Audrey Hale Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

18 May, 2023

Sen. Gardenhire, Tennessean file public records lawsuits; Covenant parents seek to intervene
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Sen. Gardenhire, Tennessean file public records lawsuits; Covenant parents seek to intervene

crime records, investigative exemption, public records lawsuits Tennessee

Sen. Gardenhire, Tennessean file public records lawsuits; Covenant parents seek to intervene

By Deborah Fisher|2023-05-19T11:39:51-05:00May 18, 2023|Categories: crime records, investigative exemption, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Audrey Hale, Brent Gibson, Covenant parents, Covenant Presbyterian Church, crime records, crime victims, Eric G. Osborne, Holland & Knight, manifesto, Mike Hagar, Robb Harvey, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, The Covenant School shooting, The Tennessean, Todd Gardenhire|0 Comments

The fight over the release of the Covenant School shooter's manifesto and other writings escalated Wednesday with state Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, and The Tennessean filing a public records lawsuit against Metro Nashville, and unnamed Covenant School parents filing motions to intervene in the current cases. Also, Assistant Police Chief Mike Hagar and police Lt. Brent Gibson filed declarations that police are still trying to determine if the shooter had any assistance planning the shooting or purchasing the weapons, with Gibson stating that it will take about 12 months to finish the investigation.

10 May, 2023

Tennessee Star editor Leahy sues FBI for withholding Covenant shooter manifesto
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Tennessee Star editor Leahy sues FBI for withholding Covenant shooter manifesto

crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee

Tennessee Star editor Leahy sues FBI for withholding Covenant shooter manifesto

By Deborah Fisher|2023-05-10T11:45:36-05:00May 10, 2023|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Audrey Hale, crime records, FBI, Freedom of Information Act, manifesto, Michael Patrick Leahy, Star News Digital Media, Tennessee Star Report, The Covenant School shooting, Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty|0 Comments

Tennessee Star editor Michael Patrick Leahy and his company, Star News Digital Media, Inc., filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the FBI for withholding the Covenant School shooter's manifesto under the Freedom of Information Act. The FBI denied access to the manifesto, which it received from Nashville police, saying that it and other writings by the shooter were involved in a "pending or prospective law enforcement proceeding" and that release could interfere with a law enforcement proceeding.

4 May, 2023

Police say Covenant School parents may intervene in public records case, judge delays hearing
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Police say Covenant School parents may intervene in public records case, judge delays hearing

crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee

Police say Covenant School parents may intervene in public records case, judge delays hearing

By Deborah Fisher|2023-05-04T15:26:53-05:00May 4, 2023|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Audrey Hale, Chancellor I'Ashea Myles, investigative exemption, National Police Association, Rule 16, Tennessee Firearms Association, The Covenant School shooting|0 Comments

The Davidson County chancellor overseeing the public records case over the Covenant School shooter's manifesto has moved the initial hearing in the case five weeks to June 8. Police say in their motion that this would allow time for parents of students at The Covenant School to intervene and that some parents have said they oppose release of the shooter's writings.

29 Apr, 2023

Public records lawsuit filed to force release of Covenant School shooter’s manifesto
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Public records lawsuit filed to force release of Covenant School shooter’s manifesto

crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee

Public records lawsuit filed to force release of Covenant School shooter’s manifesto

By Deborah Fisher|2023-05-08T12:06:44-05:00April 29, 2023|Categories: crime records, public records lawsuits Tennessee|Tags: Audrey Hale, Doug Pierce, investigative exemption, Rule 16, The Covenant School shooting|0 Comments

A Hendersonville resident has filed a lawsuit to force the Nashville Police Department to release the Covenant School shooter's manifesto and other writings, saying that Tennessee law does not allow police to withhold material that is not part of pending or contemplated criminal action.

26 Apr, 2023

Is school shooter Audrey Hale’s ‘manifesto’ an open record under the Tennessee Public Records Act?
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Is school shooter Audrey Hale’s ‘manifesto’ an open record under the Tennessee Public Records Act?

crime records

Is school shooter Audrey Hale’s ‘manifesto’ an open record under the Tennessee Public Records Act?

By Deborah Fisher|2023-04-26T16:40:22-05:00April 26, 2023|Categories: crime records|Tags: Audrey Hale, investigative exemption, State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, The Covenant School|3 Comments

School shooter Audrey Hale's manifesto would not fall under the so-called "investigative exemption" to Tennessee's public records law because this exemption is only available when there is an investigation into possible criminal charges. Here, the shooter is dead. Police have said she acted alone. So if there are no other suspects to charge, there is no investigation that could lead to criminal charges against someone.