Nashville Shooter Audrey Hale Struggled with Grief and Infatuation After Friend's Death

Audrey Hale, the Nashville school shooter, was reportedly devastated by the 2022 death of a girl she may have been infatuated with, who had been a member of the same basketball team during their school years.

Samira Hardcastle told The Post that the death of Sydney Sims, who died in a car accident in August 2022, had a profound impact on the "tomboyish" Hale. Hardcastle, who attended middle and high school with both girls, said, "Audrey was really heartbroken over it... I just feel like she took it differently than some of us did. She was still posting about Sydney almost daily."

According to Hardcastle, Hale greatly admired Sydney, even to the point of infatuation. "That's specifically who she really, really looked up to," she said.

Hale, who police said identified as transgender and used he/him pronouns, had posted a TikTok video in February on a now-deleted account, "iam_aiden10," dedicated to "Syd."

The video featured a shadow of a person bouncing a basketball and the words: "For Syd. I look up the sky is bright. It's a beautiful day. I wish you were here..."

A month ago, Hardcastle last saw Hale at a taping of their friend Avieranna Patton's radio show. "I don't think she was with anyone. She was just kind of by herself," Hardcastle said. She added that Hale admired Patton, but she was unsure whether the feeling was mutual.

Before her shooting rampage, Hale sent a message to Patton: "This is my last goodbye. I love you... See you again in another life." She also praised Patton as "the most beautiful person I've ever seen and known all my life," and said, "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."

Hardcastle recalled that Hale was a "tomboy" during school but did not transition until later in life. She was unaware of any romantic relationship between Hale and Sims.

Maria Colomy, a former teacher at the Nossi College of Art & Design in Nashville, said Hale began her transition while grieving the loss of a romantic partner, as reported by the New York Times.

Hale frequently posted about missing the person and shared pictures of them playing basketball, according to Colomy. "The only thing I would see [Hale] post would be about this girl," she told CNN.

While grieving, Hale announced on social media her desire to be addressed as a male, Colomy added. Nashville Metro police continue to investigate the motive behind Hale's attack on the private Christian elementary Covenant School, which she once attended. Police Chief John Drake said they are examining whether Hale's identity played a role in the tragedy.