Investigation into leak of Nashville school shooter memos comes back inconclusive

A probe into the leak of pages from the journal of the Covenant School shooter who killed six people earlier this year has come back inconclusive, after Nashville Police “exhausted all available investigative avenues.”

The police announced the results in an email to media late Friday amid an ongoing battle over whether the writings, originally leaked to right-wing commentator Stephen Crowder, should be released as public records, according to the Associated Press.

The investigation was launched by Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell early last month, after Crowder posted the images online, claiming they were from the shooter’s manifesto. 

Law enforcement interviewed officers who were on the scene and examined their electronic devices. Three cell phone pictures of the journals were taken after being found in the shooter’s vehicle by detectives, according to investigators.

“The department does not have the ability to compel statements or cooperation from former employees,” the police statement reads, per the AP.

Seven Nashville police officers were placed on “administrative assignment” in the wake of the mayor’s orders last month. Those officers have since returned to regular duties, according to the police.

“I am greatly disturbed by today’s unauthorized release of three pages of writings from the Covenant shooter,” Nashville Police Chief John Drake said last month in a statement. “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,” he added.

According to court filings, the shooter left behind 20 journals at minimum, alongside a suicide note and a memoir.

The Associated Press contributed.