Trans Nashville shooter's manifesto will be released after FBI review

Transgender Nashville Christian school shooter Audrey Hale’s manifesto will be made available to the public following the FBI and its team of criminal profilers analyzing its contents.

Robert Swope, a Nashville City Council member revealed to the New York Post that the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis team is working "in tandem with" the Metro Nashville Police Department to complete “a very in-depth analysis of certain aspects of the shooter’s life."

"The manifesto is going to be released. It’s just a matter of when. There are some incredibly brilliant psychological minds and psychological analysts combing through her entire life," added Swope.

Audrey Hale, 28, left behind a manifesto at Hale’s family residence as well as writings inside Hale’s car that was parked in the school’s parking lot, revealing maps of the school and a detailed plan as to how to carry out the attack, including cartoon-like drawings of the clothing Hale would wear the day of. 

Hale arrived at the Covenant School, of which Hale was a former student, around 9:54 am on Monday, and was shot dead by responding officers around 14 minutes after police responded to the school. In a message sent to a school friend shortly after arriving at the school, 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."

Hale, armed with two rifles and a handgun, shot and killed three nine-year-olds Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kenney, as well as janitor Mike Hill, 61, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and headmistress Katherine Koonce, 60.

Police have revealed that the attack was targeted, and Hale had kept seven guns hidden at the family home unbeknownst to Hale’s parents, who believed Hale had sold the single firearm Hale possessed before the shooting.

Police have not yet released a motive, but have said the school, not specific victims, was targeted, according to the New York Post. 

Swope told the outlet that Hale had "looked at" two other schools, both public, to carry out the attack, but decided "the security was too great to do what she wanted to do."

"So she chose a private Christian school, for, probably the reason is that the security is a whole lot less," he went on. 

Swope said that he and other Nashville officials are exploring ways to "harden our schools from ballistics, active AI systems that can recognize guns at a hundred yards outside under any circumstances."

"I’m beyond heartbroken. That this kind of evil actually exists in this world, it is amazing to me," Swope said. "I don’t know how our community gets past this."

Hale was reportedly being treated for an emotional disorder by a doctor, and it has been reported that Hale had "high-functioning autism."