The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) released a statement Monday afternoon in which they failed to address the authenticity of leaked documents purported to be part of the manifesto written by Audrey Elizabeth Hale, but instead claimed, “The photographs are not MNPD crime scene images.”
In the statement, MNPD said:
The MNPD is in communication with the Metropolitan Department of Law as an investigation, begun this morning, continues into the dissemination of three photographs of writings during an on-line discussion about Covenant School. The photographs are not MNPD crime scene images.
The police department has been in contact with a representative of Covenant families. Police department counselors are available to assist them in coping with the emotional trauma caused by the dissemination.
Hale, who reportedly identified as a transgender male, fatally shot six people at The Covenant School on March 27, 2023. She was subsequently killed moments later by responding MNPD officers.
MNPD did not confirm or deny the authenticity of the images in the statement, but acknowledged the department “is in communication” with the Metro Legal about the ongoing investigation “into the dissemination of three photographs of writings” shown by conservative comedian and pundit Steven Crowder on Monday morning. The department confirmed the “photographs are not MNPD crime scene images.”
A spokesman for the department originally told The Tennessee Star it had “no idea” what the document was, though the same person later told The Star that it was investigating how the images were released. The spokesman did not clearly state whether the documents depicted in the photos are authentic.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has since called for an investigation into how the photos were obtained and disseminated.
Multiple members of the Tennessee General Assembly confirmed the authenticity of the document to The Star, which was among the first of a growing list of media outlets to independently verify the writings are part of Hale’s manifesto. Other media outlets to confirm its authenticity include SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, News Channel 5, and WZTV.
An email from The Star to MNPD Public Affairs Director Don Aaron, which sought an explanation for why MNPD has yet to confirm or deny the authenticity of the document, was not answered by press time.
MNPD also indicated it is in touch with the families of Covenant school students, and is offering counseling to those who request it.
Star News Digital Media Inc., the parent company of The Star, filed two lawsuits to compel both the MNPD and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to release the manifesto. Both lawsuits remain active.
Calls from media outlets to release the manifesto have been buoyed by Representative John Rose (R-TN-06), who sent a letter requesting its release more than 200 days ago. Rose said the FBI’s eventual response indicated a “lack of cooperation” with elected officials that may leave schools vulnerable to future school shootings.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Georgia Star News, and also reports for The Tennessee Star and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
