Tennessee Governor reveals Nashville school shooting victim Cindy Peak was his wife’s best friend

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has revealed that a teacher killed in the Nashville school shooting was his wife’s best friend – and that she was expected to dinner the day of her death.

Lee revealed his wife Maria was best friends with victim Cindy Peak, 61, who died Monday while working as a substitute teacher at Covenant Christian School.

And he revealed that he and Maria – who trained to be teachers – were also good friends with principal Katherine Koonce, 60, who died after trying to protect her students from transgender shooter Audrey Hale, 28.

The Republican governor’s five-minute video came a day after six people, including three students, were killed in the shooting at Covenant School Monday, which was directed by a transgender woman.

“Maria woke up this morning without one of her best friends, Cindy Peak,” Lee said. “Cindy was supposed to be stopping by for dinner with Maria last night after standing in as Covenant’s substitute teacher yesterday.”

Gov. Bill Lee announced Tuesday that his wife, Maria, is best friends with victim Cindy Peak, 61, who died while joining the Christian school as a substitute teacher. Pictured: Bill Lee

Cindy Peak, 61, died at Covenant School on Monday. She was due to have dinner with the Lees on Monday night. Peak is pictured above with her daughter

Lee added, “Cindy, Maria and Kathy Koonce were all teachers at the same school and have been family friends for decades.”

Cindy and Katherine died along with caretaker Mike Hill and nine-year-olds Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney.

Maria Lee (above) woke up Monday without her best friend, the governor said

“We are going through a very difficult moment,” Lee said. “But this is not the time for hate and anger. That doesn’t solve or heal.’

“We will act to prevent this from happening again,” Lee added.

Lee assured all Tennesseans that everyone was on the same page to move forward and keep safe, though some disagreed with the “plan of action.”

“There will be a time to talk about the legislation and the budget proposals that we ourselves have put forward this year and there is clearly more work to be done. But on this day, after the tragedy, I want to speak to what is above all.”

Lee concluded by adding that the “fight is not against flesh and blood” or “people,” but against “evil.”

“We must not forget this – and it is very difficult – but we are called not only to love our neighbors but also to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us and to pray for those who want to do harm said Lee.

The governor shared the close relationship Maria had with Peak and another Covenant victim. Pictured: Bill and Maria Lee

Katherine Koonce, principal (left), and Cynthia Peak, a substitute teacher (right), were among those shot. Bill Lee revealed that Koonce, Maria and Peak were all good friends

Hallie Scruggs, 9, was killed in the shooting and is pictured with her father, a church pastor, Chad Scruggs

Mike Hill (center), who had worked at the school for more than a decade, was also killed in the mass shooting

Will Kinney (pictured) was shot dead in the massacre along with Hallie Scruggs, both 9

Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9, was another victim who was shot dead on Monday. Her family said she died trying to save her friends

The victims of the Nashville shooting were shot dead by Audrey Hale. Hale used the names Audrey and Aiden, but according to a LinkedIn page, her preferred pronouns were he/he.

Police confirmed Tuesday that she previously attended the school in Nashville, Tennessee, but her motive for the shooting was unclear.

Police Chief John Drake added that Hale was suffering from an “emotional disorder” at the time of the shooting

Hale has been described as having “high-functioning” autism, but police revealed today that she was also receiving medical attention.

Her parents – Norma and Ronald Hale – knew she once had a gun but told her to sell it because they didn’t think she could be trusted with it.

Instead, she hid her stash and added by buying a total of seven different guns from five local stores.

Chief Drake added: “Law enforcement knew nothing about the treatment and it’s obvious she shouldn’t have 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 murders, but she dismissed her question.

Yesterday she brought three of her weapons to Covenant School – two rifles and a pistol.

Two other guns were seen being removed from the home in video obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com yesterday.

Hale was born female but had recently started using he/him pronouns and the name “Aiden”.

A spokesman for the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department announced Monday night that officers Rex Engelbart (pictured, left) and Michael Collazo (pictured, right) were the members of the team who shot and eventually killed Hale

Horrified parents rushed to the school shortly after Monday’s active gunman alert, which saw several others locked down.

It took police 14 minutes to meet and shoot Hale. Bodycam footage showed the moment they met her at school.

She had fired at police officers through a window, taking officers less than six minutes to locate her inside the building.

Parents and students have returned to the school to pray for those who died and to commemorate the murdered fourth graders.

Hale left a detailed manifesto and plan for the shooting at her home and car, but officers are yet to disclose the contents.

Police shared a picture of the Honda Fit she was driving to Covenant School and announced that they had found “additional material” written by Hale from the manifest she left.

They also posted photos of the school’s doors, which Hale shot out to gain entry. Police confirmed the glass doors were locked when Hale arrived.

The small school is run by a church and does not employ a school resource officer.

According to Nashville Police Chief John Drake, Hale also allegedly planned an attack on another school but decided not to attack there because he believed there was too much security.

Before driving to school, she wrote to a friend on Instagram, telling them: “I plan to die today. THAT’S NO JOKE!!!

“You’ll probably hear about me on the news after I die.

“This is my last goodbye. I love you. “We’ll meet again in another life. Audrey (Aiden)’.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk