A former middle school basketball teammate of the Nashville school shooter was one of the last people the shooter spoke to prior to Monday’s attack.
On Monday, just before 10 a.m., Averianna Patton, 28, opened up her Instagram messages from Audrey Hale.
In the messages, obtained by News Channel 5, Hale told Patton there was a suicide note left for her and wrote, “I’m planning to die today.”
“You’ll probably hear about me on the news after I die,” Hale added.
Continuing, Hale wrote, “I love you see you again in another life.”
Hale, who identified as transgender, signed the message with the names “Audrey” and “Aiden.”
Patton tried to encourage Hale, telling the suspect, “You have so much more life to live. I pray God keeps and covers you.”
In follow-up messages, Hale continued to express the desire to no longer live.
At 10:08 a.m., Patton called the Suicide Prevention Help Line upon the advice of her father.
At 10:13 a.m., the shooting had already transpired at the Covenant School, according to People.
Patton also revealed to News Channel 5 that Hale “had been suicidal in the past” which led her to believe it was a dire situation.
“I am trying to wrap my mind around it all, how I’m involved, how I’m sent the message. I got a lot of questions and I’m giving them to God,” Patton said.
Just as Hale stated, Patton did end up hearing it on the news.
“I had no clue it was her. I had, we knew it was a shooting, but I didn’t know that that message was tied to the actual physical what happened, tragedy,” Patton shared.
Patton also shared she has been seeking God for answers.
“It’s eating me alive right now because I’m trying to make God help me wrap my mind around what, what is this God,” she added.
Following the conversation she had with Hale, Patton urged others who are in a similar situation to say something.
“I don’t care how minimal or how big or how you personally feel about it. If you have something of someone saying, ‘I need help, I’m about to harm myself,’ say something,” she said.
On Monday morning, Hale, 28, entered The Covenant School, where Hale once attended, and opened fire, according to Don Aaron, the Nashville Police Department spokesman, per People.
After killing three students and three adults at the school, Hale died after being shot by police.
