Newly released FBI records tied to the Covenant School shooting in Nashville are adding disturbing new detail to an already horrifying crime, shedding further light on the shooter’s motivations, planning, and financial situation in the years leading up to the attack.
The documents, more than 100 pages released after litigation, include journal entries, handwritten planning notes, and financial records attributed to Audrey Elizabeth Hale, the 28‑year‑old who carried out the March 27, 2023, massacre at the Christian elementary school she once attended. Hale murdered six people — three adults and three nine‑year‑old children — before being killed by responding Metro Nashville Police officers.
Among the most striking revelations in the FBI material are explicit references to religion as a motive. In handwritten notes outlining possible targets, Hale reportedly listed “Christian school (hate religion)” as a reason for choosing the Covenant School. That entry adds a new layer of clarity to what authorities have long described as a carefully planned, ideologically driven attack.
The writings appear to date back as early as late 2021 and include detailed preparations for a school shooting, as well as references to specific firearms Hale intended to acquire. Surveillance footage released after the attack showed Hale entering the school through a side door, moving methodically through the building while armed with multiple weapons before being confronted and fatally shot by police.
The FBI records also provide insight into Hale’s mindset immediately before the attack. According to summaries previously released by authorities, Hale sent a text message to a friend shortly before the shooting, describing it as a “suicide mission” and telling the friend they would likely “hear about me on the news after I die.”
One newly revealed document has drawn particular attention: a handwritten page labeled “Account Savings Record.” The page includes references to federal student financial aid, noting that “FAFSA [sic] grant checks started at $2,050.86,” followed by ledger-style entries tracking payments from Nossi College of Art and Design in Nashville, where Hale was enrolled. These financial notes appear alongside detailed writings about firearms, linking Hale’s access to money with the weapons later used in the attack.
Those records may corroborate statements Hale’s parents made to investigators in the aftermath of the shooting. According to reports, they told police that Hale used federal Pell Grant funds to purchase the firearms.
Hale’s mother also reportedly explained that because Hale was over 25 and enrolled as a student, parental income was no longer considered, allowing Hale to qualify for grant money despite being unemployed.
Authorities previously confirmed that investigators recovered a manifesto and hand-drawn maps from Hale’s vehicle. While portions of Hale’s writings have now been released, both the FBI and Nashville officials continue to withhold the full manifesto, resisting ongoing public records requests.
