Tennessee judge denies public release of Covenant school shooter’s writings

Nashville school shooter’s writings will not be released, a Tennessee judge ruled on Thursday, discovering that there is more damage to do if we release them now.

“When there is a pending or anticipated criminal investigation, Tennessee courts have determined that unrestricted access to all records at any time does not serve to uphold the justice system we all depend on to ensure that the criminal legal system and investigations remain fair and impartial to all persons involved,” Davidson County Chancery Court Judge I’Ashea Myles wrote in her decision.

“Therefore, the right to unrestricted access to public records has been tempered by certain exceptions that serve to prevent the disclosure of certain information, as the risk of harm from disclosure is outweighed by the public’s right to know,” she said.

Myles concluded that no records kept by Nashville government officials are “to be released at this time”, suggesting that the writings could still be made public at a later date; those seeking his release can also appeal the decision.

His order comes after months of litigation between law enforcement, the media and families of victims fighting for the release of records of the March 27, 2023 mass shooting in The Alliance School, a Christian elementary school. Heavily armed former student Audrey Hale killed three children and three staff members before police killed the gunman on the second floor of the school.

But in the weeks following the shooting, the motive remained unclear beyond an initial suggestion that the 28-year-old shooter may have felt resentment toward the school.

Authorities said the shooter’s writings appeared to be ramblings indicative of a mental health struggle, and Nashville police offered to make the writings public once the investigation was complete.

But the impending release of the writings quickly became a flashpoint and led to legal disputes between several parties who demanded that the writings be released in the public interest, while others, including family members of the victims, suggested that it would only inspire copycats.

Lawyers representing the media companies seeking release of the writings and the Covenant families could not immediately be reached for comment Friday.

The issue only became more complicated in November, when portions of the shooter’s writings were made public by conservative podcast and YouTube show host Steven Crowder. Then, last month, the Tennessee Star, a conservative news site, published more writings and an alleged suicide note by the shooter.

The November breach prompted Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell to call for an investigation into the unauthorized release and to place seven city police employees on “administrative assignment.”

Although the Metro Nashville Police Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility discovered that the writings came from cellphone photos taken from the shooter’s journals and found by detectives inside the shooter’s car, the investigation concluded without any permanent action when a former Detective was uncooperative.

A spokesperson for the parents called the person who publicly released images of the writings “a viper” and said the person “disclosed evidence that was collected at our most vulnerable time.”

Some parents of Covenant students and teachers also spoke out against a state bill that would allow employees of public or private institutions in Tennessee to carry weapons at school with approval. Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, signed the legislation into law in April, telling reporters, “What’s important is that we give districts tools and the option to use a tool that will keep their kids safe.”