Owens Asks DA To Reconsider Columbine Grand Jury

DENVER -- Colorado Gov. Bill Owens is getting involved in the Columbine controversy, and he's asking the Jefferson County district attorney to reconsider his decision not to get involved, 7NEWS reported.

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Owens came to the aid of Columbine families Thursday afternoon, asking district attorney Dave Thomas to rethink his decision not to call for a grand jury investigation.

"A grand jury investigation may be helpful in resolving the continuing controversies surrounding Columbine," Owens said. "I encouraged the district attorney to reconsider his decision based on the events that have unfolded during the past few days."

Brian Rohrbough, father of slain Columbine student Daniel Rohrbough, was pleased with Owens' action.

"It's good news. I like to hear that. I'm happy the governor is taking an interest," Rohrbough said.

A spokeswoman for the Jefferson County district attorney told 7NEWS that they have never ruled out a grand jury investigation.

Another spokesperson for the DA's office said "you have to believe there was criminal conduct to convene a grand jury. We have no reason to believe there was anything criminal that took place during the investigation."

Thomas said he wants to wait for the El Paso County Sheriff to finish his review. That review begins Monday and may last two to three months.

Families Want Federal Investigation

Several Columbine families are calling for a federal investigation to once and for all clear up conflicting accounts of what happened at the high school on April 20, 1999.

The sheriff's department investigation is chronicled in 11,000 pages.

There were dozens of witnesses to the shootings that day, but many of their statements are contradictory and confusing -- something Jefferson County investigators have never tried to clear up, 7NEWS reported.

Jefferson County officials said Lance Kirklin, Sean Graves and Danny Rohrbough were walking up the hill by the side of the school when they were shot by the Columbine gunmen.

Kirklin described grabbing Rorhbough as he fell, but no other witnesses describe seeing that.

Some describe seeing the gunmen shoot one victim on the hill, but several describe seeing only two victims shot.

For instance, one witness said that he saw two students walking up the hill, and then fall down screaming, 7NEWS reported.

Investigators apparently never tried to clarify what or who the witnesses saw when their statements were in conflict.

"You have to wonder why people who ID'd individuals who went down weren't asked to give details about what kind of clothing did that person have on, (or asked to) describe when did they fall, or where did they fall," 7NEWS legal analyst Craig Silverman said.

The Rohrboughs said that some witnesses support what they say Arapahoe County Sheriff's Deputy Jim Taylor describes on a tape they made.

For instance, a teacher said that she looked out the window and "saw Danny running outside and it looked like he was shot." She did not see gunmen Eric Harris or Dylan Klebold, or anyone else being shot, 7NEWS reported.

The Rohrboughs said that this supports their claim that Dan was killed by friendly fire from a Denver SWAT officer.

"I think the tapes clearly show what Jim Taylor saw, and established he was there, and the governor's interest in this -- I think it's terrific and very much needed," Rohrbough said.

Ballistics aren't clear, either, 7NEWS reported.

Jefferson County authorities never matched any of the 51 bullets fired by the officer the Rohrboughs' claim shot their son. In fact, Jefferson County never matched the vast majority of law enforcement bullets -- it's not clear whether they simply couldn't, or never tried, 7NEWS reported.