Trans Nashville school shooter shot up stained glass image of Adam during massacre

At some point during the March 27th Covenant School shooting, Audrey Hale, 28, took a detour from the school to the attached cathedral to shoot the stained glass figure of Adam seven times. According to a National Review report from April, the little-known detail from the attack that left seven dead, including Hale, was confirmed by police and a church deacon. 

While the public awaits the release of Hale’s manifesto, many have found the shooting of the first man, according to the book of Genesis, to be symbolic. “Writing this essay, I have tried to put myself in Hale’s shoes, standing before the Creation window, rifle in hand.” The reporter Graham Hillard wrote. 

“In the figure of Adam, she must have seen not only a masculinity she could never truly achieve but a vast and unshakable edifice, terrible in its power.” He said. “Had she lived, she might have come to know its grace. Instead, she chose rebellion, envy, wrath. In clinging to one god, she explicitly scorned another.” 

As the public searches for a motive for the shooting, Hale’s manifest is with a Nashville judge who will make the decision on whether to release it to the public or not. The document, which has been called “a blueprint on total destruction,” has received warnings against its release. 

Earlier this week the Tennessee House Republican Caucus urged for the release of the manifesto. "It’s incumbent on us to understand all the ins and outs of what drove Audrey Hale to do what she did," Rep. Jeremy Faison said. "We have been told from the beginning that she detailed in her journal all sorts of stuff — she talked about the school, she talked about her parents … this is what’s come from our commissioner of safety to me, personally."

Litigation filed earlier this month prevented the release of the document, according to the Nashville Police Department. They said on May 3rd, "Due to pending litigation filed this week, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has been advised by counsel to hold in abeyance the release of records related to the shooting at The Covenant School pending orders or direction of the court."

“In the wrong person’s hands would be astronomically dangerous,” said Metro Nashville Council Member Courtney Johnston. However, she did note that some parts should be released to the public.