Trans School Murderer Chose the Softer Target of the Two She Considered

For all the irrational anti-gunners who bristle at ramped-up security at schools, including good guys with guns, what Nashville police, whose impressive response stopped the murder spree, have discovered about Audrey Hale’s rampage plan is chilling.

According to Newsweek, “Hale, a 28-year-old Nashville resident, killed three children and three adults at Covenant School Monday morning. The victims were identified as 9-year-old students Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, as well as Cynthia Peak, 61, Katherine Koonce, 60, and Mike Hill, 61.”

Law enforcement located the murderer’s “manifesto” during a search of her home. Nashville Police Chief John Drake said investigators found items, including “a map of Covenant School ‘drawn in detail’ that included ‘surveillance, entry points, etc.’ regarding the building.”

The chilling discovery came when Chief Drake noted Hale had considered “another location…” as a target, but she chose to attack The Covenant School instead. The why is crucial. Drake said, “but because of threat assessment by the suspect, too much security, they decided not to.” [emphasis added] CBS also reported on this fact.

For obvious reasons, police didn’t identify the other location but said it was also in Nashville. They also didn’t detail what Hale meant by “too much security.” However, it was apparently more security than her targeted school had.

We don’t know if it included better entry prevention, surveillance cameras, or armed security. However, as shown in video footage, since she shot her way into the school and wasn’t concealing her identity, perhaps some form of human security at the other location, possibly armed, had deterred her.

But many, perhaps most, school administrations doggedly resist comprehensive security systems employing many components, including armed security. There is another killer out there, right now; there always is. When considering targets, will that monster choose your child or grandchild’s school? Will they choose another less secure school? Or is your kid’s school that softer target?

People need to stop pretending that taking guns away from law-abiding gun owners will stop crazy people from committing mass murder. Installing high-tech security combined with armed deterrence are practical actions that respect reality.

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Steve Pomper

Steve Pomper is an author, freelance writer, and retired Seattle police officer. During his career, he served as a field training officer, on the Community Police Team, and as a mountain bike patrol coordinator. He’s written five books, including The Obama Gang and De-Policing America, and he is a contributor to the National Police Association and a freelance writer for The Tatum Report.

Originally from New England, he’s a Boston sports fan. He now lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Jody, a retired firefighter. He enjoys spending time with his adult kids and three grandchildren.