Details matter. In the wake of high-profile tragedies, the public often clings to specific, granular bits of evidence to make sense of the senseless. One detail that consistently resurfaces in discussions about the 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville is the writing on the ammunition. People want to know what was written on the bullet casings and what those markings actually signify about the motive or the mindset of the shooter.
It's a heavy topic.
Honestly, there is a lot of misinformation floating around. Some people think there were complex manifestos etched into the brass. Others believe it was just standard manufacturing stamps they were misinterpreting. The reality, confirmed by the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department (MNPD) and subsequent investigative leaks, is a bit more specific.
The Markings on the Covenant School Ammunition
When the smoke cleared and the forensics teams moved in, they found several items of interest regarding the ammunition. Investigators recovered 126 5.56 rifle casings and 41 nine-millimeter shell casings from the scene. But the focus of public curiosity has mostly landed on what was hand-marked by the perpetrator.
According to the official police inventory and photographs that were later leaked and verified, the shooter had used a permanent marker to write on some of the equipment. Specifically, the writing wasn't just on the casings—it was on the magazines and the ammunition itself.
One of the most cited markings was the word "Aiden."
This wasn't some cryptic code. It was the name the shooter, Audrey Hale, had been using personally in the months leading up to the attack. To the police, this was a clear indicator of identity and personal branding of the act. You've got to understand that in these types of manifestos, the perpetrator often views the event as a "debut" or a final statement of their existence. Marking the tools of the crime with a chosen name is a common, albeit chilling, psychological trait seen in targeted school shootings.
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Distinguishing Between Manufacturers and Hand-Writing
You have to be careful when looking at "markings" on casings. Every single bullet casing has something written on it. It’s called a headstamp.
If you pick up a spent shell, you’ll see letters and numbers like "WIN" for Winchester, "REM-UMC" for Remington, or "5.56 NATO." These are stamped into the metal at the factory. During the initial frenzy of the Nashville investigation, some internet sleuths saw photos of these headstamps and claimed they were secret messages. They weren't. They were just brand names.
The hand-written markings were different.
Beyond the name "Aiden," there were also markings on the magazines that helped the shooter keep track of ammunition types or tactical order. This shows a level of "pre-operational planning," as the FBI calls it. It wasn't a heat-of-the-moment breakdown. It was a choreographed event. The writing on the equipment served as a checklist.
Why the Writing Matters for the Investigation
Why do we care what a killer writes on a piece of brass?
It’s about "behavioral evidence analysis." Experts like those at the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit look at these markings to determine "signature" versus "modus operandi." The modus operandi is how they did it—the guns, the vest, the broken glass. The signature is the extra stuff they didn't need to do but chose to do for personal satisfaction.
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Writing a name on a bullet is a signature.
It suggests a desire for the ammo to be linked specifically to the individual. It turns a mass-produced object into a personal relic. In the Covenant case, the leaked journal entries (which the Tennessee Star and other outlets fought to release) mirrored the sentiment found on the gear. The shooter was obsessed with their own legacy and the "fame" that would follow the shooting.
The Controversy of the Leaked Photos
We wouldn't even be talking about the specifics of the writing if it weren't for the massive legal battle over the Nashville shooter's writings. For months, the MNPD refused to release anything. They cited ongoing investigations. Then, photos of the shooter’s vehicle and gear—including the marked magazines—were leaked to the press.
This created a firestorm.
Families of the victims didn't want the "manifesto" or the photos out. They argued it would inspire copycats. On the other side, journalists and 2nd Amendment advocates argued that public safety depended on understanding the motive. When you see the images of the handwriting, it’s shaky, rushed, and done in black Sharpie. It’s a stark contrast to the sterile, professional look of the firearms themselves.
What Was NOT on the Casings
Let's clear up some rumors.
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- There were no political slogans on the casings. Unlike the Christchurch shooter, who covered his weapons in historical references and political grievances, the Nashville markings were largely personal.
- There were no names of victims. Some early social media reports suggested the shooter wrote the names of targets on the bullets. The forensic reports do not support this.
- It wasn't a "code" for a larger group. All evidence points to a "lone wolf" scenario where the writing was for the shooter's own benefit.
Tactical Markings vs. Symbolic Markings
It is knd of interesting to look at the difference between the two types of writing found on the scene.
Some magazines were marked with numbers (1, 2, 3). That’s a tactical choice. If a magazine jams, you want to know which one it was so you don't use it again. Or, if you are rotating through different types of ammo—say, FMJ versus hollow points—you mark the mags.
The symbolic stuff—the "Aiden" signature—is the psychological part. It’s the part that tells us about the person’s state of mind. They weren't just a soldier in their own head; they were a protagonist in a movie they were filming in real-time.
Understanding the "Legacy" Aspect
Most people don't realize that for mass shooters, the gear is part of a costume. The writing on the equipment is essentially "set dressing." When the authorities found the writing on the bullet casings and magazines, it confirmed that the shooter expected these items to be photographed, cataloged, and studied.
It’s a grim realization.
The act of writing on the ammunition is an act of preparation for a post-death persona. It’s why the FBI often discourages the media from showing these images. They don't want to give the perpetrator the "vandalized" or "customized" legacy they were aiming for.
Actionable Steps for Evaluating Information
When following news stories involving forensic details like this, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. Here is how to stay grounded in the facts:
- Check the Source of the Photo: If you see a photo of "marked ammo," check if it’s from an official police evidence log or a leaked source. Leaked sources are often cropped to remove context.
- Look for Headstamps: Learn to recognize the difference between a factory-stamped "9mm" and a hand-written mark. If it's perfectly indented into the metal, it's a brand name, not a message.
- Wait for the Final Forensic Report: Initial reports are almost always wrong. In the Nashville case, it took months for the distinction between what was on the journals and what was on the guns to be made clear.
- Ignore the "Manifesto" Hype: People often think a manifesto will explain everything. Usually, it’s just the ramblings of a deeply disturbed individual that often contradict the physical evidence found at the scene.
The writing on the ammunition in the Covenant case serves as a chilling reminder of the premeditation involved. It wasn't a "secret message" to the world as much as it was a desperate attempt by a broken individual to claim ownership over a tragedy. By sticking to the forensic facts—126 rifle casings, 41 handgun casings, and a few hand-marked magazines—we avoid the trap of sensationalism and keep the focus where it belongs: on the reality of the evidence.