Pages of Covenant shooter's alleged writings leaked

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — More of the Covenant School shooter's writings appear to have been leaked.

A conservative website called The Tennessee Star claims to have published the shooter's so-called manifesto for the shooting that claimed the lives of six innocent people at the Covenant School in March 2023. The victims were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old; as well as Cynthia Peak, 61; Dr. Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61. 

Covenant families have fought in court to keep these writings secret, and a judge sided with them earlier this summer.

Now, in what appears to be the biggest leak yet, The Tennessee Star says it published 90 pages from the shooter's journal.

One of the biggest takeaways is the shooter's anger about their gender. The shooter was assigned female at birth but identified as male. One writing a few weeks before the shooting said, "I need a transdoctor. This female gender role makes me want to not exist, to be completely gone in physical form, off the face of the earth."

Another entry said, "I hate everything about my gender. Everything hurts."

The shooter repeatedly mentioned wanting to die, at one point writing "I'd kill 2 die" in the journal.

There are also several apparent references to the Columbine school shooting in 1999. One entry makes reference to Eric Harris and Dylan Kleebold, the perpetrators of the Columbine shooting. It says, "I want my massacre to end in a way that Eric & Dylan would be proud of."

Another page from Jan. 16, 2023, suggests the shooter was planning an attack the next day. It apologized to someone—it's unclear who—for planning a "massacre." It goes on to say, "How bad my heart hurts. Tomorrow is my last day on Earth."

A note lower on that page says, "I couldn't do it. I don't want to ruin your day. I'll wait as planned."

News 2 has reached out to the Metro Nashville Police Department for an updated on their investigation into the leaks. As of publication we have not yet heard back.