*Averianna Patton, a former middle school basketball teammate of Hale’s, [told Nashville’s WTVF-TV]('https://www.yahoo.com/news/nashville-school-shooter-messaged-friend-122701752.html') that Hale messaged her on Instagram minutes before the attack and told her she planned to kill herself.
“I’m planning to die today,” Hale’s first message sent to Patton read. “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,” she continued.
Patton responded by telling Hale “you have so much more life to live.”
“I know but I don’t want to live,” Hale replied. “I’m so sorry. I’m not trying to upset you or get attention. I just need to die.”
“I wanted to tell you first because you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen and known all my life,” Hale continued.
“My family doesn’t know what I’m about to do,” Hale added. “One day this will make more sense. I’ve left more than enough evidence behind. But something bad is about to happen.”
According to Patton, the messages were sent around 9:57 a.m., or about 16 minutes before the first 911 call was made.
Patton told WTVF-TV that she called the Suicide Prevention Help Line at 10:08 a.m., before calling the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office five minutes later. The sheriff’s office told her to call Nashville’s nonemergency line, which placed her on hold for nearly seven minutes.
When she finally got through, Patton said she was told that an officer would be sent to her home.
An officer did come to her home — at about 3:30 p.m., hours after shootings.
“My heart is with all of the families affected,” Patton said. “And I’m devastated by what has happened.”
:cry:*