According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, the assailant responsible for the Covenant Church School attack was legally permitted to acquire and use the weapons used in this heartbreaking tragedy.
Police suspect 28-year-old Audrey Hale, a transgender former student of the ill-fated school, to be responsible for Monday’s mass shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of three minors and three adults.
On Tuesday, John Drake, the Chief of Police gave an update on the investigation of the shooting incident. He commenced his report by mentioning that his team had communicated with Hale’s parents.
“We’ve determined that Audrey bought seven firearms from five different local gun stores here legally,” Drake said. “They were legally purchased. Three of those weapons were used yesterday during this horrific tragedy that happened. We know that they felt that she had one weapon and that she sold it.”
Drake revealed that Hale was receiving medical attention for her emotional disorder when the incident happened.
“Law enforcement knew nothing about the treatment she was receiving,” he continued. “But, her parents felt that she should not own weapons. They were under the impression that when she sold the one weapon, that she did not own anymore. As it turned out, she had been hiding several weapons within the house.”
Drake affirmed that even though they have determined Hale’s intentions after finding her manifesto and her plans to target the school, they are still trying to figure out what put her over the top.
The aftermath of mass shootings has sparked a heated debate regarding mental health & red flag laws. Red flag laws enable authorities to restrict certain people from owning firearms if they present a potential public safety risk.