New hearing ordered over more leaked writings from Covenant School shooter

The Tennessee Star and its editor-in-chief could be held in contempt of court.
Published: Jun. 10, 2024 at 6:07 PM CDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A new hearing has been ordered after more pages from the Covenant School shooter’s journal have been reportedly leaked. This new leak occurred just weeks prior to Metro Nashville police’s expected conclusion of its investigation into the deadly school shooting.

The leak allegedly came from a source close to the shooting investigation. The person reportedly turned over dozens of pages of the shooter’s writings and a suicide note to the Tennessee Star. The Star is a “conservative news site” run by Michael Patrick Leahy (Star News Digital Media).

Now, the Tennessee Star and its editor-in-chief could be in legal hot water with a Davidson County judge.

The judge is calling for a new hearing after the writings leaked.

Previous story: Nashville police poised to investigate new leak of Covenant Shooter’s writings

The Tennessee Star is one of the parties who filed a suit wanting at least 20 journals, a suicide note, and a memoir written by the shooter released publicly.

If the newly leaked pages are authentic – this is the second time that part of the journal found by MNPD in the shooter’s car has been leaked. It comes after the judge in the case, I’Ashea Myles, warned against further leaks, threatening contempt of court for anyone who did it again.

However, Judge Myles was unaware of the supposed leak, until WSMV4 Investigates’ Stacey Cameron called the court asking for a reaction to the leak, wanting to know if she was considering holding the Star or anyone else in contempt.

On Monday night, Judge Myles set a court hearing for next Monday morning, ordering the Star and Michael Leahy, to appear before the judge and show cause why she should not hold them in contempt for their alleged publication of the documents in violation of her order.

WSMV4 also contacted MNPD, who investigated the first leak but couldn’t discover its source.

Now, MNPD tells WMSV4 that if the Star’s claim is true that they have 80 pages from the shooter’s journals, officers will investigate how that happened and how the Star obtained them.

Both attorneys in the case told WSMV4 Investigates they don’t believe this will have any impact on the judge’s ruling in the case. A decision is expected anytime between now and the end of July.

You can read the order for the Show Cause hearing below: