A journalist who has contributed to NBC News, the New York Times, Reuters, and the Washington Post suggested in a now-deleted tweet that the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville was the fault of the conservative news outlet, the Daily Wire.
The New York Post reported that Benjamin Ryan, a health and science reporter, posted the tweet in the aftermath of the shooting that left three children and three adults dead.
The shooter, Audrey Hale, is a biological woman who had identified as a man. She entered the school by shooting through a door on the side of the building, later being killed by officers on the second floor.
According to the New York Post, Ryan implied in his tweet that Hale was motivated to carry out the shooting because the Daily Wire’s headquarters are in Nashville. He also cited that Hale had no previous criminal record before the shooting.
Deleted, but The List comes for all, @benryanwriter.
✍️✍️✍️ pic.twitter.com/AX9ytE0b1u
— The List (@ListComesForAll) March 27, 2023
Ryan then deleted his tweet following the criticism he received. He modified his Twitter bio, deleting his affiliation with the Washington Times, the Washington Post, and NBC News while removing his status as a “health and science reporter.”
One Twitter user accused Ryan of “editorializing” a headline to score political points.
@benryanwriter stop hiding dawg, own your mistake, you blatantly editorialized a headline for political points.
— Cedrick™ (@CedrickNarsiso) March 28, 2023
Another user wondered why Ryan deleted his tweet, asking if he doesn’t stand by his convictions.
Benjamin Ryan, why did you delete your tweet. Do you not stand by your convictions, or are you simply a coward? The trans lunatic targeted innocent children at a Christian Church.
— Man with a purpose. (@rrod78501) March 28, 2023
Daily Wire hosts Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, and Candace Owens responded to Ryan’s claim, citing his “dishonesty.”
Shapiro pointed out that Hale had a manifesto with her, detailing how she would attack the Christian School, and yet the media’s “dishonest pretzling” blamed the Daily Wire.
A self-identified trans person with a manifesto shoots up a Christian school, and the media have decided to run with Tennessee legislators owning guns, "anti-trans legislation," and The Daily Wire. The dishonest pretzling is astonishing.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 28, 2023
Walsh tagged Ryan and accused the media of “sending psychopaths” after members of the Daily Wire.
NBC reporter @benryanwriter responds to shooting by trans extremists by pointing out that the Daily Wire is also in Nashville. The media is now openly sending violent psychopaths after us. pic.twitter.com/WqfWWIBPJj
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 28, 2023
Owens called Ryan’s argument “filth,” and cited the outlets he writes for.
Left wing FILTH.
His argument is that the transgendered psychopath had to murder children because people at the DailyWire do not support the mutilation of children’s bodies, under the guise of “gender-affirming care”.@benryanwriter, writes for the @nytimes and @guardian. pic.twitter.com/nKpKbafiEE
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) March 28, 2023
Tennessee officials said that Hale was a former student at the Christian school. Police are currently investigating her manifesto. Hale allegedly planned to attack another school in the area but refused to because it was secure. Authorities said she equipped herself with at least two “assault weapons” and a handgun.
The Daily Wire did not pull the trigger, orchestrate the shooting, or encourage it. Ryan is playing politics by blaming people with a different ideology than him.
