LOCAL NEWS

Time: Nashville school shooting

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Officer Rex Engelbert was the first officer to answer the doors to Covenant School in Nashville Monday morning after reports of a shooting at the school.

Engelbert, a four-year veteran of the Metro Police Department, quickly unlocked and opened the door after a school employee told him at least two children were missing.

When the door opened, Engelbert was met with the blare of a fire alarm sounding inside the school. Not knowing what was inside, Engelbert returned to his team and shouted: “Come on!”

After two minutes and 15 seconds, the threat disappeared. The events that unfolded on Monday happened quickly. The shooter entered the school, opened fire, killed six people, and was killed by officers less than an hour after leaving.

NASHVILLE SCHOOL OF SHOOTING

Around 9:30 in the morning Metro Police Chief John Drake said 28-year-old Audrey Hale left her home Monday morning with a red bag. Hale’s mother asked about the bag, but the shooter dismissed the question, police said.

9:53 a.m. Hale, who drives a Honda Fit, arrives at Covenant School, according to surveillance footage. The video shows Hale driving around the parking lot, going out of frame and stopping at 9:55.

Police said it was the car Audrey Hale drove to Covenant School on Monday morning.(MNPD)

9:57 am – Hale sends a goodbye message to a former high school classmate on Instagram. “This is my last goodbye. I love you. We’ll meet again in another life.” The former classmate replies, telling the shooter that they have more to live.

Hale responds again, saying that one day “it will make more sense,” but “something bad is coming.”

Audrey Hale's Instagram message to Aurianne Patton was sent minutes before the school shooting...
Audrey Hale’s Instagram message was sent to Avrianna Patton minutes before the school shooting at Covenant School.(Photo provided)

10:10 a.m. Hale approaches the side entrance of a private Christian school. Hale fires through the glass doors without hesitation. Seconds later, the shooter ducks under a railing to enter the school. Hale has two AR rifles and a pistol.

Audrey Hale shoots in the side entrance of Covenant School.
Audrey Hale shoots in the side entrance of Covenant School.(MNPD)

10:13 – First call to 911.

10:13 – Hale walks through the school hallway. For several minutes, the shooter walks around the church office, enters, exits, and then passes through the children’s ministry. Hale shoots at 10:21 before leaving the video frame.

Audrey Hale walks past one of the offices inside Covenant School.
Audrey Hale walks past one of the offices inside Covenant School.(MNPD)

10:24 – The first metro police officers arrive at the scene. Within seconds, Engelbert opens and unlocks the door. A five-man tactical unit enters the school and begins searching for the shooter.

10:27 – A team of officers encounters a shooter in the second floor atrium. Hale was shooting through a window at arriving officers, police said. Englebert, along with Officer Michael Collazo, shot Hale.

Body camera footage shows officers engaging and neutralizing an active school shooter Monday.
Body camera footage shows officers engaging and neutralizing an active school shooter Monday.(MNPD)

The threat is over.

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