Nashville school shooting: Bodycam video shows moment attacker was shot dead by police. Nashville bodycam video is going viral on the internet and social media platforms.
You can watch full video here.
The Metro Nashville Police Department has released graphic bodycam footage showing the moment Audrey Hale, a former student of the Covenant School, was shot dead by police after killing three pupils and three adults on Monday morning.
In the footage, Officer Rex Engelbert is seen opening fire with a rifle several times on Hale before the perpetrator falls to the ground injured. Hale, who identified as a transgender male, is then hit by a second volley of bullets.
Officers can be heard shouting “move, move” and “watch out, watch out” as they approach the attacker, who is lying on the ground. The killer appears to be still alive as one of their arms moves, prompting an officer to yell “stop moving, stop moving”.
Police then order the suspect to throw their hands away from the gun and get their hands away from the weapon. Hale’s body is shown lying next to the weapons used in the attack, including a rifle.
A second clip from Officer Michael Collazo’s bodycam shows him firing his pistol at Hale in the second volley of shots after the suspect was already on the ground.
Police say Hale was a “lone zealot” who lived in Nashville and was armed with two assault-type weapons and a handgun. Hale had a manifesto and detailed maps of the school, and entered the building by shooting through its doors before the killings.
The victims have been identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all aged nine, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak and school custodian Mike Hill, both 61, and 60-year-old Katherine Koonce, who was the headteacher.
The release of the bodycam footage sheds light on the swift action taken by police to stop the attacker and prevent further loss of life. However, the graphic nature of the footage may be difficult for some viewers to watch.
The incident has once again raised concerns over gun violence in the United States, with calls for stricter gun control laws and increased support for mental health services.