Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has revealed that a teacher who was killed in the Nashville school massacre was his wife’s best friend — and that she was at their house for dinner the day she died.
Lee announced that his wife, Maria, was best friends with victim Cindy Beck, 61, who died while working as a substitute teacher at Covenant Christian School on Monday.
He revealed that he and Maria – who trained as a teacher – were also good friends with headteacher Dr Catherine Consey, 60, who died after she ran to try to protect her students from transgender shooter Audrey Hill, 28.
The Republican governor’s five-minute video came a day after six people, including three nine-year-olds, were killed in a Covenant school shooting carried out by a former transgender student on Monday.
“Maria woke up this morning without one of her best friends, Cindy Beck,” she told me. “Cindy was supposed to come to dinner with Maria last night after taking a substitute teacher position yesterday at Covenant.”
Gov. Bill Lee announced Tuesday that his wife, Maria, is best friends with victim Cindy Beck, 61, who died while standing as a substitute teacher at the Christian school. Pictured: Bill Lee
Cindy Beck, 61, died while at Covenant School on Monday. You were supposed to have dinner with me on Monday night. Peak is pictured above with her daughter
Lee added, “Cindy, Maria and Cathy Concey were all teachers at the same school and have been family friends for decades.”
Cindy and Katherine died along with guardian Mike Hale, Evelyn Deco, Haley Scruggs, and nine-year-old William Kenny.
The governor said Maria Lee (above) woke up without her best friend on Monday
He told me: “We are going through a very difficult moment.” But this is not the time for hate and anger. This will not solve or cure.
“We will work to prevent this from happening again,” Lee added.
Lee assured all Tennesseans that everyone was fully prepared to move forward and ensure safety even though some disagreed with the “Plan of Action”.
There will be time to talk about legislation and budget proposals that we’ve put forward, even this year, and there’s clearly more work to be done. But on this day, after the tragedy, I want to talk about what is above all.
Li concluded by adding that “the struggle was not against flesh and blood” or “people” but “evil”.
He said to me, “We cannot forget this—and it is too difficult—but we are called not only to love our neighbours, but to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who intend harm.”
The ruler shared the close relationship Maria had with Beck and another victim of the reign. Pictured: Bill and Maria Lee
Among those shot were Dr. Catherine Consey, the principal (left), and Cynthia Beck, a substitute teacher (right). Bill revealed to me that Consi, Maria and Beck were all good friends
Haley Scruggs, 9, was killed in the shooting and is pictured with her father, pastor Chad Scruggs
Mike Hale (center), who worked at the school for more than a decade, was also killed in a mass shooting
Will Kinney (pictured) was shot dead along with Haley Scruggs, both 9, in the massacre
Evelyn Dichhaus, 9, was another shooting victim on Monday. Her family said she died trying to save her friends
Audrey Hill shot the victims of the Nashville shooting. Hale was born female and used both names Audrey and Aiden, but her preferred pronouns were he/him according to her LinkedIn page.
Metro Nashville police have referred to Hale as a transgender woman.
Police confirmed on Tuesday that she had previously attended the school in Nashville, Tennessee, but the motive for the shooting was not clear.
Police Chief John Drake added that Hill was suffering from “emotional turmoil” at the time of the shooting.
Hill has been described as “high functioning” autistic, but police revealed today that she was also under doctors’ care.
Her parents – Norma and Ronald Hale – knew she had a gun at one time, but told her to sell it because they thought they couldn’t be trusted.
Instead, she hid and added to her inventory, purchasing seven different weapons in total from five local stores.
Drake’s boss added, “Law enforcement doesn’t know about the transaction, and she clearly shouldn’t have had guns.”
Authorities also confirmed that Hale’s mother, Norma, had asked her what was in a red backpack she was carrying on the morning of the murder but she declined her question.
Yesterday, she took three of her guns to Covenant School – two rifles and a revolver.
Two more guns were seen being removed from the home yesterday in a video obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.
Hale was born female but has recently started using her pronouns and the name “Aiden”
A spokesperson for the City of Nashville Police Department revealed Monday night that Officers Rex Engelbert (pictured left) and Michael Collazo (pictured right) were members of the team that shot Hill, ultimately killing her.
Panicked parents rushed the school shortly after Monday’s active shooting alert, which put several others on lockdown.
It took police 14 minutes to arrive and shoot Hill dead, and body camera footage revealed the moment they encountered her at the school.
She was shooting at police officers through a window, which took the cops less than six minutes to track her into the building.
A spokesperson for the City of Nashville Police Department revealed Monday night that Officers Rex Engelbert and Michael Collazo shot Hill, ultimately killing her.
Parents and students returned to the school to pray for those who died, as well as leave tributes for the fourth graders who were killed.
Hale left a detailed statement and plan to shoot her home and car, but its contents have yet to be revealed by officers.
Police shared a photo of the Honda Fit they drove to Covenant School and announced that they had found “additional material” written by Hill from the statement she left.
They also posted photos of the school’s doors, which Hill unlocked to gain entry. Police confirmed that the glass doors were closed when Hill arrived.
The small school is run by a church and does not employ a School Resource Officer.
Hill also allegedly planned an attack on another school but decided not to attack there after he thought there was too much security, according to Nashville Police Chief John Drake at a press conference Monday afternoon.
Before driving to school, I messaged a friend on Instagram telling them, “I plan to die today. 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. Audrey (Aiden)’.
