Nashville’s Police Chief has confirmed the authenticity of leaked images of the Covenant School shooter’s “manifesto.” The images were published by podcaster Steven Crowder, who claimed they were sold to him by police officers. The police department has emphasized the ongoing litigation surrounding the documents and stated that they cannot be released until the courts rule. The leaked writings detail the shooter’s hate-fueled ideology and reveal that the attack may have been planned for two years. The shooter, identified as a female-to-male transgender person, targeted children at the private Christian school. The release of the images has faced censorship from social media platforms. The release of the shooter’s writings has been delayed due to legal proceedings involving the families of the victims and the school. NTD reported
In Nashville, Tennessee, a leaked manifesto believed to be written by the Covenant School shooter has caused controversy and backlash. The authenticity of the leaked images was confirmed by Nashville’s Police Chief, John Drake, who expressed his concern over the release of the writings. Chief Drake criticized the release for showing a “total disregard” for the families of the victims and the ongoing court proceedings. The police department is currently involved in litigation to determine whether the documents should be released to the public. Despite claims made by Conservative Daily Wire Podcast host Candace Owens that the images were sold by officers to the media, the MNPD has denied these allegations.
The leaked manifesto, referred to as a “series of writings,” revealed a hate-fueled ideology held by the shooter. The pages contained anti-white rhetoric, homophobic slurs, and indications that the attack may have been planned for two years. The shooter, identified as a female-to-male transgender person, expressed resentment towards children attending private schools, referring to their “white privilege” and criticizing their material possessions. The writings also included a schedule and ended with the chilling statement, “Let massacre begin. Time2die.”
Following the shooting, authorities initially promised to release the shooter’s writings to the public. However, they later backtracked, citing legal counsel and ongoing litigation as reasons for withholding the documents. Multiple media outlets, including The Epoch Times, had their requests for the manifesto rejected under the state’s open records laws. MNPD posted a statement on Twitter explaining their decision to hold the release of the records due to pending litigation.
The leaked images and the discussion surrounding them faced censorship by social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Google, and YouTube. Steven Crowder, the podcaster who published the images, reported that his recent episode discussing the documents was deleted by these platforms. YouTube specifically cited a violation of their policies regarding content that glorifies violent criminal organizations or incites violence.
The legal battle over the release of the shooter’s writings has been ongoing, with appeals and court proceedings causing delays. The Tennessee Court of Appeals temporarily halted the lower trial court proceedings after allowing the parents, church, and school of The Covenant School to join the lawsuit as third-party interveners. The delay in resolving the case has raised concerns about the protection of public records and the rights of all parties involved.
In recent weeks, an appeals court heard arguments about whether the families of the schoolchildren should be granted legal standing to intervene in the case. MNPD and Metro Nashville argued that, based on existing case law, the criminal investigation should become a public record. However, the families assert that exceptions should be made to protect their rights and the privacy of their children. The resolution of this case remains uncertain as the legal proceedings continue..