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- calendar_today October 12, 2026
Davidson County Chancery Court to Hold Records Release Hearing
The long-running legal battle for the release of records related to the 2023 Covenant School shooting is set to reach a new stage, as the Davidson County Chancery Court has scheduled a hearing for October 28. The Tennessee Star continues to seek access to documents held by Metro Nashville, despite a series of recent court decisions in its favor.
The Tennessee Star’s Legal Journey
The Tennessee Star has pursued records connected to the covenant school shooting for more than three years. Earlier in 2026, the Tennessee Court of Appeals sided with The Star, and the Tennessee Supreme Court declined to hear Metro Nashville’s appeal in August. Although the appellate court directed Metro Nashville to move forward with releasing records, officials have stated they will wait for an order from the trial court.
Table of Contents Reveals Potentially Available Records
During an episode of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, discussed developments including a table of contents listing documents that could soon be released. The list resulted from a recent meeting between lawyers for The Star and Metro Nashville representatives. Some documents are ready for release, while others remain under review pending the court’s decision.
Missing Mental Health Interviews
Pappert noted a significant omission: the absence of interviews with mental health professionals who treated Audrey Elizabeth Hale, identified as the perpetrator of the Covenant School shooting. Hale, a 28-year-old biological female who identified as a transgender man, had been a patient of mental health professionals for 22 years. Despite this history, the table of contents does not indicate that Metro Nashville police interviewed these professionals. Pappert raised the question of doctor-patient confidentiality but argued that the existence of interviews—not necessarily their details—should be considered a public record if they took place.
Correspondence Between Police and FBI Surfaces
The Star also identified new correspondence between Metro Nashville police and the FBI regarding a memo from the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. The memo, known as the "Legacy Token Memo," was originally reported by The Star in June 2024. It advised law enforcement officials against releasing writings and other materials created by mass shooters, even suggesting possible destruction of such materials. Pappert expressed an interest in learning more about the communication between the agencies following The Star’s revelations, emphasizing that the correspondence could shed light on internal discussions after the memo became public knowledge.
Questions About Other Key Documents
The list of documents also does not specifically mention Audrey Elizabeth Hale’s purported will, which police described in a 2025 investigative report as containing instructions about distributing her possessions and writings. According to show host Michael Patrick Leahy, while authorities verbally acknowledged the existence of a will, it is not explicitly listed among records slated for release.
Award Recognition for Investigative Work
In addition to the ongoing legal proceedings, The Tennessee Star was named a finalist for the 2026 Dao Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism for Best Local Reporting. The recognition comes in light of the outlet’s persistent reporting on the covenant shooter writings and its role in ultimately securing partial disclosure of related materials.
Outlook on the Pending Records Release
The upcoming court hearing will determine the next steps in the release process, as Metro Nashville awaits direction from the Davidson County Chancery Court. The outcome will influence the public’s access to information surrounding the covenant school shooting, Metro Nashville records, police-FBI correspondence, and other potentially sensitive materials.
Source: tennesseestar.com.
