Tennessee’s Governor Invoice Lee has revealed a instructor killed within the Nashville college bloodbath was his spouse’s greatest buddy – and that she had been due at their dwelling for dinner on the day she died.
Lee introduced his spouse Maria was greatest pals with sufferer Cindy Peak, 61, who died whereas working in its place instructor at Covenant Christian college Monday.
And he revealed he and Maria – who skilled as a instructor – had been additionally good pals with head of faculty Dr. Katherine Koonce, 60, who died after operating to try to defend her college students from transgender shooter Audrey Hale, 28.
The five-minute video from the Republican governor got here a day after six individuals had been killed, together with three nine-year-olds, on the Covenant Faculty taking pictures carried out by the transgender feminine former scholar on Monday.
‘Maria awakened this morning with out one in every of her greatest pals, Cindy Peak,’ Lee stated. ‘Cindy was supposed to return over to have dinner with Maria final night time after she crammed in in its place instructor yesterday at Covenant.’
Governor Invoice Lee introduced on Tuesday his spouse Maria was greatest pals with sufferer Cindy Peak, 61, who died whereas standing in in its place instructor on the Christian college. Pictured: Invoice Lee
Cindy Peak, 61, died whereas at Covenant college on Monday. She was speculated to have dinner with the Lee’s on Monday night time. Peak is pictured above together with her daughter
Lee added: ‘Cindy, Maria and Kathy Koonce had been all lecturers on the identical college and have been household pals for many years.’
Cindy and Katherine died alongside custodian Mike Hill and nine-year-olds Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney.
Maria Lee (above) awakened with out her greatest buddy on Monday, the governor stated
‘We’re enduring a really troublesome second,’ Lee stated. ‘However this isn’t a time for hate and rage. That won’t resolve or heal.’
‘We are going to act to forestall this from occurring once more,’ Lee added.
Lee reassured all Tennesseans that everybody was on the identical web page to maneuver ahead and guarantee security regardless of some not agreeing with the ‘motion plan.’
‘There will probably be a time, to speak in regards to the laws and the price range proposals that we introduced forth, even this 12 months, and clearly there may be extra work to do. However on at the present time, after the tragedy, I wish to converse to that which rises above all else.’
Lee concluded including the ‘battle wasn’t towards flesh and blood’ or ‘individuals’ however ‘evil.’
‘We are able to’t overlook this – and it’s very troublesome – however we’re known as to not solely love our neighbors, however to like our enemies, to bless those that curse us, to wish for individuals who intend hurt,’ Lee stated.
The governor shared the shut relationship Maria had with Peak and one other Covenant sufferer. Pictured: Invoice and Maria Lee
Dr. Katherine Koonce, head of faculty (left), and Cynthia Peak, a substitute instructor (proper) had been amongst these shot. Invoice Lee revealed Koonce, Maria and Peak had been all good pals
Hallie Scruggs, 9, was killed within the taking pictures and is pictured together with her father, a pastor on the church, Chad Scruggs
Mike Hill (heart), who had labored on the college for greater than a decade, was additionally killed within the mass taking pictures
Will Kinney, (pictured) was shot and killed together with Hallie Scruggs, each 9, within the bloodbath
Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9, was one other sufferer shot on Monday. Her household stated she died making an attempt to avoid wasting her pals
The victims of the Nashville taking pictures had been shot by Audrey Hale. Hale was born feminine and used each the names Audrey and Aiden, however her most popular pronouns had been he/him based on a LinkedIn web page.
Metro Nashville Police have referred to Hale as a transgender girl.
Police confirmed on Tuesday that she had beforehand attended the college in Nashville, Tennessee, however her motive for the taking pictures was unclear.
Police Chief John Drake added that Hale had been affected by an ’emotional dysfunction’ on the time of the taking pictures.
Hale has been described as having ‘high-functioning’ autism, however police revealed at present she additionally was beneath docs’ care.
Her mother and father – Norma and Ronald Hale – knew that she had a weapon at one time, however informed her to promote it as a result of they thought she could not be trusted with it.
As a substitute, she hid her stockpile and added to it, shopping for seven completely different weapons in whole from 5 native shops.
Chief Drake added: ‘Regulation enforcement knew nothing in regards to the remedy, and it’s obvious that she shouldn’t personal weapons.’
Authorities additionally confirmed that Hale’s mom, Norma, had requested her what was in a crimson backpack she was carrying on the morning of the murders however she dismissed her query.
Yesterday, she took three of her weapons to The Covenant Faculty – two rifles and a handgun.
One other two weapons had been seen being faraway from the home yesterday in a video obtained completely by DailyMail.com.
Hale was born feminine however had just lately begun utilizing he/him pronouns and the title ‘Aiden’
A spokesperson for the Nashville Metropolitan Police Division Monday night time revealed that Officers Rex Engelbert (pictured left) and Michael Collazo (pictured proper) had been the members of the workforce who fired at Hale, in the end killing her
Horrified mother and father rushed to the college shortly after the lively shooter alert on Monday, which noticed a number of others positioned into lockdown.
Police took 14 minutes to reach and shoot Hale useless, with bodycam footage revealing the second they got here throughout her within the college.
She had been taking pictures at law enforcement officials via a window, with cops taking lower than six minutes to trace her down inside the constructing.
A spokesperson for the Nashville Metropolitan Police Division Monday night time revealed that officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo fired at Hale, in the end killing her.
Dad and mom and college students have been again to the college to wish for individuals who died, in addition to go away tributes for the fourth graders who had been murdered.
Hale left an in depth manifesto and plan for the taking pictures at her dwelling and her automotive, however officers have but to reveal its contents.
Police shared an image of the Honda Match she drove to The Covenant Faculty and introduced they’d discovered ‘further materials’ written by Hale from the manifesto she’d left.
In addition they posted pictures of the doorways of the college, which Hale had shot out to be able to acquire entry. Police confirmed the glass doorways had been locked when Hale arrived.
The small college is run by a church and doesn’t make use of a college useful resource officer.
Hale additionally allegedly had deliberate out an assault on one other college however determined to not assault there after believing there was an excessive amount of safety, based on Nashville Police Chief John Drake in a Monday afternoon press convention.
Earlier than driving to the college, she messaged a buddy on Instagram telling them: ‘I am planning to die at present. THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!
‘You may most likely hear about me on the information after I die.
‘That is my final goodbye. I really like you. ‘See you once more in one other life. Audrey (Aiden)’.