Columbine Federal Grand Jury Denied
U.S. Attorney Decides Not To Call Federal Grand Jury
POSTED: 10:28 a.m. MST January 31, 2002
UPDATED: 12:22 p.m. MST January 31, 2002
DENVER -- The U.S Attorney's office on Thursday denied the request of Columbine families to hold a federal grand jury to investigate the shootings.
"The most credible evidence available, including compelling statements from several students who witnessed the events, indicates that Daniel Rohrbough was killed by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold," U.S. Attorney John Suthers said in a press release.
In lawsuits and interviews, victims' families have accused authorities of ignoring warning signs, responding too slowly to the attack and mishandling the investigation.
Investigators in Jefferson County insist that they did the absolute best they could under the circumstances.
The family of Danny Rohrbough had said publicly that they wanted a federal grand jury and/or a legislative committee with subpoena powers to look into the death of their son.
They said that the evidence they have show that Denver SWAT Officer Dan O'Shea killed their son, and not teen gunmen Harris or Klebold.
But in Thursday's rejection of the request, Suthers said, "The only legitimate use of a federal grand jury is to determine whether there is probable cause to believe a federal crime has been committed. It is not appropriate to use such a body to investigate a matter simply to get to the bottom of it."
Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 13 people and wounded 23 other people before
killing themselves on April 20, 1999.
A legislative committee to look into the police investigation of the crime is currently being considered in the Colorado House of Representatives. It would require people to speak who
have declined to do so because of litigation.
Previous Stories:
- January 15, 2002: DA Requests Coroner's Inquest In Columbine Death
- January 12, 2002: Columbine Parent Releases Ballistics Report
- January 10, 2002: Deputy Fired For Columbine Statements
- January 9, 2002: Rohrboughs Ask For Columbine Grand Jury
- January 4, 2002: Owens Asks DA To Reconsider Columbine Grand Jury
- January 3, 2002: U.S. Attorney Refuses To Convene Columbine Grand Jury
- January 3, 2002: Tape Disputes Sheriff's Columbine Account
- December 27, 2001: Court Filing Names Denver Officer As Rohrbough's Killer
- December 13, 2001: 3 Families Want Columbine Suits Separated
- December 7, 2001: Columbine Gunman's Parents 'Horrified' By Diary Release
- December 5, 2001: Journal: Columbine Attack Planned For A Year
- November 28, 2001: Judge Throws Out Columbine Lawsuits
- September 5, 2001:
Klebolds Talk In New Book About Parenting - August 25, 2001: Gun Supplier Wants Columbine Lawsuit Dismissed
- July 12, 2001: Columbine Gunman May Not Have Shot Himself
- June 28, 2001: Man Who Sold Columbine Gun Paroled
- June 19, 2001: Columbine Crime Scene Evidence Released
- May 24, 2001: Family: Columbine Victim Shot By Police
- May 22, 2001: 'No Obligation' To Release Columbine Info, Sheriff Says
- May 18, 2001: Columbine Commission Releases Report
- May 10, 2001: Audio Experts Review Columbine Dispatch Tape
- May 9, 2001: Sheriff Won't Answer New Questions About Columbine Investigation
- May 8, 2001: Tape Suggests Police Knew Columbine Shooter Before Attack
- May 8, 2001: Columbine Families Settle With Anderson
- April 27, 2001: Sheriffs Ask Judge To Dismiss Columbine Lawsuits
- April 20, 2001: Columbine Families Reach Settlement
- April 13, 2001: Columbine Interviews Released, Grand Jury Requested
- April 11, 2001: Newly Released Columbine Documents Spark Criticism
- February 15, 2001: Columbine Commission Re-Invites Jeffco Sheriff
- January 31, 2001: Columbine Autopsy Report Ordered Released
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