The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department announced on Friday that they have exhausted all possible investigative avenues in their search for the person responsible for leaking three photos of writings from the school shooter who killed three children and three adults at a private school in March. The department conducted interviews and examined electronic devices as part of their month-long investigation, but did not identify any current employees involved in the unauthorized release of the images. The photos of the 28-year-old shooter's writings were released online by conservative political commentator Steven Crowder in November, eight months after the deadly attack at Covenant School. The shooter was killed by police at the scene.

The leak of the images sparked a legal battle between groups seeking evidence, including the shooter's writings, to be released by authorities, and parents of the victims who argued that the release would cause further trauma. The images contained hate-filled language towards the Covenant School and children, as well as a timeline of events leading up to the shooting. In an attempt to gather information about the shooter, two detectives from the department's Specialized Investigations Unit took photos of the writings immediately after finding journals in the shooter's vehicle. One detective took two photos, while the other took one.

The department made efforts last month to interview a former detective who had the images as part of his official duties, but he declined to cooperate. The department stated that they cannot compel statements or cooperation from former employees. Following the investigation, police department employees who were placed on administrative leave have returned to their normal roles.

The release of the shooter's writings has been a contentious issue, with gun rights advocates and news organizations seeking their release to shed light on the motive for the attack. However, parents of two of the children killed, as well as the church that runs the school, have asked the court to deny Freedom of Information Act requests for the release of the writings. They fear that the release could inspire copycat attacks and cause further harm to the victims' families. The Tennessean newspaper, along with other groups, argue that the documents are public records and should be accessible under the First Amendment and the Tennessee Constitution.

Steven Crowder, the conservative commentator who released the images, stated that he does not regret sharing them online. He believes that the pages should be made public for transparency in the case. The investigation into the leak has now been concluded, but the police department stated that they will continue to advance the investigation if any new or undiscovered information comes to light.

The release of the shooter's writings has been a highly debated and emotional issue, with both sides presenting arguments about the potential benefits and harms of their release. The police department's investigation into the leak has provided some closure, but the legal battle over the release of the writings is far from over. The case file has been forwarded to the district attorney's office for review, and the outcome of the legal battle will ultimately determine whether the writings will ever be made public.