THE Nashville shooter’s manifesto controversy has deepened with podcaster Steve Crowder rejecting a claim that he bought the allegedly leaked evidence from cops.
A twisted killer who slaughtered six people at The Covenant School, including three nine-year-old children, had been planning the massacre for months, said police.
Conservative radio host Steven Crowder released on Monday what he claimed were three images of shooter Audrey Hale's writings from the day of the mass murder in Tennessee.
Hale, 28, who was once a student at the small, private Christian elementary school, had fired 152 rounds during the horrific attack on March 27 before being killed by police.
Crowder claimed on social media that a manifesto allegedly written by Hale had been leaked to him, and that he was sharing sections of it.
His claims prompted Conservative commentator Candace Owens to allege on X, formerly Twitter: "Allegedly, the documents were sold by one of the officers."
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But Crowder responded by confirming that he "did not buy anything" from the police.
The host of Lowder with Crowder was condemned after posting three photos of the alleged writings.
After posting a video on his YouTube channel about the images, he complained on X that the service had "removed our video (allegedly) exposing the Nashville shooter's manifesto."
INVESTIGATION
The Nashville mayor's office told the city's legal team to investigate the possible unauthorized release of the writings of the shooter.
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Metro Nashville Police Department said on Monday that the images were not its crime scene images, and that MNPD was working alongside Nashville's legal department to investigate the alleged release.
After law enforcement officials declined to confirm the manifesto, Crowder told Newsweek: "We stand by our reporting."
He released what he alleged were three images of Hale's writings from the day of the mass shooting.
'TOTAL DISREGARD'
In response, Chief John Drake said of the partial publication of the alleged manifesto: “I am greatly disturbed by today’s unauthorized release of three pages of writings from the Covenant shooter.
"This police department is extremely serious about the investigation to identify the person responsible.
"This action showed a total disregard for Covenant families, as well as the court system, which has control of the shooter’s journals at the present time due to litigation filed earlier this year.
"It is now pending in Davidson County Chancery Court and the Tennessee Court of Appeals.
"We are not at liberty to release the journals until the courts rule.
"Our police department looks forward to the ultimate resolution of the litigation concerning the journals.”
Nashville police and FBI agents have been reviewing writings left behind by the killer, both in Hale’s vehicle and home.
“It is known that Hale considered the actions of other mass murderers,” the cops said in April.
JOURNALS
Authorities have not disclosed any of Hale's journals or writings that were collected after the shooting.
The shooter left behind at least 20 journals, a suicide note and a memoir, according to court filings.
MNPD initially said the cops would release the documents - but only after an investigation was officially closed, which could have taken months.
In response, groups seeking the documents filed a lawsuit arguing that since the suspect was dead, the records should be immediately released.
Police then reversed course, saying that because of the lawsuits they would await the direction of the court on whether to release Hale's writings.
That lawsuit is ongoing.
On Monday, a spokesman for a group of school parents who have filed a motion seeking to keep the writings secret described whoever posted them as "a viper," reported NBC News.
Brent Leatherwood, whose three children were at the school and survived the attack, said: "You have now allowed (the shooter), who terrorized our family with bullets, to be able to now terrorize us with words from the grave."
'GRIEVING'
Mayor Freddie O'Connell said in a statement: "I am deeply concerned with the safety, security, and well-being of the Covenant families and all Nashvillians who are grieving."
He told The U.S. Sun on Tuesday: “I have directed Wally Dietz, Metro’s law director, to initiate an investigation into how these images could have been released.
"That investigation may involve local, state, and federal authorities. I am deeply concerned with the safety, security, and well-being of the Covenant families and all Nashvillians who are grieving.
“This incident naturally invokes additional emotional trauma, and families or individuals who need support should reach out to professionals at National Alliance on Mental Illness (615-891-4724), MNPD support counselors (615-862-7773) or MNPS Family Information Center (615-259-INFO).”
'NO ARRESTS'
Meanwhile, Candace Owens also alleged on X: "Breaking: I just got word that two officers are due to be fired over the release of the #NashvilleManifesto pages."
However, Kristin Mumford, public affairs officer for MNPD, told The U.S. Sun that the police are still investigating the alleged release, and that she was unable to comment further on the matter.
In relation to Owens' claims, Mumford said: "Two statements have been released, neither of which say anything about any arrests.
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"It's still under investigation so I can't speak as to what is going to happen."
The U.S. Sun has contacted Crowder for further comment.
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