TIMELINE: Nashville school shooting
The shooter entered the school, opened fire, killed six people and was killed by officers less than an hour after leaving home.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Officer Rex Engelbert was the first officer to open the doors to The Covenant School after reports of a school shooting on Monday morning in Nashville.
Engelbert, a four-year Metro Police veteran, quickly unlocked and opened the door after a school staffer told him that at least two children were missing.
As the door opened, Engelbert was met with the blaring sound of a fire alarm echoing inside the school. Engelbert, not knowing what was inside, turned back to his team and yelled, “Let’s go!”
Two minutes and 15 seconds later, the threat was over. The events that unfolded Monday happened quickly. The shooter entered the school, opened fire, killed six people and was killed by officers less than an hour after leaving home.
NASHVILLE SCHOOL SHOOTING TIMELINE
About 9:30 a.m. – Metro Police Chief John Drake said 28-year-old Audrey Hale left home Monday morning with a red bag. Hale’s mother asked about the bag, but the shooter dismissed the question, police said.
9:53 a.m. — Hale, driving a Honda Fit, arrives at The Covenant School, according to surveillance footage. The footage shows Hale driving around the parking lot, going out of frame and parking at about 9:55 a.m.
9:57 a.m. – Hale sends a goodbye message on Instagram to a former middle school classmate on Instagram. “This is my last goodbye. I love you. See you again in another life.” The former classmate responds, telling the shooter they have much more life to live.
Hale responds again, saying one day, “this will make more sense” but “something bad is about to happen.”
10:10 a.m – Hale approaches a side entrance to the private Christian school. Without hesitation, Hale fires rounds through the glass doors. Seconds later, the shooter ducks under a push bar to enter the school. Hale is carrying two AR-style rifles and a handgun.
10:13 a.m. – First shots-fired call to 911.
10:13 a.m. – Hale walks through a school hallway. For several minutes, the shooter walks around outside a church office, enters, exits, and then passes the children’s ministry. Hale fires shots at 10:21 a.m. before walking out of the video frame.
10:24 a.m. – The first Metro Police officers arrive on the scene. Within seconds, Engelbert unlocks and opens the door. The five-member tactical unit enters the school and starts its search for the shooter.
10:27 a.m. – The team of officers encounters the shooter on the second-floor atrium. Police said Hale had been firing through a window at arriving officers. Englebert, alongside Officer Michael Collazo, shot and killed Hale.
The threat was over.
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