TN city official called to resign after spreading rumors on podcast about school shooter

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The father of a child who attends The Covenant School called for a city official of Franklin, Tenn., to resign or be removed following statements she made on a podcast in the wake of a mass shooting at the school.

On March 27, 2023, three 9-year-old students and three staff members were killed when shooter, and former Covenant student Audrey Hale made entry into the school, armed with an assault rifle and two other weapons. Hale was ultimately stopped by responding Metro Police officers who opened fire and fatally wounded Hale.

The shooting gripped the city and the nation, leaving many searching for answers to the motive in the attack. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) obtained a 'manifesto' left behind by Hale but have yet to publicly disclose specifics on what the agencies found.

Franklin Alderman Gabrielle Hanson reportedly made comments on a now deleted podcast claiming she predicted the shooting and claimed it was the result of a love triangle.

The Tennessee Holler posted the purported audio from the podcast in conjunction with another interview in which the alderman confirmed her remarks.

During the citizen comment portion of a City of Franklin board meeting on Tuesday, the father of a child who attends the school took to the podium to call for her resignation or removal by the board.

The father, who lives in Franklin but who's daughter attends the school, stated he was there with other parents of Covenant School children to "call for the resignation of Alderman Gabrielle Hanson and if she will not resign we ask for her removal by this governing body."

Alderman Hanson publicly slandered the victims of the March 27th massacre at our school, she has caused further pain and anguish to the surviving staff and families," he added. "I can personally tell this board every detail she talked about publicly was false. We parents walked the halls of Covenant about a week after the shooting. We saw where the victims fell, we saw the damage throughout the school. I saw where my daughter held her friend and classmate while gunfire erupted outside her classroom door. Alderman Hanson said there was no threat to anyone outside of just a particular individual.

He went on to say that "By saying there was no greater threat to anyone in the school Alderman Hanson minimized the terror and danger our children and teachers faced on that awful day. Every single person in that building was hunted by the shooter."

He cited the audio shared by Tennessee Holler of Hanson's interview with a radio host in which she reportedly stood by her comments, saying the comments are "played out through the PTSD of our children and their parents." "I think its an abomination that an elected official would have the audacity to spread unfounded gossip and conspiracy theories," adding he believed it was an effort to "further her political career."

No vote was taken by the board on a potential removal but WZTV News contacted Franklin Mayor Ken Moore, who stated "Alderman Hanson spoke for herself and does not represent the City of Franklin or the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. We as a community grieve with the families of those killed and the countless people impacted by this senseless tragedy."

A spokesperson for the City of Franklin provided a similar statement to the mayor's: "Alderman Hanson spoke for herself and does not represent the City of Franklin or the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. We as a community grieve with the families of those killed and the countless people impacted by this senseless tragedy."

Mayor Moore told WZTV the ethics commission is meeting later this month to review the complaints and they will decide if there is a violation. If the commission finds a violation, then there will be a public hearing.