Nashville trans shooter sent DMs to friend announcing plans for 'something bad,' suicide—police did not respond to friend's call for help

The trans school shooter who gunned down three 9-year-old children and three school staff members on Monday reportedly sent foreboding Instagram messages to a former middle school basketball teammate before carrying out the attack. 

Averianna Patton said that she read the messages sent to her by Audrey Hale, and how Hale had planned to die by suicide. The messages were made available by NewsChannel 5, with another message suggesting that Hale would see Patton again in another life. Hale spoke in the messages about no longer having the desire to live.

Hale wrote: "This is my last goodbye. I love you. See you again in another life. Audrey (Aiden)."

When Patton suggested that Hale had so much more to live for, Hale replied: "I know but I don’t want to live. I’m not trying to upset you or get attention. I just need to die."

Hale continued: "I wanted to tell you first because you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen and known all my life. My family doesn’t know what I’m about to do."

Hale wrote: "One day this will make more sense. I've left behind more than enough evidence behind. But something bad is about to happen."

Patton noted that she had tried to help Hale, saying: "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 am. Audrey has shared with others that she had been suicidal in the past and I knew to take this serious."

The report notes that Patton apparently called the Nashville Davidson County Sheriff’s Office at 10:13 am, making them aware of the situation. She was subsequently told to call Nashville’s non-emergency number.

Patton went on: "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 said she wanted to come forward about this circumstance because she believed more urgency should have happened when she reached out to officials for help.

"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," Patton added.

"My heart is with all of the families affected and I'm devastated by what has happened."