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Nashville Shooting: Why did This Transgender Person Attack a Christian School?

The Nashville shooting incident has shocked the world that has been pushing the United States government to reform gun laws for a long time. A 28-year-old individual opened fire at the Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, killing 6 people, including 3 children. The alleged shooter identified as Audrey Hale was killed in a police confrontation.

The names of the victims are Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney (all 9-year-olds) as well as Katherine Koonce (60), Mike Hill, and Cynthia Peak (both 61). Several vigils have been held in Nashville to pay tribute to the victims of this tragic incident.

Initially, there was confusion regarding the shooter’s sex but later it was revealed as transgender. However, the motive is still not clear which has led social media to contemplate what could have happened.

Who Was Audrey Hale?

According to reports, Hale’s mother, Norma Hale, expressed her grief to the media, saying “I think I lost my daughter today.” A neighbour of the family described Hale’s parents as “very nice” and “very religious,” and Hale as a talented artist and good student during their time at Nashville’s Nossi College of Art & Design, from which they graduated in 2022.

Hale’s personal website indicates a love of video games, movies, sports, and spending time with animals. Hale’s LinkedIn account lists past employment as a grocery shopper with the food delivery service Shipt and as a cat sitter.

Hale’s social media account included the use of the pronouns he/him, though Hale was assigned female at birth.

Social Media Debates the Motive

The shooter used two “assault-style” weapons and a handgun, two of which were legally purchased. Hale reportedly used one of these guns to destroy the doors of the school to gain entry and later shot at police as they arrived on the scene.

Audrey Hale is believed to be a former student at a religious school like this one. The police suggest that the killer’s personal “resentment” of the religious school may have been the motive. They also accused Hale of planning to attack more Christian schools in the area but failed due to high security. They also found more weapons at Hale’s hideout.

There have been many sympathizers who claimed that they understood what led Hale to attack the Christian school. They pointed out how transgenders in the US are highly dissatisfied with religious teachings. This is probably why Katherine Koonce, the head of The Covenant School, was also among the victims. However, killing people did not justify her actions as even some LGBT community members refused to condone Hale’s actions.

Rare Occurrence in Mass Shooting Incidents

Nashville shooting is shocking for many because transgenders or women rarely carry out such mass killings. Men still dominate this category with 90% of homicides per year. Additionally, the Gun Violence Archive reported that 193 people have died in 130 mass shootings in the US so far this year.

The Nashville shooting happened one week after a gunman killed a student at a high school outside Dallas and almost a year after a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas – one of the largest school shootings in U.S. history.

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