NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A media organization is set to appear in court on Monday concerning the publication of leaked documents revealing details about the Nashville school shooter who tragically claimed the lives of six people. The outlet is currently locked in a legal battle to secure the release of these records to the public. The hearing, mandated by Nashville Chancellor I’Ashea Myles, has sparked outrage not only from Star News Digital Media and Editor-in-Chief Michael Leahy but also from transparency advocates and lawmakers in Tennessee.
Leahy’s legal team argued that the court proceedings would not only violate his due process rights but also encroach on First Amendment rights following the publication of the leaked records by The Tennessee Star pertaining to the shooter at The Covenant School. Despite Leahy’s request to cancel the hearing being denied, the judge made it clear that no witnesses would be called to testify.
The public records lawsuit filed by the conservative Star News and other plaintiffs has remained entangled in legal proceedings for over a year. A group of Covenant School parents have now joined the lawsuit, contending that none of the leaked documents should be released, as they fear it could potentially inspire copycat attacks and retraumatize their children.
Although the investigative file remains officially sealed from public view, information about the shooter’s writings has found its way to media outlets through two notable leaks. While the first leak remains unsolved, Nashville Police Lt. Alfredo Arevalo has drawn a connection to a former colleague in relation to the second leak without directly accusing them.
In a court declaration, Arevalo expressed his dismay over the leaks and the impact they may have on the victims and families affected by the Covenant school shooting. The shooter, identified as Audrey Hale, left behind a plethora of journals, a suicide note, and an unpublished memoir after taking the lives of three 9-year-old children and three adults at the private Christian school.
The city of Nashville has argued that the documents should not be released given the ongoing police investigation. On the other hand, the plaintiffs argue that since the shooter is deceased, there is no active criminal investigation to warrant withholding the documents. Concerns over possible leaks prompted the judge to issue orders prohibiting the direct quoting or reproduction of leaked documents during case proceedings to prevent defiance of court orders.
As the legal battle unfolds, the plaintiffs, which include news organizations, a gun rights group, a law enforcement nonprofit, and State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, continue to push for the release of the documents. Star News Digital Media has also taken legal action against the FBI in federal court in pursuit of obtaining the records.