NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Due to pending litigation, Metro Police said they will not be releasing records related to the Covenant Shooting at this time.
Police said that they have been advised by counsel to "hold in abeyance the release of records." Metro attorney Wally Dietz said this comes as the result of two different entities filing suit for the document. One of those was the Tennessee Firearms Association. A private investigator filed on behalf of the National Police Association as the second motion to the court.
No families of the victims have filed suit to block the release of the documents, Dietz said.
"We plan to file under seal the entire journal found in the shooter's car in the parking lot at The Covenant School together with our proposed redactions under the Public Records Act for the court to review the release," Dietz wrote in a statement to NewsChannel 5.
Covenant investigation update: Due to pending litigation filed this week, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has been advised by counsel to hold in abeyance the release of records related to the shooting at The Covenant School pending orders or direction of the court.
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) May 3, 2023
Earlier this week, Tennessee Firearms Association sued the city for access to The Covenant School shooter's writings.
"Some parents from The Covenant School have informally indicated to the MNPD that they oppose the release of the shooter’s writings," Dietz wrote in a motion to the court.
"The Metropolitan government believes they should have an opportunity to participate in the show cause hearing if they wish and that the Court should consider these varying interests. Given the complexities surrounding the requests at issue and the fact that the matter is now before the Court for resolution in two different lawsuits (with the potential for a third), the Metropolitan government requests a status conference to discuss these issues with the Court and seek an orderly and prompt resolution of the matter."
Their court filing cites a ruling in the Vanderbilt rape case, which allowed the victim to weigh in on the release of public records during an investigation.
The lawsuit said Metro Nashville has violated the Tennessee Public Records Act after the TFA asked to see what it calls the "manifesto" from the Covenant school shooter.
What they found in the shooter's home:
- Mosserberg model 590, 12 gauge
- 14 home videos
- 20 journals
- suicide note
- bag with targets and empty ammo boxes
- passwords on sticky notes
- Three folders on school shootings and firearms courses
- healthcare cards
- 2 Honda key fobs and 1 key
- Key tag
- Mac with stickers
- Windows/Microsoft laptop
- Mac laptop with no stickers
- Samsung tablet and charger
- Miscellaneous firearm accessories in a shoe box
- 2 LG phones
- The Covenant School photo with five yearbooks from the Covenant
- External hard drive
- Winchester model 1200, 20 gauge
- 2 Motorola cellphones
- Notes written by the shooter
- IT Creswell yearbook
- Memoir
- 2023 planner
- 2 ammo boxes
- Firearm accessories
- 40 9mm cartridge casings
- Samsung phone
- White Google phone
- Blue LG phone
- Blue iPad
- 7 media drives
- Macbook pro with stickers
- Memoir
- Art
- Toshiba laptop and charger
- Psych folder with medical information
- Resume with social media
