Nashville church opposes release of transgender shooter’s manifesto.

Church and School Seek to Block Release of Transgender Shooter’s Manifesto

The Covenant Presbyterian Church and its associated Covenant School are seeking to prevent the public release of the manifesto of the transgender shooter who attacked the school in March. The shooting left three students and three adult staff members dead, and the Nashville police department has yet to release a possible motive for the attack. Under legal guidance, the department has so far withheld the written manifesto of the attacker, 28-year-old Audrey Hale, whom police fatally shot during the assault.

Privacy Concerns Cited

In April, the Tennessee Firearms Association and the Nashville Police Association filed lawsuits demanding that the department release the writings and police communications regarding the manifesto to the public. However, in a motion filed on Monday, Covenant Church urged the court to keep the manifesto concealed, citing privacy concerns. The church argued that releasing the manifesto could “impair or impede [the church’s] ability to protect its interests and the privacy of its employees.” The manifesto “may include and/or relate to information owned by Covenant Church,” such as “schematics of church facilities and confidential information” regarding employees. A judge will hear the motion on Thursday.

Republican Representatives Call for Release of Records

In a letter sent on Monday, sixty-six Republican Tennessee state representatives urged the police to release the shooter’s “writings as well as relevant medical records and toxicology reports.” The representatives argued that “the release of these records is critical to the General Assembly’s ability to construct effective solutions that can prevent future acts of violence.”

Manifesto Described as “Ramblings”

Police found a map of the school and the manifesto in Hale’s home, which showed that she had been planning the attack for months. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation director David Rausch described the manifesto as “ramblings,” according to the Blaze.

• Church and school seek to block release of shooter’s manifesto
• Manifesto may contain confidential information about church facilities and employees
• Judge to hear motion on Thursday
• Sixty-six Republican Tennessee state representatives call for release of shooter’s records
• Manifesto described as “ramblings”