Court Rules Covenant School Shooting Records Must Be Released

Appeals court overturns order blocking access to documents related to the tragic attack.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 8:55pm

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A state appeals court has ruled unanimously that records related to The Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tennessee must be released to the public. The court rejected arguments that the documents, including the shooter's manifesto, should be withheld due to pending investigations or copyright concerns.

Why it matters

This ruling is significant as it overturns a previous order to block access to key information about the tragic Covenant School shooting that claimed the lives of six people. The public release of these records could provide important insights and transparency around the incident.

The details

The appeals court ruled that since the Metro Nashville Police Department has closed its investigation, the argument about pending investigations is no longer relevant. The court also rejected the argument that federal copyright law blocks the release of the shooter's writings, including materials beyond just the manifesto. The trial court was instructed to review the documents page-by-page to determine where the school security exception to public records law applies.

  • The appeals court ruling was issued on February 4, 2026.
  • The Covenant School shooting took place in 2023.

The players

Metro Nashville Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that investigated the Covenant School shooting.

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What’s next

The trial court will now review the documents page-by-page to determine what information can be publicly released under the law.

The takeaway

This court ruling represents an important step towards transparency and accountability around the tragic Covenant School shooting, as the public will now have access to key records and documents related to the incident.