(Headline USA) The Nashville Police Department reportedly suspended seven detectives this week after the leak of transgender school shooter Audrey Hale’s manifesto.
The police department reportedly confirmed the officers were placed on administrative duty on Wednesday as it attempts to pinpoint how conservative commentator Steven Crowder obtained the documents, which revealed part of Hale’s motive before she killed three students and three staff members at Covenant Christian School.
NPD spokesperson Don Aaron reportedly claimed the suspensions were “absolutely not punitive” but were intended to “protect the integrity of the active, progressing investigation.”
Crowder released three pages of Hale’s manifesto last week and said an unidentified party, whom he described as a “Nashville detective,” contacted his team claiming to be in possession of a portion of the writings. The NPD has confirmed that the writings are legitimate.
However, multiple social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, have censored images of the manifesto, claiming they go against “Community Standards on violence and incitement.”
BREAKING: @facebook is now censoring the #NashvilleManifesto https://t.co/vDGAPPh7Oa pic.twitter.com/iVso967VHl
— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) November 6, 2023
Crowder has stood by the release, arguing Nashville owes it to the public to be transparent about Hale’s motivations.
“This was one that did not follow along with that narrative,” he said. “And a lot of people thought it was necessary for this to be out. And there are people involved with the Nashville PD who also believe things have not necessarily been transparent.”
The manifesto revealed Hale had been planning the school shooting for years, and that she deliberately targeted “white privileged” “cr*****s” and “f****ts.”
“Can’t believe I’m doing this but I’m ready… I hope my victims aren’t,” Hale wrote. “My only fear is if anything goes wrong. I’ll do my best to prevent any of the sort. God let my wrath take over my anxiety. It might be 10 minutes tops. It might be 3-7. It’s gonna go quick. I hope I have a high death count. Ready to die.”
