In a shift from what has widely been called a “manifesto,” the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) Friday told The Tennessee Star that it will release “dated journals” left behind by the mass shooter who killed six people at The Covenant Presbyterian School in Nashville one month ago.
“The writings are essentially dated journals,” Don Aaron, an MNPD spokesman, told The Star. “While the word manifesto was used on the first day, we have since referred to these as ‘writings’ or ‘journals.'”
Aaron still did not confirm when the material will be released, despite growing public pressure for the department to share the information with the public.
“The investigation is now at the stage that we have begun the close review process for the anticipated public release of written material,” he said. “There is not a date certain as [sic] this moment.”
Aaron did not respond to a follow-up asking whether any parts of the released materials would be omitted or redacted.
On March 27, Audrey Elizabeth Hale, 28, who identified as transgender, shot and killed three children and three adults during a murderous rampage at The Covenant Presbyterian School in Nashville.
Since then, the public has waited in anticipation for what police first described as a “manifesto.” Now, it appears that there is no manifesto at all.
Thursday, Gov. Bill Lee (R) promised the materials would be released soon.
“The Covenant shooting was a tragedy beyond comprehension, & Tennesseans need clarity. We’ve been in touch with the Nashville Police Department, & today, Chief Drake assured me that documents & information regarding the shooter will be released to the public very soon,” he said. “While the state is not involved with the investigations, we will continue to support law enforcement & lift up the Covenant community.”
This week, CEO of Star News Media, Inc. and owner and operator of The Star, Michael Patrick Leahy, filed an open records request asking that all of the written material be released to the public.
That request was almost immediately denied.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
Photo “Audrey Hale” by Metro Nashville Police Department.
