A former middle school basketball teammate of Audrey Hale, Averianna Patton, received a message from the Covenant School shooter on Instagram at 9:57 a.m.
In the message, Hale expressed her plan to die by suicide and claimed that Patton would see it on the news.
Patton shared the messages with NewsChannel 5, where it was revealed that Hale had mentioned seeing Patton again in another life.
Hale also spoke about her desire to end her life and the need to die.
In her message, Hale wrote, “One day this will make more sense.” She also mentioned leaving behind enough evidence and warned that something bad was about to happen.
On Monday, a tragic mass shooting took place on the campus of The Covenant School, a private Christian school located in Green Hills, resulting in the loss of three children and three staff members.
Prior to the shooting, Audrey Hale, the perpetrator, had contacted her former middle school basketball teammate Averianna Patton via Instagram, stating that she planned to die by suicide and that something bad was about to happen.
Patton tried to comfort and support Hale, but she became concerned and contacted the Suicide Prevention
Help Line at 10:08 am, as instructed by her father, as Hale had previously shared her struggles with suicidal thoughts. Hale’s family was reportedly unaware of what was about to happen. Patton shared this information with NewsChannel 5.
According to Averianna Patton, at 9:57 a.m. on the day of the shooting, she received a message on Instagram from Audrey Hale, stating that she planned to die by suicide and that Patton would see it on the news.
Patton contacted the Suicide Prevention Help Line, as instructed by her father, and then called the Nashville Davidson County Sheriff’s Office at 10:13 a.m.
However, she was told to call Nashville’s non-emergency number, which she did at 10:14 a.m. After being on hold for nearly seven minutes, she spoke to someone who said an officer would be sent to her home. An officer did not arrive until 3:29 p.m.
Patton believes that more urgency should have been shown by officials when she reached out for help.
After Audrey’s name was released as the shooter at The Covenant School, Patton learned that Hale had reached out to her prior to the shooting.
Patton expressed her condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
How the Nashville Covenant School mass shooting unfolded:
According to the Metro Police, on Monday morning, 28-year-old Audrey Hale arrived at the Covenant School in a Honda Fit and gained entry by shooting out the doors. Later on, she would proceed to kill three staff members and three 9-year-old children at the school.
09:53am – The arrival of Hale’s gray Honda Fit at The Covenant School in Nashville was observed.
09:54am – Hale was observed driving through the parking lot in a seemingly calm manner. Nothing indicated that anything was amiss as she found a parking spot.
10:10am – Hale shattered the locked glass front door and began firing. She then proceeded through the debris and into the empty reception area of the church, which is located next to the school.
10:13am – While holding her assault rifle, Hale entered a carpeted room inside the church in search of potential victims. However, the room was empty. It was at this moment that the first call reporting shots being fired in the building was made to 911.
10:18am – The same camera captured footage of Hale continuing to search for victims inside the church. She was observed opening a door into the next room.
10:19am – After a while, the 28-year-old shooter returned through the door and aimed her gun, despite there being no one in the room. She then attempted to open another door before returning after about 30 seconds.
10:20am – In the footage, Hale is seen walking through a wooden-floored building labelled “first”, passing through an empty reception. She proceeds to stalk the corridor before disappearing from view.
10:27am – Hale was fatally shot by officers on the second floor of the school after engaging them in gunfire. The officers fired back, resulting in her death.
Audrey Elizabeth Hale contacted her former middle school basketball teammate Averianna Patton before shooting via Instagram, stating that she planned to die by suicide