Nashville Mayor Addresses Leaked Covenant School Shooter's Manifesto

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell has addressed the purported leak of three pages of trans mass murderer Audrey Hale's manifesto. The city is investigating the leak, while a judge has denied the release of Hale's writings due to potential security risks to the private school.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell held a press conference on Tuesday to discuss the purported leak of three pages of Audrey Hale's manifesto. Hale, a trans mass murderer, killed six people in a shooting at Covenant School in Nashville on November 27, 2023. The leaked pages reportedly contain Hale's writings and artwork.

The city is investigating the leak, and police have not yet confirmed its authenticity. However, Mayor O'Connell expressed concern about the potential impact of the leak on the victims' families and the community.

Nashville Mayor Addresses Leaked Covenant School Shooter's Manifesto

"This is a sensitive matter that is still under investigation," O'Connell said. "Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the victims' families and the entire Covenant School community."

In July, a Tennessee judge denied the release of Hale's writings, stating that doing so might present a security risk to the school. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit by several parties, including the National Police Association and Tennessee Firearms Association, seeking access to records related to the shooting.

Nashville Mayor Addresses Leaked Covenant School Shooter's Manifesto

Davidson County Chancery Court Judge I'Ashea Myles wrote in the 60-page order that while immediate access to information is important, it must be balanced with the need to protect the integrity of the criminal legal system.

"There are occasions when this immediate access to and demand for information must be moderated to safeguard the integrity of our legal system," Myles wrote.

Nashville Mayor Addresses Leaked Covenant School Shooter's Manifesto

The judge noted that the Tennessee General Assembly has set forth exemptions that prevent the disclosure of materials related to school security.

"In this case, the writings and artwork of an individual whose intent was to cause harm in a school setting would be related to school security and thus exempt from disclosure," Myles wrote.

Nashville Mayor Addresses Leaked Covenant School Shooter's Manifesto

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) argued that the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing and could result in future criminal action.

Victims' families and the Covenant School argued that all of the materials related to the shooting are exempt from disclosure as they could inspire copycat attacks.

Nashville Mayor Addresses Leaked Covenant School Shooter's Manifesto

In November, authorities became aware of a purported leak of crime scene photographs of Hale's handwritten notes.

In March, a federal judge ordered the FBI to release Hale's so-called "manifesto" that police found in her vehicle after the shooting.

Critics of the Tennessee and federal government decisions not to release documents believe Hale's manifesto may reveal her motive for targeting the school.

Fox News' Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.