Nashville school seeks to safeguard sensitive data in shooter’s manifesto.

Lawyers for The Covenant School intervene in lawsuits over release of shooter’s manifesto

School officials cite security concerns for staff and students

Lawyers for The Covenant School in Nashville have filed a motion to intervene in lawsuits calling for the release of the manifesto of the 28-year-old female mass shooter who killed six people, including three 9-year-olds, at the private education institution two months ago. School officials are concerned that the manifesto could publicize sensitive information about the school, including schematics of the facilities and confidential information about employees and students.

• The school’s lawyers argue that the release of the manifesto could impair its ability to protect its interests and the privacy of its employees and students.
• Metro Nashville Police officers fatally shot the shooter just minutes after the first call was received.
• Federal and local authorities found five laptops, a suicide note, two memoirs, five Covenant School yearbooks, and seven cellphones at the shooter’s property.

Metro Nashville Director of Law Wally Dietz has issued a statement supporting the school’s decision, saying local authorities “believe the Church and the School have a right to be heard.” Nashville officials have also filed a response supporting the school’s motion.

Tennessee House Republicans request release of shooter’s writings and toxicology reports

Tennessee House Republicans have sent a letter to the Nashville chief of police asking for the release of the shooter’s writings and toxicology reports, saying the information is vital to understanding the killer’s motives before a special session called by Republican Governor Bill Lee. Dietz responded to the letter, saying under the view of the court order, “it is inaccurate to allege that Metro alone now controls whether documents are released.”

Nashville city attorneys submitted an unredacted copy of the manifesto to a county judge on Friday for review after several lawsuits were filed demanding its release to the public. Attorneys representing the city submitted two versions of the manifesto — an unredacted copy and a proposed redacted duplicate — to the Davidson County Chancellor’s chambers for review before a public hearing about releasing the writings scheduled for June 8.

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