing federal student financial aid programs. This document demonstrates that Hale meticulously tracked government grant disbursements she received through the college aid system. The entries detail payments from Nossi College of Art and Design in Nashville, where Hale was enrolled at the time. These financial notations were found alongside detailed documentation about the firearms Hale intended to purchase and use during the attack, highlighting a calculated method of funding her deadly plan.
The Tennessee Star reported validation of statements from Hale's parents who, in the aftermath of the shooting, told Metro Nashville Police Department detectives that their child had used federal Pell Grant funding to procure the firearms. Since Hale was over 25 and enrolled in college, parental income was not considered in determining her financial aid eligibility, allowing her to qualify for grants despite having no employment income.
The 28-year-old targeted the Covenant School, an institution she once attended as a student. The assault claimed the lives of three school staff members: Katherine Koonce, 60; Cynthia Peak, 61; and Mike Hill, 61, alongside three 9-year-old students, Hallie Scruggs, Evelyn Dieckhaus, and William Kinney. Hale was ultimately shot dead by responding officers from the Metro Nashville Police Department.
Investigators uncovered journal entries dating back to late 2021, along with notes detailing preparations for the school shooting, in the released materials. The documents also included references to specific weapons Hale aimed to acquire. Notably, Hale's writings explicitly listed "Christian school (hate religion)" as a motive, thereby providing direct evidence for selecting the religious school as her target.
Surveillance footage on the day of the attack captured Hale moving through the school, armed with multiple firearms. Authorities stated she gained entry through a side door and moved through various sections before encountering law enforcement. Before the attack, Hale sent a text to a friend, describing the plan as a "suicide mission," a detail confirmed through official summaries.
Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake indicated that a manifesto and hand-drawn maps were recovered from Hale's vehicle post-shooting. While certain portions of Hale's writings have been released, both city police and the FBI continue to oppose full disclosure of the manifesto to the public.
