The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) announced this week it is delaying the release of the manifesto of Covenant School shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale, citing “pending litigation.” This decision follows a lawsuit filed by the Tennessee Firearms Association and former Hamilton County Sheriff James Hammond, which demanded the release of Hale’s journals and other records connected to the tragic mass shooting on March 27.
Hale, a 28-year-old transgender former student, claimed the lives of six individuals, including three 9-year-old children, during the horrific event. The MNPD had previously confirmed to Fox News Digital that they would release the manifesto recovered from Hale’s car. However, the recent announcement suggests a change in course.
This makes no sense. Dozens of Tennessee citizens sought the release of the Nashville shooter's manifesto under the public records act. All were denied.
Litigation happened because the PD wouldn't release it voluntarily. Now they're using the lawsuit as an excuse to conceal it: https://t.co/o8HmOxzNeb
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 3, 2023
The documents in question reportedly provide insight into Hale’s thoughts and motivations, including hand-drawn maps of the school and notes on firearms training. Despite the extensive evidence collected, Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake has stated that investigators have not yet determined a motive for the attack. However, it is believed that the former student specifically targeted the Christian school and its affiliated church.
The families of the victims and the general public deserve transparency and closure regarding this terrible event. The withholding of Hale’s manifesto and other relevant documents raises concerns about a potential lack of accountability for the authorities involved.
Some critics argue that the manifesto should be released to the public in the interest of transparency and journalistic integrity. Glenn Greenwald, a journalist, recently discussed the case with SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly, suggesting that the Nashville shooting has been “erased from memory” due to its “inconvenient narrative.” Greenwald argued that this suppression is particularly striking compared to other cases in which manifestos are released when linked to right-wing ideologies.
Although the specific lawsuit preventing the manifesto’s release remains unclear, the situation highlights the importance of upholding the principles of transparency and accountability in the face of tragedy. The public must be informed of the motivations and circumstances surrounding such violent events to foster a better understanding of the factors that contribute to them.
As the investigation continues, the MNPD and other agencies involved must work diligently to provide answers to the community and the families of those who lost their lives in this senseless act of violence. By doing so, they can help to ensure that justice is served and that measures are taken to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
