Nashville's police investigation into the Covenant School shooting has concluded that while the shooter had radical beliefs, her primary motive was a desire for notoriety.
The report, released over two years after the March 2023 attack, clarified that the shooter’s choice of Covenant School as a target was driven by her pursuit of fame, not her animosity towards Christianity or privileged racial groups.
The tragic event resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including three children and three adults. The 28-year-old attacker was found to have harbored radical thoughts concerning gender identity and white privilege, but police determined these beliefs did not influence her choice of venue. Instead, she aimed to garner attention by selecting a school likely to shock the public due to the young age of the victims.
The victims of this shooting included children Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney and adults Michael Hill, Katherine Koonce, and Cynthia Peak. Investigators noted that the shooter identified as male, using he/him pronouns, but was biologically female her whole life. According to the report, there was no evidence of any medical transition.
Investigators discovered journal entries depicting the attacker’s struggle with her gender identity and frustrations about puberty. Despite expressing hatred toward Christianity and white privilege in 16 notebooks, these writings did not amount to a manifesto. Authorities concluded that the shooter's notoriety-seeking ambitions were the prime motivator.
The police report further established that the attacker had mental health disorders but was found sane and capable of comprehending the moral and legal consequences of her actions. She initiated fantasies of a school shooting in 2017 and began formulating plans in 2018. Various locations were considered as potential targets, including schools and malls.
Years of preparation culminated in a reconnaissance visit to Covenant School in September 2021. The investigation revealed she was meticulous in her planning, adjusting her strategies and manipulating perceptions to appear non-threatening. It was during this period that her family became aware of her intentions, intervening by confiscating her firearms. However, the intervention failed to prevent her from eventually carrying out the attack.
Authorities discovered no hostility from peers or examples of bullying during her time at The Covenant School. On the contrary, she established friendships and enjoyed play dates, illustrating a sense of acceptance rather than alienation.
In analyzing her written materials, police found no conclusive motivations tied to racial, religious, or economic factors. This finding is reflected in the police statement, acknowledging speculation about these potential motives but dismissing them in the context of her decision to attack the school.
Investigators observed that in her journals, she mentioned feeling alone and ostracized, perceiving herself as shunned by society. In her quest for recognition, she expressed a desire to force people to notice her by committing a violent act against children.
Ultimately, the police report concludes that the shooter was driven by a desire to be noticed and not by a personal vendetta against any religious or racial group. Nashville authorities decisively closed the investigation, with no other individuals found responsible for the crime.
The release of this report sheds light on the complex interplay of personal struggles, mental health issues, and a quest for notoriety that guided the attacker's lethal actions. Through this comprehensive analysis, Nashville police aim to present a fuller understanding of the motivations behind a tragedy that shocked the community.
