Newly Released Columbine Documents Spark Criticism
Parents Claim Police Cover Up
The Jefferson County sheriff's office released additional material related to the Columbine investigation on Tuesday, including a draft affidavit for a warrant to search Eric Harris' house because of a prior threat, and a step-by-step outline of exactly what happened in the school's library.
The Draft Affidavit
The affidavit, which was written about a year before the school shooting, was never submitted to the judge because officers believed that it didn't have enough evidence for probable cause, 7NEWS reporter Julie Hayden said.
The affidavit was the result of a complaint by Judy Brown, who told investigators that Harris (pictured, left) was making threats on the Internet to her son, Brooks Brown.
According to the draft, Harris said on his Web site: "The only way to solve arguments with all you (expletive) heads out there, I just kill! God I can't wait till I can kill you people. I'll just go to some downtown area in some big (expletive) city and blow up and shoot everything I can. Feel no remorse, no shame … I will rig up explosives all over a town and detonate each one of them at will after I mow down a whole (expletive) area full of you snotty (expletive) rich mother (expletive) high strung godlike attitude having worthless pieces of (expletive) whores. I don't care if I live or die in the shootout, all I want to do is kill and injure as many of you (expletive) as I can, especially a few people. Like Brooks Brown."
Harris also described building bombs made up of 6-inch PVC pipes, packed with powder, mortar shells, crackling balls and a 14-inch mortar shell-type fuse.
He called the bombs Atlanta and Pholus.
On Feb. 15, 1998, there was a report of a pipe bomb placed in a field near Garrison and Field Street in Jefferson County, according to the draft affidavit. The bomb squad was dispatched to the location, and found devices "consistent with the devices labeled by Harris as 'Atlanta' and 'Pholus.'"
The purpose of the search warrant, the draft said, was to look for "materials, components, literature, books, videotapes and any drafts, or notes pertaining to the manufacture of pyrotechnic devices."
Although the affidavit shows that authorities knew of a potentially violent plot, of a shootout, and of a death wish, the request for a search warrant was never signed and never carried out.
Legal analyst Craig Silverman told 7NEWS that many judges would have approved the search and he said that it was negligent that Jefferson County didn't pursue the investigation.
"It is really hard to understand why the sheriff's department did not take further action -- whether it meant presenting this to a judge or adding a few more details to it. It appears, for whatever reason, they dropped this investigation and we all know the tragic consequences of doing so," Silverman said.
The Summary Of Events
The Task Force Library Team document is a detailed, minute-by-minute account of the movements of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold in the Columbine library.
The document suggests that there was no leader or follower. Both Harris and Klebold appear to be ruthless in their killing, 7News reporter John Ferrguia said.
Harris injured seven people by himself, and Klebold injured six. Both shooters were responsible for injuring one other student.
Harris killed five students, while Klebold killed two. Together, they killed another three students.
According to the report, it was Klebold who murdered disabled student Kyle Velasquez, who was sitting at a computer terminal.
Nearly all of the students' first impulse in the attack was "self-preservation," and that was also true in the library, Ferrugia said. The report indicated that most students left the library after the shootings without stopping to help anyone.
There were exceptions to this trend, including Patrick Ireland, who was shot by Klebold while trying to help Makai Hall.
Hall, who had also been shot, grabbed a live explosive that Harris threw at a classmate and hurled it away before it exploded under the table where she was lying.
Both Hall and Ireland survived.
Though they left the library, Harris and Klebold returned later to commit suicide.
Other materials relating to Columbine, including two evidence books and audiotapes of interviews with authorities at the scene are expected to be released soon.
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NEW DOCUMENTS RELEASED
The purpose of the search warrant, the draft said, was to look for "materials, components, literature, books, videotapes and any drafts, or notes pertaining to the manufacture of pyrotechnic devices."
Although the affidavit shows that authorities knew of a potentially violent plot, of a shootout, and of a death wish, the request for a search warrant was never signed and never carried out.
Legal analyst Craig Silverman told 7NEWS that many judges would have approved the search and he said that it was negligent that Jefferson County didn't pursue the investigation.
"It is really hard to understand why the sheriff's department did not take further action -- whether it meant presenting this to a judge or adding a few more details to it. It appears, for whatever reason, they dropped this investigation and we all know the tragic consequences of doing so," Silverman said.
The Summary Of Events
The Task Force Library Team document is a detailed, minute-by-minute account of the movements of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold in the Columbine library.
The document suggests that there was no leader or follower. Both Harris and Klebold appear to be ruthless in their killing, 7News reporter John Ferrguia said.
Harris injured seven people by himself, and Klebold injured six. Both shooters were responsible for injuring one other student.
Harris killed five students, while Klebold killed two. Together, they killed another three students.
According to the report, it was Klebold who murdered disabled student Kyle Velasquez, who was sitting at a computer terminal.
Nearly all of the students' first impulse in the attack was "self-preservation," and that was also true in the library, Ferrugia said. The report indicated that most students left the library after the shootings without stopping to help anyone.
There were exceptions to this trend, including Patrick Ireland, who was shot by Klebold while trying to help Makai Hall.
Hall, who had also been shot, grabbed a live explosive that Harris threw at a classmate and hurled it away before it exploded under the table where she was lying.
Both Hall and Ireland survived.
Though they left the library, Harris and Klebold returned later to commit suicide.
Other materials relating to Columbine, including two evidence books and audiotapes of interviews with authorities at the scene are expected to be released soon.
- April 9, 2001: Records Show Deputies Wanted To Investigate Columbine Shooter
- April 3, 2001: Columbine Center Struggling To Stay Open
- April 2, 2001: No School On Columbine Anniversary
- March 28, 2001: Columbine Families Want Quiet Anniversary
- March 6, 2001: Columbine Parents Surprised That Shooting Warnings Were Ignored
- February 15, 2001: Columbine Commission Re-Invites Jeffco Sheriff
- February 8, 2001: Columbine Autopsy Reports Released
- January 31, 2001: Columbine Autopsy Report Ordered Released
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