Nashville Assailant Sends Ex-teammate 'Chilling Messages' Before Attacking School, Killing three 9-Year-old Students

A former middle school basketball teammate of the Nashville school shooting assailant came forward and admitted to receiving alarming messages from the shooter before the tragic event. The ex-teammate contacted the police officers but was placed on hold while the shooting happened. 

Audrey Hale, the Nashville assailant who opened fire inside the Covenant School, killing three children and three senior citizens, allegedly reached out to former basketball teammate Averianna Patton by sending "chilling messages" on Instagram before 10 A.M. expressing a plan to die by suicide, People reported. 

Hale informed Patton that she would "probably" hear about her on the news after she died. 

In a screenshot of messages presented by Patton, the shooter wrote, "I'm planning to die today. THIS IS NOT A JOKE! One day this will make more sense. I've left more than enough evidence behind. But something bad is about to happen." 

Assailant: 'I just need to die'

As seen in the same screenshot, Patton tried to console the shooter, telling Hale that she has "so much more life to live" and offering a prayer of covering. 

As a response, the shooter acknowledged that she has more life to live but does not want to live anymore. She further stated that she "just needs to die." 

Patton narrated to News Channel 5 that after sending her message to the assailant, she immediately contacted the Suicide Prevention Help Line. That was around 10:08 A.M. By 10:13 A.M., even before the first calls to authorities about the attack at the Covenant School, she had already reached out to Nashville Davidson County Sheriff's Office and was instructed to call Nashville's non-emergency line.

She did as instructed and was able to call the non-emergency line at 10:14 A.M. but was placed on hold for almost seven minutes before someone spoke to her and stated that they would send an officer to her home. The officer did not arrive at her house until 3:29 P.M. 

Read More: Nashville School Shooter: Manifesto, Maps Found in Possession Shed Light on Attack Plans

Covenant School is 'heartbroken'

When CNN's Don Lemon asked why Hale chose to message her before the attack, Patton answered that she was asking God the same question. She stated that as an "influencer" in Nashville, being able to work in radio and do news and having the shooter as the most recent guest in her TV show might have something to do with it. 

Authorities from Nashville confirmed that Hale, who was reported to identify as a transgender person, shot through a glass door of the school to gain entrance. Two police officers who responded to the scene engaged the assailant on the second floor, killing her. 

In a statement released by The Covenant School, they expressed that their "community is heartbroken," grieving for the loss, and are in shock at the terror that has "shattered" the school and the church. Currently, their focus is to begin the process of healing by loving their students, families, and school staff. 

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