The killer of Nashville school shooting legally purchased seven firearms from five local stores and used three of those weapons in Monday’s attack. According to the police, the purchases of weapons were made in the past few years and were hidden from the killer’s parents, where the shooter lives.
The parents of the shooter, 28-years-old Audrey Hale, felt that their son should not own any weapon. They believe the shooter had only one weapon and sold it, Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake told reporters Tuesday.
The shooter was also receiving treatment for an “emotional disorder” that was not reported to authorities.
Tennessee does not have a “red flag” law that would give police authority to remove weapons from a person, Drake said. If it was reported that the shooter committed suicide or intended to hurt another person, the authorities would have tried to take away the weapons, said the chief.
“Honestly, we have no idea, really, who this person is,” Drake said.
The three children who were killed in the attack were RECOGNIZED as Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney and Hallie Scruggs, all 9. The three adults killed in the attack – Mike Hill, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Cynthia Peak, 61 – worked at The Covenant School, police said . Hill, a school custodian, was shot through the glass door the shooter used to enter the school, Drake said.
In a video statement released Tuesday night, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said his wife, Maria Lee, was a longtime friend of two of the victims, Koonce and Peak. The three used to teach together, Lee said.
According to Lee, Peak “was supposed to go have dinner with Maria last night, after she took over as a substitute teacher at Covenant.”
Investigators found no evidence that the shooter specifically targeted any of the victims, according to police spokesman Don Aaron, who said “this school, this church building was a target of the shooter. “
On “CBS Mornings” Tuesday, Drake said the shooter, a former student at the school, had planned the attack. Authorities found a booklet detailing the school’s entry point, the weapons used and the clothing the shooter was wearing in the attack. Drake said that the shooter may have another target, including a mall and possibly some family members.
Sarah Lynch Baldwin contributed reporting.