Body camera video released from police who fired at Nashville school shooter; 3 kids, 3 adults dead
By: Nashville police have released dramatic body camera footage from two officers who fired at the shooter who killed three children and three adults in a mass shooting at a small, private Christian school.
The video shows the officers entering the Covenant School Monday morning and following the sound of the gunfire to the second floor. They found the suspect -- identified by police as Audrey Hale, 28, of Nashville -- in a lobby area on the second floor, police said.
After an officer shouted "reloading," the video shows officers Rex Engelbert, a four-year veteran, and Michael Collazo, a nine-year veteran, firing at the suspect.
Hale was shot dead about 14 minutes after the initial 911 call came in, according to police.
"They didn't hesitate at all," Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said of the officers on "Good Morning America" Tuesday.
The slain children were identified by police as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all 9 years old. The adult victims were identified as 61-year-old substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61-year-old custodian Mike Hill and 60-year-old Katherine Koonce, who was head of the school.
"Yesterday was just a tragic event," Drake said. "I've done this job for 35 years, and I prayed that this would never, never be a day that we would have to deal with."
The suspect was armed with at least two assault-style rifles, a handgun and "significant ammunition," police said. At least two of those weapons were purchased legally and locally, police said.
Hale allegedly shot through a locked door on the side of the building to gain entry, according to police.
As authorities responded to the scene, the suspect fired on police cars from a second-floor window, police said.
Investigators searched Hale's home where they seized "a sawed-off shotgun, a second shotgun and other evidence," according to police.
Authorities believe the suspect was a former student and the mass shooting was likely a targeted attack, according to Drake.