Seven Nashville police officers have been placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into how school shooter Audrey Hale’s “manifesto” leaked online.
Nashville police said WSMV that the officers were suspended following an investigation into how Hale wrote three pages of notes before opening fire at The Covenant School in March.
She shot dead three nine-year-olds and three teachers before being shot dead by police.
The manifesto had been shrouded in secrecy since the shooting until it was leaked on Monday by controversial podcast host Steven Crowder, who claimed his reporters obtained it from a detective on the scene.
Police sources told Fox 17 that the documents were authentic and intended to demonstrate Hale’s plan to target “white privileged” “cr*****s” and “f****ts” before killing themselves committed.
Audrey Hale, a 28-year-old transgender former student at the school, murdered three nine-year-olds and three teachers before being shot dead by police
Controversial podcast host Steven Crowder published leaked photos of the manifesto despite ongoing litigation over whether or not they should be made public
Hale is shown in the school when the shooting occurred on March 29, 2023
The release of the manifesto threw Nashville officials into an uproar, with the city’s new mayor, Freddie O’Connell, asking the state’s top attorney to launch an investigation into the “concerning” leak.
In her distorted writings, Hale meticulously planned her schedule for the day of the shooting down to the minute, in a diary titled “Day of the Dead.”
Starting with waking up at 6:30 a.m. and setting aside time to spend with her stuffed animals, Hale’s schedule for the day also included reminders to “test the knife on glass breaker” and “pack special belongings in backpacks.”
Hale seemed concerned about how long her rampage would last, which she said was aimed at children at “nice private schools,” despite previously attending Covenant school herself.
She also appeared to write about a 10-minute “final video,” which has not been made public.
Following the leak of the disturbing manifesto, WSMV reporter Stacey Cameron confirmed that seven offices were placed on administrative leave as part of the ongoing investigation into how it became public.
In a statement to the newspaper, NPD spokesman Don Aaron said the decision was made “to protest the integrity of the active, evolving investigation.”
He added that the action was “absolutely not punitive” and that the department had no plans to identify those involved.
Katherine Koonce, head of school (left), and Mike Hill, a custodian (right) were among those shot and killed by Audrey Hale
Substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, known as Cindy, (right, with her daughter Ellie) was among six people shot and killed
In her twisted manifesto, Hale wrote about targeting children at ‘fancy private schools’ despite previously attending Covenant school themselves
Whether or not the manifesto would be released to the public became a topic of debate, with gun safety advocates and police unions fighting to have it released, while the school and parents of the victims said they risked becoming potential copycats motivate.
David Raybin, who represents Hale’s parents, said they had not seen the documents before.
In a post on the day of the attack, Hale wrote: “Today is the day. The day has finally arrived. I can’t believe it’s here. I don’t know how I got this far, but here I am.
‘I’m a little nervous, but also excited. I’ve been excited for the past two weeks.”
Worryingly, she said there were “several times” she “could have been caught.”
‘None of that matters anymore. I’m almost an hour and 7 minutes away. I can’t believe I’m doing this, but I’m ready… I hope my victims aren’t.
‘My only fear is if something goes wrong. I will do my best to prevent such a thing.
“God allowed my wrath to take over my fear. It can be up to 10 minutes. It could be 3-7. It goes fast. I hope I have a high mortality rate. Ready to die.”
Hale’s disturbing writings worryingly mention “several times” that she “could have been caught” prior to her rampage that left six people dead.
Police shot Hale during her “carefully planned” attack, killing three children and three adults
In another post on February 3, six weeks before the shooting, she wrote: “Kill those kids!!! Those cr***rs who go to private fancy schools with those nice kwakis and sports backpacks. With their money daddy’s mustangs and convertibles (sic). F**k you little s**ts.
“I want to shoot you weak bastards with your yellow hair, I want to kill all you little bastards!!! Bunch of little f****ts with your white privilege (sic). ‘F**k you f****ts.’
Hale’s detailed plan for the day of the shooting was planned down to the minute, starting with waking up at 6:30 am before getting dressed at 7:05 am.
She planned to spend time with her stuffed animals and belongings between 7:05 a.m. and 8:55 a.m., although she actually left for school much earlier than her meticulous plan.
Although she was scheduled to begin her rampage around noon, Hale was shot dead by police at 10:25 a.m., 14 minutes after she opened fire.