Information about the shooter who killed six people at an elementary school in Nashville, Tenn., continues to drip to media outlets. We now know:
- The shooter was a 28-year-old trans person who identified as male.
- The shooter killed three nine-year-old students, a custodian, a substitute teacher and the school principal.
- The shooting occurred at The Covenant School: Nashville Private Christian School — a small school with 209 students enrolled.
- The shooter was a former student.
- The shooter left a suicide note and manifesto.
- The shooter was armed with two assault rifles and a handgun.
- Police used lethal force to stop the shooter about 15 minutes after receiving the 911 call. Their prompt action reportedly saved many lives.
- The shooter reached out to a longtime friend just before the shooting.
NewsChannel 5 reported the shooter messaged Averianna Patterson, a friend and middle school basketball teammate, about 20 minutes before initiating the rampage: “I’m planning to die today,” the message read.
The communique continued: “THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!! You’ll probably hear about me on the news after I die. This is my last goodbye. I love you. See you again in another life.”
Patton replied quickly to the disturbing message: “Audrey! You have so much more life to live. I pray God keeps and covers you.”
The shooter replied: “I know, but I don’t want to live. I’m so sorry. I’m not trying to upset you or get attention. I just need to die. I wanted to tell you first because you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen and known all my life.”
The shooter added: “My family doesn’t know what I’m about to do. One day this will make more sense. I’ve left more than enough evidence behind. But something bad is about to happen.”
Just moments later, the killer reportedly shot through the locked front doors of the school and began to walk the halls, a rifle in hand.
Patton told NewsChannel 5: “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 a.m.”
Investigators continue to seek information on a possible motive for the horrendous murders. Some have noted that the trans community has called for a “Trans Day of Vengeance” this week.
WION News reported that Tsukuru Fors, the co-founder of TRAN, said the annual “Trans Day of Visibility” had been changed to the “Trans Day of Vengeance” because “visibility alone was no longer enough.”
“We are calling for Trans Day of Vengeance. Vengeance means fighting back with vehemence. It is our battle cry to declare to the world that we the transgender/non-binary communities will neither be silenced nor eradicated,” said Fors.
The TRAN co-founder added: “And we are calling to our allies, members of other marginalized communities to make themselves known and to fight with us.”
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