Tennessee judge denies release of Covenant school shooter's writings to the public
Audrey Hale killed three children and three staff members at The Covenant School before police fatally shot the shooter on the school's second floor.
The writings of a Nashville school shooter won't be made public, a Tennessee judge ruled late Thursday, finding that there is more harm to be done in releasing them now.
"When there is a pending or contemplated criminal investigation, Tennessee courts have determined that unfettered access to every record at any time does not serve to uphold the system of justice that we all depend upon to ensure that the criminal legal system and investigations remain fair and impartial for every involved person," Davidson County Chancery Court Judge I'Ashea Myles wrote in her decision.
"Therefore, the right to unencumbered access to public records was tempered by certain exceptions which serve to keep certain information from disclosure as the risk of harm from disclosure is outweighed by the public's right to know," she said.
Myles concluded that no records held by Nashville government officials shall "be disclosed at this time," suggesting that the writings could still become public at a later date; those seeking for their release could also appeal the ruling.
Her order comes after months of litigation among police officials, the media and family members of victims battling over the release of records from the March 27, 2023, mass shooting at The Covenant School, a Christian grade school. Heavily armed former student Audrey Hale killed three children and three staff members before police fatally shot the shooter on the school's second floor.
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