Efforts by parents and community members in Nashville to prevent the release of the writings of Audrey Hale, the shooter at Covenant School, could have significant implications, according to an open-government expert. Deborah Fisher, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, explained that Tennessee's victims' rights statute does not grant individuals the power to veto public records. Fisher noted that while victims have rights in criminal proceedings, there is no indication that they have the authority to prevent the release of public records. She emphasized that allowing victims to veto the release of crime records would set a precedent in Tennessee, affecting public knowledge of crimes and potentially criminal trials.

The parents of Audrey Hale, who carried out the shooting at Covenant School, have transferred ownership of her manifesto to the school, joining forces with the killer's family to prevent its release. Hale, a 28-year-old transgender individual, stormed the private elementary school in March, killing three children and three adults before being shot by the police. Freedom of Information advocates have been seeking to make Hale's writings public, arguing that understanding her motives and mental state is crucial for any potential changes to firearm regulations. Governor Bill Lee has cited the Covenant School shooting as he pushes for new gun-control legislation, including background checks on mental health.

Chancery Court Judge I'Ashea Myles ruled in May that the majority of families from Covenant School should be allowed to present their arguments regarding the release of Hale's writings. However, the Covenant School and Covenant Presbyterian Church have also been permitted to weigh in on the matter. The appeal process has been initiated by the groups seeking access to the documents, and they have requested that proceedings be suspended while the appeals are ongoing. Despite the ownership transfer, the Metro Nashville Police Department retains control of the manifesto, as it is considered part of an ongoing investigation that may take several more months.

According to an autopsy report, Audrey Hale covered her clothes in handwritten messages before the attack on Covenant School. Although Hale identified as a transgender male, the official report listed her as female. The autopsy revealed that she was carrying a knife inscribed with her chosen name, Aiden. The report also mentioned that her clothes were adorned with handwritten notes, drawings, and numbers. Hale had a plastic anklet with the inscription "508407," but the content of the messages on her clothes remains unknown. The autopsy report provided further details about the attack, including the fact that Hale had bruises, abrasions, and minor blunt force trauma. The report did not indicate any presence of drugs or alcohol in her system. The cause and manner of Hale's death were determined to be homicide by gunshot wounds.

The investigation into Audrey Hale's rampage has uncovered a significant collection of journals and drawings related to school shootings. Police recovered numerous notebooks and two "memoirs," as well as a hand-drawn map of Covenant School. The manifestos and other writings are the subject of public records lawsuits, with various parties demanding their release. The writings were discovered both at the scene of the crime and at Hale's parents' home. Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake has stated that Hale suffered from an unspecified emotional disorder and that the manifesto had been shared with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico, Virginia.

The shooting at Covenant School resulted in the deaths of three children and three adults. The child victims, all nine years old, included Hallie Scruggs, the daughter of the pastor of the school church, Evelyn Dieckhaus, and William Kinney. The adult victims were identified as Katherine Koonce, the headmistress of the school; Cynthia Peak, a substitute teacher; and Michael Hill, a custodian. Hale's autopsy report indicated that she had a scar on her forehead, but no scars on her wrists. The bullets that struck her passed through her lungs, spine, and arm, while another bullet went through her head, and a third hit her femur.