The 28-year-old, who opened fire at a Nashville school on Monday, killing three nine-year-olds and three staff members, was a transgender artist selling disturbing art online.
Audrey Hale, 28, was shot dead by police after she staged her attack.
Police said she was transgender and used the pronouns “he/his” online – although they referred to Hale, who was born female, as “she”.
Hale ran an online art site, Audrey Hale Illustrations, and described her work as: “Commercial illustration and graphic design.”
Hale also had a social media account promoting the art, where Hale referred to himself by the name Aiden.
Hale’s work included a drawing of Jack Nicholson from The Shining with lettering that included his catchphrase, “Where’s Johnny?”
Police released this picture of Audrey Hale, 28, Monday after shooting dead six people at a Nashville school
Hale credited Jack Nicholson with the catchphrase from The Shining: “Here’s Johnny!”
Hale created this image titled Being a Child Forever and Ever.
The drawing had “Red Rum” written on it – murder spelled backwards. The words were written on a mirror in a scene from the 1980 horror film.
Hale also created an image of some feet pointing toward the sky, with one person reclining, perhaps rocking on a swing.
“To be a child forever and ever,” reads the caption.
Hale also drew cartoons for the children’s book Toys and Books.
Hale left a detailed manifesto and plan for the shoot at her home and another in her car.
Nashville Police Chief John Drake told NBC News he believes “resentment” is at the core of their behavior.
Hale described herself as a graphic designer and illustrator
Hale’s art featured on her illustrations page
Hale’s art page, which featured work under the Aiden name
One of Hale’s plays was titled “Mad World”.
Norma Hale (pictured, center), the mother of Audrey Hale (pictured, right), the transgender gunman who killed six people, including three nine-year-old children and three staff members, was herself a gun control advocate on social media
Hale began her attack Monday morning when she pulled into the school parking lot just before 10 a.m.
At approximately 10:13 a.m., Hale opened fire on the Covenant School, shooting and killing Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, all nine years old.
Substitute teacher Cynthia Peak (61), principal Dr. Katherine Koonce, 60, and caretaker Mike Hill, 61, were also killed.
Koonce worked at Covenant School alongside her daughter Anna, who serves as a faculty/student assistant.
A photo of Audrey Hale at Covenant School during filming
This is the moment the school’s doors shattered as Audrey Hale burst through them with one of the three guns she had brought with her, killing six people
Hale was filmed sneaking through a tiled area shortly after entering the school. She was shot dead by two police officers 14 minutes after breaking into the school after they fired on her from an adjacent church
In the Monday killings, the shooter also carried a 9mm pistol
Nashville police have released photos of the three guns used in the shooting, including two assault rifles
The second of two rifles used in the shooting was pictured by the Nashville Police Department
Within 14 minutes, Hale was dead when Nashville police unveiled photos of the two officers – Rex Engelbart and Michael Collazo – who shot Hale.
In a statement released late Monday night, a spokesman for the school said: “Our community is heartbroken.
“We mourn a tremendous loss and are shocked by the terror that has destroyed our school and church.
“We are focused on loving our students, our families, our faculty and staff and beginning the healing process.”
Hale and her family have been described as “very kind” and “very religious.” She is pictured here with Audrey and her brother Scott
Night falls on Brightwood Avenue in Nashville, where the Hale family lives
Hallie Scruggs is seen with her father, Chad Scruggs, the pastor of the school’s affiliated Presbyterian Church
Katherine Koonce, headmistress (left), and Mike Hill, a janitor (right), were among those shot by Audrey Hale
Substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, known as Cindy (right), is shown with her daughter Ellie. Peak was one of six people shot dead in Nashville on Monday
Audrey Hale, 28, opened fire at a Nashville school Monday, killing six
Hale’s LinkedIn profile suggested they were now living as a man
A high school friend of Hale’s was shocked to learn that the outgoing girl she was tracking with was behind the massacre.
The friend, who wished to remain anonymous, described Hale to as “cute and funny”.
The friend recalled her faint memories with Hale at the Nashville School of the Arts from around 2011 to 2014.
“What she did was unforgivable but when I knew her she was a sweet and fun girl,” the friend told .
“When she turned out to be trans (female to male), no one was surprised.
“She really didn’t fit the school archer archetype.
“I don’t know what would have happened to turn her into this person we see on the news.
“Everyone in my senior class is getting upset on Facebook.
“No one really saw that coming.”