Three pages of writings by deceased Covenant School shooter Audrey Hale have been published by right-wing podcaster Steven Crowder, leading Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell to call for a Metro investigation of the leak.
Crowder, who hosts Louder With Crowder, published excerpts of what the outlet has called a “manifesto,” a term that has been criticized by families of the March 2023 school shooting that killed three children and three adult staff members. Hale was killed by responding MNPD officers.
The Metro Nashville Police Department would not confirm to Scene sister publication The News the authenticity of the photos released of the documents — one of which shows a marked MNPD vehicle in the background — or comment on the leak.
Soon after Crowder published photos of the documents, Mayor O’Connell released the following statement:
I have directed Wally Dietz, Metro’s Law Director, to initiate an investigation into how these images could have been released. That investigation may involve local, state, and federal authorities. I am deeply concerned with the safety, security, and well-being of the Covenant families and all Nashvillians who are grieving.
This incident naturally invokes additional emotional trauma, and families or individuals who need support should reach out to professionals at National Alliance on Mental Illness (615-891-4724), MNPD support counselors (615-862-7773) or MNPS Family Information Center (615-259-INFO).
Dietz later issued a statement confirming his intention to launch an investigation with "multiple law enforcement agencies."
Hale’s writings have been the subject of an ongoing court case, which seeks the release of the documents. Right-wing activists and media figures have been pushing for the public release.
David Raybin — attorney for the Covenant School shooter's parents — told WSMV that the family could not authenticate the documents, saying "We have absolutely not released anything."
On Aug. 2, leaders of the Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition, which recently saw a “major” state legislative victory regarding child and human trafficking, joined Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in Nashville to “demand” the release of the writings of the Covenant School shooter — an appearance that also saw Ramaswamy repeat his presidential campaign promise to defund and dismantle the FBI.
Two weeks later, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles and state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson spoke at a TFFC event in Franklin, where Ogles also called for defunding the FBI.
“There was never a good reason to keep that monster's manifesto under lock, which is why I called for its release months ago,” said House Republican Caucus Chairman Jeremy Faison in a tweet Monday morning. “After reading this morning, I’m questioning even more why the anti-white racism & anti-Christian bigotry of Audrey Hale was covered up.”
“Nothing in those pictures helps protect the general public, only gives hatred a platform,” said Covenant School parent Nick Hansen in a post. “At some point these sweet children will be sent these images, questioned about them, and forced to relive and confront the hatred of someone who wanted to hurt them. This is shameful.”
Update, 3:15 p.m.: MNPD released a statement Monday afternoon addressing the leak and confirming their role in the investigation, saying the photos "are not MNPD crime scene images."
"The police department has been in contact with a representative of Covenant families," says an MNPD spokesperson. "Police department counselors are available to assist them in coping with the emotional trauma caused by the dissemination."
