Michael Hill was more than a custodial janitor at the Covenant School Audrey Hale targeted on Monday (March 27.) In a recent statement, his family gave more insight into the man who gave 14 years to the school.
Hill was one of six victims, including three 9-year-olds and two staff members, who died after Hale opened fire in the school. Mike passed away from his wounds, along with William Kinney, Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, Cynthia Peak, and Katherine Koonce.
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His family’s statement began with thanks to the Nashville community for their support during this time.
“We would like to thank the Nashville community for all the continued thoughts and prayers. As we grieve and try to grasp any sense of understanding of why this happened, we continue to ask for support. We pray for the Covenant School and are so grateful that Michael was beloved by the faculty and students who filled him with joy for 14 years,” the statement said.
NewsChannel 5 reporter Kelsey Gibbs reported the family’s statement via Twitter on Tuesday. In addition, the relatives added small details about Hill’s life outside of school, which included being with his family.
“He was a father of seven children…and 14 grandchildren. He liked to cook and spend time with family.”
Hill’s children are listed as Marquita Oglesby, Brittany Hill, Shakita Dobbins, Ebony Smith, Joshua Smith, Tawana Smith Garner, and Jeremy Smith.
The family of Michael Hill, the beloved Covenant School custodian killed in the school shooting, sent us a statement. Let us wrap are hearts around these victims and their families. @NC5 pic.twitter.com/HADRvQAcL1
— Kelsey Gibbs (@kelseymgibbs) March 28, 2023
Nashville Police Shot And Killed Audrey Hale Inside Of Covenant School
Bodycam footage shows two officers fatally firing at Hale inside the school about 14 minutes after active shooter calls came in at 10:13 am. The officers, Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo subdued Hale at 10:27 am local time, per CNN.
At the time, Hale was firing at arriving officers from a second-floor window. The authorities inside the building heard the gunshots from the first floor and took the stairs, where Engelbert then fired multiple shots in Hale’s direction as they rounded a corner. Collazo then approached Hale, warning Hale to drop their weapon before firing four additional shots.
Nashville Police have released the bodycam footage and it cannot be stressed enough how remarkable this response was.
These officers are real life heroes.
Chilling stuff 🥺#NashvilleCovenantSchool #Nashville #audreyhale #nashvillestrong https://t.co/BxRZEfNyRd— Olori-Ebi (@DavidOFakayode) March 28, 2023
Details in the case are still making their way to the public. However, we know Audrey Hale, who self-identified as transgender, was a former student of the Covenant School. Audrey entered the school by shooting through a glass door. The 28-year-old had three guns with “significant ammunition,” per Metro Nashville PD.
“Writing recovered from Hale revealed that her attack was calculated and planned. A search warrant executed at Hale’s Brightwood Avenue home resulted in the seizure of a sawed-off shotgun, a second shotgun, and other evidence,” Metro Nashville PD said in a press release.
Active shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale, 28, drove this Honda Fit to the Covenant Church/school campus this morning and parked. MNPD detectives searched it and found additional material written by Hale. pic.twitter.com/ftGX74ecKr
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 28, 2023
