Parents of Covenant School students do not want the assailant’s writings to be made public. Now, a Nashville judge has ruled that the parents can make their case before the court while it considers a lawsuit that seeks to release documents related to the school shooting.
The Covenant School, church, and its parents can now submit evidence and testimony in the case, brought by a gun rights group, a police non-profit, the Tennessean newspaper, and state Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga. The separate lawsuits have been consolidated into one, which argues that the documents should be made public under the Tennessee Public Records Act.
Parents say they’re worried that the release of writings left behind by the person who shot and killed three students and three staff members at the school in March could inspire future school shootings and re-traumatize students. The Covenant School itself has argued that diagrams of the school made by the assailant would further jeopardize its safety.
The next hearing in the case is set for June 8.
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