Audrey Hale's victims’ families try to block release of trans shooter's 'manifesto' over 'copyright' claims

The families of the victims of Nashville trans school shooter Audrey Hale are claiming that they own the copyright of the manifesto Hale left behind. 

Hale’s parents handed over the shooter's estate over to the victims’ families after the Hale was fatally shot inside the Covenant Christian School. The families have intervened in a lawsuit against the city seeking the release of the documents, arguing that the estate includes the manifesto, and they therefore own the copyright, they can determine whether or not to release it. 

They are urging the judge to block the release of the manifesto to the public.  

Doug Pierce, an attorney for plaintiffs Clata Renee Brewer and the National Police Association, told Fox News, "You can't just assume there is a copyright interest on any particular writing. The only way they could get copyright protection established is if they would have to show the documents in federal court — in other words, they gotta let the cat out of the bag." 

"Every day, the public is being denied the right of access," Pierce said, adding that "obviously there's no pending investigation. "It's been 13 months, and they've always said the only person involved is the shooter who died at the scene." 

Hale, who identified as a transgender man by the name of Aiden, fatally shot three students and three staff members of the school on March 27, 2023. Hale was fatally shot in the hallways of the school by authorities. 

A leaked portion of the manifesto revealed that Hale had a violent hatred of the “little crackers” with “white privilege” who were murdered, and that Hale had been meticulously planning the attack.   

"DEATH DAY," Hale wrote on one page with the drawing of a target reticle and a pistol, along with the date "3/27/23." 

"The day has finally come!" Hale wrote. "I can't believe its [sic] here. Don't know how I was able to get this far, but here I am. I'm a little nervous but excited too. Been excited for the past 2 weeks." 

"There were several times I could have been caught especially back in the summer of 2021. None of that matters now. I am almost an hour & 7 minutes away." 

"Can’t believe I’m doing this, but I’m ready," Hale wrote. "I hope my victims aren’t." 

Hale also wrote about making a "final video tape" on the schedule, though this has not been released by police or confirmed to even exist. 

Nashville Police have vowed to investigate who the leaker was.