Nashville authorities held a press conference late Monday afternoon during which they revealed new details about the mass shooting at The Covenant School that took the lives of three children and three adults.
Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake did identify the suspect by name, but TheBlaze does not report the names of those suspected to be involved in mass shootings.
The suspect, now deceased, is a 28-year-old female who lived in the Nashville area. Chief Drake reported that the attack was targeted and that the suspect did “identify as transgender.”
Chief Drake reported an investigation at the suspect’s residence is underway and that authorities have made contact with the suspect’s father, who lives at that residence.
“There were maps drawn of the school, in detail, of surveillance, entry points, et cetera,” said Chief Drake, adding that entry was gained through one of the doors.
Chief Drake said one of the child victims was 8 years old, about to be 9. A previous release from MNPD indicated each of the three children killed had been 9 years old.
Chief Drake praised the first responders who bravely and immediately “went in to address the threat.” The shooter had multiple rounds of ammunition and was “prepared for a confrontation with law enforcement and prepared to do more harm than was actually done.”
“We would never wait to make entry and to go in to stop a threat, especially when it deals with our children,” the chief also said.
The shooter had “two, AR-style weapons, one a rifle, one an AR-style pistol, and the other was a handgun,” Chief Drake said. He added that two of the firearms may have been legally obtained locally.
Chief Drake told a reporter at the press conference the shooter had “no [criminal] history at all.” He also said he knew of no history of mental illness, but that authorities will be looking into that as the investigation continues.
Authorities have located a manifesto and writings that pertain to the day of the shooting and the actual incident. Those materials include a map drawn out “of how this all would take place.”
Chief Drake said authorities have a working theory, but it has not yet been confirmed. He did not provide details with respect to that unidentified theory.
When asked by a reporter whether the suspect identifying as transgender had anything to do with a motive for targeting the school, Chief Drake said, “There is some theory to that. We’re investigating all the leads.”
A location in addition to The Covenant School was mentioned apparently in the shooter’s manifesto or other writings. That location, also in Nashville, was rejected by the suspect, Chief Drake said, because it had too much security.
Video pertaining to the incident may be released tonight or tomorrow, according to Nashville police spokesperson Don Aaron.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!