Police in Nashville have concluded their investigation into the leaked pages of a mass shooter’s manifesto, unable to determine how the documents were released to the public. The Metro Nashville Police Department announced on Friday that they had “exhausted all available investigative avenues” in their search for those responsible for leaking portions of Audrey Hale’s handwritten manifesto. Two officers from the Specialized Investigations Division, who discovered the manifesto in Hale’s car near the crime scene, were found to have taken pictures of the document.
The leak of the manifesto led to the transfer of seven officers to administrative positions, but investigators were unable to identify the individual who provided the pages to conservative entertainer Steven Crowder, who subsequently published them on November 6. The police department cited their inability to compel statements or cooperation from former employees as a hindrance to the investigation. However, all officers involved have since returned to their regular duties.
Hale, described by Nashville police as a transgender woman, had over 20 journals, and the release of her writings has sparked controversy. Lawsuits have been filed by some parents of The Covenant School, where the shooting took place, seeking to prevent the full manifesto from being made public, arguing that it could endanger students or inspire copycat attackers. The legal process has been ongoing, with an appeals court expected to rule on whether Hale’s parents and the school have the right to intervene in the case.
The investigation into the leak of the mass shooter’s manifesto has reached a dead end for the Nashville Police Department, leaving many unanswered questions about how the documents were made public. The controversy surrounding the release of the manifesto and the ongoing legal battle to prevent its full publication add further complexity to the case.
