News broadcast hijacked by gun control activist after Nashville school massacre
A press conference in the wake of the Nashville school shooting has gone viral after it was interrupted by an activist with a powerful message.
A press conference held in the wake of the Nashville school massacre was hijacked by an anti-gun campaigner as America once again grapples with the grim reality of mass shootings.
As authorities updated reporters on the tragedy that unfolded at The Covenant School, leaving seven dead, a woman directly addressed members of the media.
“Aren’t you guys tired of covering this? Aren’t you guys tired of being here and covering all these mass shootings?” she asked.
The live footage was being aired by Fox News from CBS affiliate WTVF, and the broadcast continued as the woman – who was also a mass shooting survivor – attacked politicians for their failure to achieve gun reform.
“I am on vacation with my son visiting my sister-in-law,” said the woman, who was later identified on social media as Ashbey Beasley.
“I have been lobbying in [Washington] DC since we survived a mass shooting in July.
“I have visited with 130 lawmakers … these mass shootings will continue to happen until our lawmakers step up and pass gun safety legislation.”
Her passionate plea was later supported on air by Fox News anchor John Robert.
“The woman there said it quite succinctly: ‘Aren’t you tired of this?’” he said.
“Yes, we’re tired of this.”
wow. a woman makes a passionate case for gun control during a press conference about the Nashville school shooting pic.twitter.com/tQDdSrBZZ6
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 27, 2023
Meanwhile, a retired FBI agent has been slammed after she blamed the massacre that left seven people dead on an allegedly unlocked “side door”.
Retired FBI special agent Nicole Parker appeared on Fox News in the wake of the tragedy, but soon went viral for her controversial comments about the cause of the tragedy.
“We need to remember, the side door. I’m not trying to point fingers, I don’t know the exact facts at this moment, but from what I understand a side door was unlocked,” she said on air.
“That seems to be a common pattern in many of the these shootings. A side door.
“If we can lock the side doors and make sure that the schools are secure, hopefully we can avoid these tragedies going forward.”
Her comments were instantly ridiculed by countless furious Americans, who pointed out that guns were the common denominator in every single mass shooting, regardless of the status of side doors.
“Yeah it’s not the assault weapon. It’s the side door,” one frustrated Twitter user wrote, while another accused Ms Parker of “blaming the victims”.
“Oh … I see! It’s the door’s fault — dang why did no one think of that. Somebody get her medal and start a slow clap,” another added.
Shooter’s ‘red bag’ hid deadly secret
Audrey Hale’s parents told police they were slightly suspicious of a red bag the shooter had with them as they left the house on Monday – but ultimately thought nothing of it.
According to authorities, the parents asked Hale what was inside the bag, but decided it was not a concern as they believed the 28-year-old did not own any firearms.
Instead, however, Hale had been stockpiling a cache of at least seven weapons – which had been obtained legally – hidden in the family home, of which three were used in Monday’s attack.
“They asked her what was in the red bag and I think she just dismissed it because it was a motherly thing,” police chief John Drake told reporters on Tuesday.
“And didn’t look in the bag because at the time she didn’t know that her daughter had any weapons and didn’t think any differently.”
Heroic schoolgirl’s extraordinary final act
A nine-year-old girl gunned down by depraved shooter Audrey Hale died while desperately attempting to save her school mates, it has been revealed.
Year 3 student Evelyn Dieckhaus was one of six victims of Monday’s massacre at Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee.
Hale’s other young victims included Hallie Scruggs and Williams Kinney, both nine, as well as custodian Mike Hill, 61, substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, and headmaster Katherine Koonce, 60. Hale was also killed.
Tragic Evelyn is now being hailed a “hero” after it was revealed that she was shot dead while attempting to pull a school fire alarm in order to call for help and save her fellow students from the rampage.
The news comes after a minister revealed Evelyn’s shattered older sister Eleanor sobbed as she declared: “I don’t want to be an only child” as the reality of her loss set in.
The revelation was made by an emotional Woodmont Christian Church senior minister Clay Stauffer during a vigil on Monday night, who said the Dieckhaus family was devastated by Evelyn’s death.
The family have since issued a statement, saying their hearts are “completely broken”.
“We cannot believe this has happened,” the statement reads, according to The Tennessean.
“Evelyn was a shining light in this world. We appreciate all the love and support but ask for space as we grieve.”
Bombshell claim about shooter’s family
Shooter Audrey Hale was allegedly rejected by family members over their trans identity before gunning down six innocent people in a senseless rampage.
The bombshell claims come as the US reels from yet another massacre, after Hale shot dead three children and three adults inside Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, at 10.13am on Monday.
Now, a source has claimed the 28-year-old – who was shot dead by police – had a strained relationship with religious parents Norma, 61, and Ronald, 64, after coming out as gay and transgender.
The source told the Daily Mail the devout Christian parents “couldn’t accept” their child’s new identity, which included going by the name Aiden and using he/him pronouns.
The source also alleged that the parents would not allow Hale to dress as a male under their roof.
“You only see what you want to see. Their religion does not allow them to accept homosexuality,” the insider told the publication.
“She was Audrey at home but when she left the house she changed clothes. They did know about it, they just didn’t accept it.”
The new claims come after police confirmed the graphic designer had intended to carry out other attacks, including against her relatives and innocent people in a local shopping mall.
“We’ve talked to the father and the mother. We searched the home and found two more weapons there and some more maps, pertaining to thinking about some other incidents,” police chief John Drake told CBS.
“We strongly believe there were going to be some other targets, including family members, and one of the malls here in Nashville and it just did not happen.”
The allegations back up claims made by Drake in the wake of the shooting, after he told NBC News Hale may have been driven by a sense of “resentment”.
“There’s some belief that there was some resentment for having to go to that school,” he told the network, as authorities began investigating whether Hale’s gender identity may have been a factor in the attack.
“There is some theory to that, we’re investigating all the leads,” Mr Drake said of the theory.
It has also been suggested that the massacre was a targeted hate crime against Christians, given it took place at a Christian private school, which Hale once attended as a student.
“The police chief said at his last press conference that they don’t yet have … a conclusion with respect to motive,” United States Attorney-General Merrick Garland said.
“We are certainly working full-time with them to try and determine what the motive is.
“Of course, motive is what determines whether it’s a hate crime or not.”
Hale treated for ‘emotional distress’
In a press conference on Tuesday, Nashville police said Hale had purchased seven guns legally, and that the shooter had also been in treatment for “emotional distress”.
“Her parents felt she should not own weapons,” Nashville police chief John Drake told reporters.
“She had been hiding several weapons within the house.”
He added it was unlikely they would have been able to remove Hales’ guns prior to the attack even if there was a concern, as there was “not a law for that”, but stressed police “had absolutely no idea” Hale posed a threat.
‘Planning to die today’
It has also emerged that Hale messaged former teammate Averianna Patton on Instagram on the morning of the massacre.
The exchange came at 9.57am, 16 minutes before the shooting unfolded, local TV station News Channel 5 reported.
“I’m planning to die today,” Hale wrote to Ms Patton.
“THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!
“You’ll probably hear about me on the news after I die.”
“This is my last goodbye. I love you … See you again in another life.”
Hale signed off the message as “Audrey (Aiden).”
Ms Patton replied that Audrey had “so much more life to live”.
Hale replied: “I know but I don’t want to live. I’m so sorry. I’m not trying to upset you or get attention. I just need to die. I wanted to tell you first because you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen and known all my life.
“My family doesn’t know what I’m about to do. One day this will make more sense. I’ve left more than enough evidence behind. But something bad is about to happen.”
Police have also confirmed Hale cancelled plans to target another school in the same area as it had too much security.
– with Benedict Brook and Megan Palin
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