New memo shows how FBI pressured Nashville Police about trans killer's manifesto after Christian school mass killing



The FBI appears to have counseled the Metro Nashville Police Department against releasing the manifesto belonging to the Covenant School killer.

Officials with the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group wrote to Nashville Police Chief John Drake on May 11, 2023 — approximately six weeks after the school massacre — about the "protection of legacy tokens," referring to the writings and other documents that killers leave behind.

'For all the reasons listed above, release of legacy tokens such as this would endanger school security across the country.'

The FBI "strongly discourages the public dissemination of any legacy tokens," the memo said.

The memo does not specifically mention the Covenant School tragedy or the transgender perpetrator. But the timing of the memo — and its message — is not a coincidence.

The FBI provided three reasons to persuade the Nashville Police from releasing "legacy tokens."

First, the FBI claimed they "will contribute to future attacks." Second, the FBI said legacy tokens do not "provide the answers or comfort sought by the public and surviving victims." Third, the FBI claimed legacy tokens "facilitate false narratives and inaccurate information" — and even "conspiracy theories."

The memo goes on to say:

Public release of legacy tokens from all mass shootings, but school shootings in particular, will likely spark incredibly intense interest and study by potential offenders who are considering a school-based attack. For all the reasons listed above, release of legacy tokens such as this would endanger school security across the country.

Experts agree that as a society we must do everything we can to prevent all mass shootings, including school shootings, from happening in the future. A clear step we can take is limiting the availability of legacy tokens for ideation, study, and inspiration by those considering an attack.

The Tennessee Star first reported the memo.

On Tuesday, the Metro Nashville Police Department confirmed the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit has been assisting in the Covenant School investigation.

"As has been publicly acknowledged, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit has assisted in this Homicide investigation," MNPD public affairs director Don Aaron confirmed to the Tennessee Star. "Any material related to that assistance that is part of the open case file is protected. As I referenced earlier today, our Homicide team is working to bring this matter to a conclusion."

The killer's manifesto has been the subject of contentious legal drama.

A Tennessee judge recently heard arguments about releasing the manifesto. The media and some officials believe there is a public interest in the manifesto, while some parents of the victims have fought to block its release.

There has been no decision on when — or if — the memo will be made public.

Last November, several pages of the manifesto were leaked, showing the transgender perpetrator hoped to have a "high death count" by killing "all" of the "little crackers" at the school.

Despite investigating, Nashville police never identified the source of the leak.

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'Interesting': Steven Crowder points out the problem after Nashville PD puts seven officers on desk duty over manifesto leak



The Metro Nashville Police Department has placed seven officers on administrative duty after several pages of the Covenant School killer's manifesto were leaked.

In a statement, the police department claimed that moving the officers to desk duty is not punishment for the leak.

"Seven individuals are on administrative assignment (absolutely non-punitive) to protect the integrity of the active, progressing investigation," a police department spokesman said. "All seven have full police power. We are not identifying any of the seven by name. Not fair to them."

The department, however, did not explain the connection between the seven officers and the leak.

The department's manual states that officers may be placed on administrative assignment when their supervisor has approved them "to be absent from their normal assigned tour of duty and no other type status is appropriate." Administrative assignment, the manual explains, is typically reserved for officers who have been involved "in a use of force that is under investigation." It does not state other reasons for administrative duty.

On Monday, Steven Crowder published three pages of that screed, which he obtained through a source in the police department. The pages included the killer's "death day" schedule and the killer's hate-fueled ramblings.

The leak set off a firestorm of controversy, and Mayor Freddie O'Connell (D) demanded an investigation into how the pages were leaked. MNPD Chief John Drake later confirmed the pages are authentic.

"I am greatly disturbed by today’s unauthorized release of three pages of writings from the Covenant shooter. This police department is extremely serious about the investigation to identify the person responsible," Drake said in a statement. "This action showed a total disregard for Covenant families, as well as the court system, which has control of the shooter’s journals at the present time due to litigation filed earlier this year."

While it's true there is an ongoing legal battle over the manifesto, Crowder made a keen observation about the reaction of Nashville authorities over the leak.

"The powers that be are more concerned about finding the leaker than they are about the contents of [the killer]'s anti-white manifesto. Interesting," he said.

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Nashville explosion: Hero cop praises divine intervention for saving his life: 'I heard God tell me to turn around'



A hero cop is praising divine intervention for saving his life by shepherding him away from the powerful Nashville explosion.

Metro Nashville police officer James Wells is one of the six cops being heralded as heroes for putting their lives in danger to warn people to evacuate the area near a suspicious RV camper. Wells and fellow Metro Nashville police officer Amanda Topping were both at the end of their shifts on Christmas morning when fellow cop Tyler Luellen called in for back up to a report of "shots fired."

The officers discovered the RV that blared British singer Petula Clark's 1964 chart-topping song "Downtown." The recreational vehicle also played a chilling audio message that notified people that the camper was going to blow up in 15 minutes, "If you can hear this message, evacuate now."

During a Sunday press conference, Wells explained how he was walking toward the doomed RV camper, but then received a message from God.

"This might not be politically correct, but this is my truth," Wells said as he fought back the tears. "I literally heard God tell me to turn around and go check on Topping, who was by herself down on Broadway."

Nashville police officer James Wells recalls the moment he heard the explosion: "I told myself to stay on my feet a… https://t.co/NBzVR4KkkI
— CBS News (@CBS News)1609085305.0

As he was walking away from the RV around 6:30 a.m. on Christmas morning, the bomb detonated in the vehicle — causing him to lose his footing and suffer temporary hearing loss from the massive blast.

"I just tell myself to stay on your feet, stay alive," Wells said as he got emotional while reliving the terrifying situation. "And I just take off in a full-out sprint. And I'm running toward Topping and make sure she's okay. And we kind of meet in the middle and we just grab each other."

Topping said the explosion was "the biggest flames" she had ever seen in her life, as reported in WCSC-TV.

"I don't know how I kept my footing but...I couldn't see him for a second, I just lost it and I just took off in a sprint towards him," Topping said. "And, like he said, I've never grabbed somebody so hard in my life."

Video of the explosion in Nashville at the site of the RV has surfaced. I’m so angry for the people hurt and the fo… https://t.co/zvZ2XqnUyh
— Robby Starbuck (@Robby Starbuck)1608932946.0

Wells, who describes himself as a "spiritual" person, said his faith is what safely returned him to his family on Christmas.

"I'm not gonna shy away from that because that's what saved my life," Wells said. "And 'good to see you' has a completely different meaning for me now."

Nashville Explosion Updates

The explosion, which has been called an "intentional act" by authorities, wiped out telecommunications services as it damaged 41 buildings, including an AT&T hub.

Several news outlets, including CBS News and Fox News, have named Anthony Quinn Warner, a Nashville area resident, as a "person of interest" in the explosion.

The FBI is investigating the possibility that Warner was paranoid about 5G technology spying on Americans, and a possible motive for the potential bombing near the AT&T transmission station.

Several law enforcement agencies raided the homes of Warner in nearby residential Antioch on Saturday.

Davidson County records show the 63-year-old Warner deeded his Tennessee properties to a Los Angeles woman on Nov. 25, according to WBIR-TV. Michelle L. Swing, a University of Tennessee graduate, told the Daily Mail that she had no idea that she was gifted the properties worth $409,000.

"In the state of Tennessee you can deed property to someone else without their consent or their signature or anything," Swing said. "I didn't even buy the house he just deeded it over to me without my knowledge. So this all very weird to me, that's about all I can say."