History of Columbine High School
Fall 1973 - Columbine High School opened
1974 - William "Dave" Sanders hired
August 4, 1980 - Isaiah Shoels born
January 17, 1981 - Lauren Townsend born
August 5, 1981 - Rachel Joy Scott born
November 6, 1981 - Cassie Bernall born
March 3, 1982 - Corey DePooter born
May 5, 1982 - Kyle Velasquez born
September 1, 1982 - John Tomlin born
January 6, 1983 - Kelly Fleming born
February 19, 1983 - Matt Kechter born
June 25, 1983 - Daniel Mauser born
March 2, 1984 - Daniel Rohrbough born
August 28, 1984 - Steven Curnow born
Fall 1986 - Chatfield High School opened
August 7, 1997 - An unidentified citizen called the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to complain about Eric Harris's violent laced web site. The tip was investigated by Deputy Michael Burgess who forwarded the report and print outs of the web site to the investigator in charge of computer-related crime, John Hicks. This was the end of the investigation
January 30, 1998 - Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold are arrested by Jefferson County Deputy Tim Walsh for breaking and entering an electrician's van and stealing equipment from it
February 15, 1998 - Using a search warrant, Jefferson County sheriff's deputies found and defused a pipe bomb in a field at Garrison and Field Streets
March 1998 - Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold are placed in Jefferson County's Juvenile Diversion Program and given anger management classes
March 18, 1998 - Randy and Judy Brown meet with investigators to discuss the violent writings and threats against their son, Brooks, posted on Eric Harris's website
November 1998 - Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold bring Robyn Anderson to the Tanner Gun Show where she purchases two shot guns and a HiPoint 9mm carbine rifle
February 3, 1999 - Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold are released from Jefferson County's Juvenile Diversion Program
March 6, 1999 - Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold, Philip Duran, Mark Manes and his girl friend, Jessica Miklich, drive out to a makeshift shooting range in Douglas County to film themselves shooting their guns (shotguns and a 9mm semiautomatic pistol). Once the police obtain the video, they dub it the Rampart Range video
April 20, 1999 - Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold storm Columbine High School at lunchtime, killing Rachel Joy Scott, Daniel Rohrbough, Kyle Velasquez, Steven Curnow, Cassie Bernall, Isaiah Shoels, Matt Kechter, Lauren Townsend, John Tomlin, Kelly Fleming, Daniel Mauser, Corey DePooter and William "Dave" Sanders. The pair injured Brian Anderson, Richard Castaldo, Jennifer Doyle, Stephen Austin Eubanks, Nick Foss, Sean Graves, Makai Hall, Anne Marie Hochhalter, Patrick Ireland, Joyce Jankowski, Michael Johnson, Mark Kintgen, Lance Kirklin, Lisa Kreutz, Adam Kyler, Stephanie Munson, Patti Nielson, Nicole Nowlin, Jenna Park, Kasey Ruegsegger, Valeen Schnurr, Dan Steepleton, Mark Taylor and Evan Todd. This becomes the worst high school shooting in American history
April 21, 1999 - Clement Park, just north of Columbine, becomes the unofficial gathering place for mourners. The Colorado Avalanche cancel the first of two playoff games and the NRA announces a scaled back program for its convention next week in Denver
April 22, 1999 - Officials find a 20-pound propane-tank bomb left by the killers in the school's kitchen.
April 23, 1999 - John Tomlin’s funeral
April 24, 1999 - Rachel Joy Scott’s funeral is broadcast by CNN, and becomes the most watched event in CNN's history
April 25, 1999 - Funerals for Kelly Fleming and Daniel Mauser. Official memorial at West Bowles Shopping Center with Vice President Al Gore, Governor Bill Owens, Principle Frank DeAngelis, artists Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith; attended by 70,000 people
April 26, 1999 - Funerals for Cassie Bernall, William "Dave" Sanders and Lauren Townsend. Officials learn that three of the four guns used in the massacre at Columbine were bought by Dylan's girlfriend, Robyn Anderson, shortly after her 18th birthday
April 27, 1999 - Funeral for Kyle Velasquez
April 29, 1999 - Funeral for Isaiah Shoels
April 30, 1999 - Brian Rohrbough, father of Daniel, takes down crosses erected at Clement Park for the killers of Columbine
May 2, 1999 - Student memorial at Red Rocks Amphitheater
May 3, 1999 - Columbine students returned to school at Chatfield High School. The school day is divided so that Chatfield students use the school in the morning and Columbine students use the school in the afternoon. Mark E. Manes, 22, surrenders to Jefferson County authorities on felony charges of selling a handgun to a minor. He admitted to selling the TEC-DC9 to the killers of Columbine
May 20, 1999 - President Bill and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton meet with Columbine victims and families. A one-month anniversary memorial at Dakota Ridge High School is attended by 2200 people. The day, however, is marred by a shooting of six students in Conyers, Georgia, at Heritage High School by a 15-year-old
May 22, 1999 - Columbine High School Graduation. Angels Lauren Townsend and Isaiah Shoels would have graduated today. Survivors Jenna Park and Valeen Schnurr received their diplomas
May 26, 1999 - The SHOUTS center, Students Helping Others Unite Together Socially, opens in the Ascot Theater on West Bowles Avenue. Violent video games are pulled from an arcade at Denver International Airport
May 27, 1999 - A $250 million wrongful-death lawsuit is filed by the family of Isaiah Shoels against the parents of the killers
May 28, 1999 - The autopsy reports of the 13 Angels and their killers are sealed by Jefferson County District Court Judge Henry Nieto
June 1, 1999 - Students return to Columbine to retrieve their belongings
June 2, 1999 - Parents of Dylan Klebold send letters to the families of the Angels
June 3, 1999 - Work begins, most of it donated, to repair Columbine High for classes to resume in August
June 4, 1999 - Robyn Anderson admits to buying the two shotguns and the HiPoint 9mm carbine rifle from a Denver gun show last November
June 16, 1999 - Authorities say the surveillance videotape recorded from Columbine High's cafeteria on April 20 didn't give credit to a third gunman
June 17, 1999 - Prosecutors file charges against Philip Joseph Duran, 22, with unlawfully providing a handgun to minors. Philip worked with the killers at Blackjack Pizza and introduced them to Mark Manes
July 2, 1999 - The Healing Fund announces its plans to distribute the money it had collected so far. Ballistics tests confirm that "friendly fire" from police officers did not harm anyone at Columbine
July 20, 1999 - Columbine students and families return to the school to decorate tiles
August 16, 1999 - Columbine students returned to Columbine for the 1999-2000 school year with a pep rally and discover freshly painted swastikas outside the school and in the bathrooms
August 18, 1999 - Mark Manes, who sold the TEC-DC9 to the killers, pleads guilty to providing a handgun to a minor and illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun. He is currently serving a six year prison term
August 20, 1999 - Richard Castaldo, partially paralyzed, leaves Craig Hospital headed for home. He is the last of the Survivors to leave the hospital
August 31, 1999 - The Healing Fund accepts it last donations, topping off at $4.4 million
September 1, 1999 - Security is tightened at schools in Jefferson County as five high schools receive a series of anonymous letters threatening violence
September 10, 1999 - Dave Sanders Memorial Softball Field is dedicated before the first game of the season of the Columbine Rebel girl's softball team
September 22, 1999 - Salon.com, an Internet magazine, publishes purported excerpts from Eric's diary
September 24, 1999 - Jefferson County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Davis says it look unlikely that Cassie Bernall was ever asked by her killers whether she believe in God before they shot her. (This comes shortly after Misty Bernall, Cassie's mother, publishes a book, She Said Yes, the Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall.) Patrick Ireland is named homecoming king
September 26, 1999 - Relatives and friends of Daniel Rohrbough and Kyle Velasquez chop down two of the 15 memorial trees planted by the West Bowles Community Church members
September 29, 1999 - A 14-member Columbine Review Commission is created by Governor Bill Owens to study the tragedy and make recommendations to prevent other massacres
October 1, 1999 - Celine Dione's concert at Denver's Pepsi Center provides front row seats and back stage passes to Columbine students and raises $500,000 dollars
October 4, 1999 - The families of Kelly Fleming and Daniel Rohrbough file a federal lawsuit against the school district for removing their commemorative art tiles they painted with religious themes from Columbine
October 12, 1999 - The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather airs a portion of the surveillance videotape from the Columbine cafeteria
October 17, 1999 - The families of 20 Columbine students, including the Klebold's, file notices of intent to sue either the sheriff's department or school district over the massacre
October 19, 1999 - On the eve of the 6-month anniversary, a 17-year-old Columbine student is arrested on suspicion of threatening to "finish the job"
October 22, 1999 - Carla June Hochhalter, mother of Survivor Anne Marie Hochhalter, who was seriously wounded in the shootings, commits suicide in an Englewood pawn shop
October 25, 1999 - Wayne and Kathy Harris, parents to Eric, finally agree to meet with investigators
November 12, 1999 - Mark Manes is sentenced to six years in prison for selling the TEC-DC9 to the killers
November 19, 1999 - Garlin Newton completes a 700-mile Oklahoma City-to-Columbine walk with a cross in hopes of reviving prayer in school. His arrival is not well received
December 4, 1999 - Columbine High School wins the Colorado State Varsity Football title defeating Cherry Creek
December 15, 1999 - Columbine student Erin Walton receives a threat not to go to school the next day via the Internet from Soup81, Michael Ian Campbell, who lives in Florida
December 16, 1999 - Columbine High School is closed due to the threat the previous night, ending the semester two days early
December 17, 1999 - FBI agents arrest Michael Ian Campbell at his home in Cape Coral, Florida
December 20, 1999 - Time magazine releases an issue featuring the tapes made by the killers, which families of the Angels had not viewed as yet, and were told they would be the first to see them
December 22, 1999 - Michael Ian Campbell appears in federal court and apologizes for the threat
January 12, 2000 - Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone is issued a temporary restraining order in releasing a videotape made by Eric Harris
January 20, 2000 - The Jefferson County school board votes 4-1 to support a plan to tear down the existing library at Columbine, build an atrium in its place and build a new library. Philip Duran pleads not guilty to charges against him
January 21, 2000 - Sharon Magness announces a pledge of $250,000 to build a new library at Columbine
January 27, 2000 - 9 bills pass in the Colorado House Judiciary Committee meeting toughing buying regulations in Colorado. Robyn Anderson, who legally bought three of the four guns used April 20, was one of the proponents speaking for the bills
January 31, 2000 - The family of Isaiah Shoels moves to a Houston, Texas, suburb
February 9, 2000 - Michael Ian Campbell pleads guilty to communicating a threat across state lines. Sentencing is set for April 28, 2000
February 13, 2000 -- Nicholas Kunselman,15, and Stephanie Hart, 16, are killed late Sunday night at a Subway sandwich shop just two blocks south of Columbine High School. The two were high school sweethearts and Nicholas was locking up the store and Stephanie was there to give him a ride home. Their bodies were discovered a little after 1:30 a.m., on Valentine's Day, by another Subway employee who saw the lights still on as she was driving by. Authorities are remaining tight-lipped on the investigation
February 14, 2000 - The ESPY Awards present the family of William "Dave" Sanders the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award in Las Vegas, Nevada.
February 19, 2000 - A joint funeral service is held for Nicholas and Stephanie. The two sweethearts are buried side by side
March 3, 2000 - Jefferson County Assistant Attorney Bill Tuthill announces the Sheriff's Office will not make public videotapes, diaries or lists made by the killers until litigation is concluded
March 11, 2000 - A new staircase is built outside Columbine High School by stonemasons
March 12, 2000 - Dawn Anna, mother of Lauren Townsend receives the Sportswomen of Colorado's award for courage and inspiration
March 27, 2000 - The long delayed official report from the sheriff's office is announced that it will be released in late May, says Jefferson County Undersheriff John Dunaway
March 30, 2000 - Bruce Springsteen donates 50 seats at his concert as a fundraiser for HOPE, the organization raising money to replace the library at Columbine High
April 5, 2000 - The SHOUTS center, opened late last May, announces that due to lack of funds, it will close at the end of June this year
April 9, 2000 - In an effort to keep reporters, and their cameras, away from the school on the upcoming one year anniversary, Columbine High School is opened up for tours
April 10, 2000 - The families of Kelly Fleming and Daniel Rohrbough demand release of the Jefferson County Sheriff department investigative report on the shootings so that they can determine if they will actually sue the sheriff's department. By Colorado state law, lawsuits must be filed by the one year anniversary of the event
April 12, 2000 - President Clinton returned to Denver for a SAFE Colorado gun-control rally and a town hall meeting with NBC-TV anchor Tom Brokaw. Most of Colorado's congressional delegation declined to meet the President during his stay
April 14, 2000 - Both sets of parents of the killers issue letters of apology
April 17, 2000 - Colorado District Judge Brooke Jackson rules that the families of Kelly Fleming and Daniel Rohrbough can view portions of the sheriff's report and tapes, but cannot make copies or disclose any information to the public
April 18, 2000 - Judge Jackson expands his ruling to include all the families of those affected by the shootings. The family of Isaiah Shoels becomes the first to sue Sheriff John Stone
April 19, 2000 - 14 other families sue the sheriff and other authorities
April 20, 2000 - Many of the families of students decided to leave town today and be alone instead of being amongst the glare of the cameras and press that flocked back to Littleton for the one year anniversary. Half of the student body showed up at school for a private memorial assembly in the gym, while parents gathered in the auditorium to reflect on the year. Governor Bill Owens let a state wide moment of silence at 11:21 a.m. to honor the 13 Angels and the Survivors. Columbine High School opened the library to parents, not students, to help them cope with the one year anniversary. At 12:30 p.m., a public remembrance ceremony was held at Clement Park. The Columbine Rebels girl's soccer team defeated Chatfield by a score of 2-0. The day is concluded with a candlelight vigil at the Clement Park amphitheater
April 24, 2000 - Judge Jackson orders the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to release the Columbine High investigative report by May 15, 2000
April 26, 2000 - The tapes that the families were allowed to see last week before they brought lawsuits against the Sheriff's office are released to the public for $25.00. The tapes include a 20-minute walk through of Columbine High the day after the shootings with video from the library of blood stained furniture and yellow cards indicating where each student was at during the shootings. This 20-minute section was set to music by Chuck Burdick, a Littleton Fire Department firefighter, on his own time with his own money. The songs included I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan, Columbine, Friend of Mine by the Cohen brothers, and If It Were Up to Me by Cheryl Wheeler. The tape also includes about 2 hours of aerial video shot from a KCNC-News4 helicopter on April 20, 1999
April 27, 2000 - Lawyers for Sarah McLachlan and Cheryl Wheeler, and their labels, demand Jefferson County to stop selling the video with the unauthorized recordings of their songs. Jefferson County officials defended the release and said they would not remove the songs
April 28, 2000 - After being threatened with lawsuits by the labels of Sarah McLachlan and Cheryl Wheeler, Jefferson County officials decide to remove the songs from the tapes. Michael Ian Campbell, the Florida teen who sent an online chat threat to Erin Walton back on December 15, 1999, was sentenced to four months in prison
May 1, 2000 - Sales of the tape continue to be brisk, even with the songs removed. eBay, the Internet auction giant, after removing previous auctions of the tapes with the music, allow auctions of tapes without the music to be sold. Tom and Sue Klebold, parents of Dylan, joined Wayne and Kathy Harris, parents of Eric, in filing a motion to keep items seized just after the shootings from their home out of the hands of the public
May 2, 2000 - ABC News reports that they have a draft of the investigative report and how it details the events of April 20, 1999 by the minute. HOPE reaches it goal of $3.1 million to replace the library with a two story windowed atrium and build a new library elsewhere on the Columbine campus
May 3, 2000 - Corey DePooter becomes an honorary Marine during a ceremony at his grave
May 4, 2000 - Greg Barnes, Columbine High School's star basketball player hangs himself in the family garage. His father finds him at 12:15 p.m. with a CD repeating one song over and over, Adam's Song by Blink 182. He had been named to The Denver Post and the Denver Rocky Mountain News all-Colorado teams. Greg had witnessed the shooting of Dave Sanders through a classroom door window on April 20. No note or reason was apparent by the end of the day. After being denied a postponement, the Columbine baseball Rebels defeat Highlands Ranch 8-6 in the first round of district playoffs
May 8, 2000 - Philip Duran pleaded guilty to providing the TEC-DC9 to the juvenile killers and to possessing a dangerous weapon. His sentencing is set for June 23
May 9, 2000 - Greg Barnes funeral at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Lawyers for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office asked for an additional 20 days to respond to the lawsuits filed against them. Colorado state law gives 20 days to departments and officers to file answers to lawsuits. Howard Zucker, attorney for Mark Taylor, who was injured in the massacre, add Mark Manes, Philip Duran and Robyn Anderson to his lawsuit. Authorities say Robyn broke no laws in purchasing the two shotguns and the 9MM carbine, and this is the first time anyone has tried to hold her legally accountable
May 11, 2000 - The Columbine High School Memorial Committee announce the site for the permanent memorial to the Angels and the Survivors. It will be nestled in a valley below Rebel Hill, in Clement Park, and within sight of the school. In a Colorado Court of Appeals, Jefferson County District Judge Henry Nieto denied access to 13 of the autopsy reports, keeping them sealed. The parents of Eric Harris did not object to the release of his autopsy report and it is public record. The parents of Isaiah Shoels released his autopsy independently. Jefferson County District Judge Brooke Jackson released tapes of 911 calls to the families of the Angels and the Survivors, only, stating that the recorded screams, gunshots and dialogue between the killers and the Angels is so disturbing that it shouldn't be released for broad distribution
May 15, 2000 - Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone releases the Columbine High School Massacre report in CD-ROM format. They are made available to the public for $12.00
May 20, 2000 - Columbine High School Graduation. Angels Cassie Bernall, Cory DePooter and Rachel Scott would have graduated today. Survivors Brain Anderson, Richard Castaldo, Jennifer Doyle, Austin Eubanks, Makai Hall, Anne Marie Hochhalter, co-valedictorian Patrick Ireland, Mark Kintgen, and Dan Steepleton received their diplomas
May 23, 2000 - Jefferson County District Judge Brooke Jackson orders the release of 8 audio tapes of police communications, radio transmissions and car-to-car conversations relating to April 20 to the public, after they are edited to remove phone numbers and addresses of those involved with the massacre. The 8 tapes are about 90 minutes long each. Sheriff's spokesman Steve Davis it would take about a week to edit the tapes and prepare them for publication en masse
May 25, 2000 - Bill Marshall, a 1982 Columbine High graduate, presented Principal Frank DeAngelis a sculpture of two hands cradling a columbine blossom. Mr. DeAngelis said the sculpture will be displayed in the new library next year
May 26, 2000 - Judge Jackson releases a 58-page ballistics report and 2 video tapes containing the Columbine High School cafeteria surveillance recordings from April 20 to the general public
May 30, 2000 - Turner Construction begins removing the old library from above the cafeteria at Columbine High School to replace it with a glass atrium. Attorney Jim Rouse, representing the Rohrbough's in a suit against Sheriff Stone, complains that the 58-page ballistic report fails to identify who fired the shots that killed and wounded each Angel
May 31, 2000 - All Columbine-related lawsuits filed in Jefferson County courts were consolidated and will be heard under one judge
June 7, 2000 - The Denver Post filed a complaint to unseal the autopsies of the Angels to judge law enforcement response to better understand the shooting and to better understand and come to grips with the tragedy. Michigan lawyer Geoffrey Fieger is allowed to represent the families of Isaiah Shoels and Mark Taylor. Fieger was criticized earlier for holding a news conference and releasing copies of the Shoels' lawsuit to the media with dollar amounts in the document, that is against Colorado state law
June 9, 2000 - Randy and Judy Brown, parents of Brooks, start a recall petition to remove Sheriff John Stone from office because of his mismanagement of the Columbine massacre and other reasons
June 23, 2000 - Philip Duran is sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison for pleading guilty to providing a handgun to a juvenile and illegally possessing a sawed-off shot gun. He introduced the Eric and Dylan to Mark Manes who sold them the TEC-DC9
July 1, 2000 - Two new state laws, in direct reference to the Columbine shootings, went into effect in Colorado today. The first one now makes it a felony to buy guns for someone who can't legally purchase them and the second one states that is now a misdemeanor to give guns to juveniles without their parents permission. These two new laws are called the "Robyn Anderson bills" during the state congressional litigation process, as she was able to buy guns, three, for the killers who legally couldn't purchase them, and gave the guns to the killers without their parent's permission. Also today, the families of Valeen Schnurr, Jeanna Park and Evan Todd filed motions in US District Court for a month extension to allow their lawyers to respond to the Jefferson County's officials motion to dismiss the suit against them
July 5, 2000 - Jefferson County sheriff's officials release 45 hours of 911 and dispatch audiotapes recorded during the Columbine massacre to the public in compliance with Judge Brooke Jackson's May 23 ruling. Still being held are 200 volumes of backup investigative reports and the clothing worn by Angels Daniel Rohrbough and Kelly Fleming
July 7, 2000 - The attorneys for Jefferson County said that the killers, and not the responding officers, should be held liable in the lawsuits filed against the officers by the victims' families
July 12, 2000 - Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Steve Davis announced his resignation from the county to take at a position at AleUm International Management Company. His last day will be July 31
July 13, 2000 - Jefferson County was given a two week extension to file additional paper work in the federal wrongful-death lawsuit filed against it by Angel Dave Sanders' daughter Angela
July 18, 2000 - Dawn Anna, mother of Lauren Townsend, and Linda Mauser, mother of Daniel, toured the new atrium at Columbine High School. The atrium replaces the sealed off library from above the cafeteria and was constructed by Turner Construction. Also today, Principal Frank DeAngelis, Teachers Garrett Talocco, Judy Kelly and Tom Johnson and a school security director, were added to the lawsuit filed by families of Isaiah Shoels and Mark Taylor
July 25, 2000 - An enchanted forest weighing more than 200 pounds was packed up from North Carolina artist Virginia Wright-Frierson studio and prepared for shipping to Columbine High School to hang in the atrium. Virginia's cousin is a teacher at Columbine and got the go-ahead from HOPE to build the mural on June 1 and plans to hang it up the first two weeks in August
August 3, 2000 - The recall petition started by Randy and Judy Brown, parents of Brooks, ended today as the couple failed to 42,000 signatures to put the recall on the November ballot
August 9, 2000 - The Reverend Don Marxhausen, who officiated at Dylan Klebold's funeral, and co-officiated at Greg Barnes' funeral, announced he would leave his church, St. Philip Lutheran Church, later this month. A contributing factor to his leaving office is that the congregation was upset with Dylan's funeral being held at their church. Brad and Misty Bernall, parents of Cassie, joined the federal lawsuits against Sheriff John Stone filed earlier by the families of Daniel Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Matthew Kechter, Lauren Townsend and Kyle Velasquez
August 11,2000 - The Jefferson County School Board voted against posting the motto "In God We Trust" in schools, except in an educational context. The state education board, however, approved of such a measure last month
August 15, 2000 - Columbine High School started it's 2000-2001 school year with little fanfare and an enchanted forest hanging from the ceiling where the library once stood over the cafeteria
August 16, 2000 - Dawn Anna, mother of Lauren Townsend, joined a panel discussion at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. The topic covered gun violence and violence in schools. Lawsuits filed by the families of Isaiah Shoels, Mark Taylor, Lance Kirklin, Richard Castaldo and Sean Graves were moved from Jefferson County District Court to federal court, joining the lawsuits filed by the families of Cassie Bernall, Daniel Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Matthew Kechter, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Velasquez, Dave Sanders, Valeen Schnurr, Jeanna Park, Evan Todd and Kacey Ruegsegger in US District Court in Denver. Chief US District Judge Lewis Babcock will now hear all the cases
August 18, 2000 - Arthur Leon Thomas, a 20-year-old from Houston, was sentenced to seven months in prison for sending death threats to Columbine High School and Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone. Judge Babcock presided over the Arthur's case in a Denver courtroom and added seven months of home detention upon his release. Arthur has a history to troublemaking at his Houston school
August 21, 2000 - Michael Ian Campbell, who's Internet threat to Erin Walton two days before the 1999 Christmas vacation forced the closure of Columbine High School, was released from the Coleman Federal Correctional Institution in Wildwood, Florida today
August 22, 2000 - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff John Stone, seven other officers and former Sheriff Ronald Beckham argued in court to dismiss the five lawsuits brought against them by the families of Richard Castaldo, Sean Graves, Lance Kirklin, Mark Taylor and Isaiah Shoels, saying the lawsuits failed to prove their claims
August 24, 2000 - Frank DeAngelis, Columbine High School's principal, testified before the Governor's Columbine Review Commission, telling them of his actions on April 20, 1999 and requesting that police have blueprints of all schools in their jurisdiction. Mr. DeAngelis also reported that bullying and threats do not happen at Columbine, nor did the killers indicate any sign of their intentions. Dr. Nancy Bodelson, coroner for Jefferson County who autopsied the bodies of Eric and Dylan also testified. She said because of the condition of the bodies, it was difficult to pin point the exact time of death
August 27, 2000 - The Reverend Don Marxhausen, who officiated at Dylan's funeral, delivered his last sermon at St. Philip Lutheran Church after a fallout with the church's governing board
August 31, 2000 - The Rebel football team exploded in the second half and crushed Northglenn 34-7 to open their defending Colorado state championship season
September 6, 2000 - US District Court Chief Judge Lewis Babcock had the five lawsuits filed in Jefferson County moved to federal court, so that all 14 will be presided over by him. The lawsuits that moved were filed by Michael and Vonda Shoels, Mark and Donna Taylor on behalf of their injured son Mark, Randall and Natalie Graves on behalf of their injured son Sean, Richard Castaldo and Lance Kirklin. The nine lawsuits already before Judge Babcock were filed by Brian Rohrbough and Sue Petrone for their slain son Daniel, Joseph and Ann Marie Kechter for their slain son Matthew, Bruce Chapman Beck and Dawn Linda Anna for her slain daughter Lauren, Albert and Phyllis Velasquez for their slain son Kyle, Angela Sanders for her slain father Dave, Mark and Sharilyn Schnurr on behalf of their injured daughter Valeen, Dale and Jana Todd on behalf of their injured son Evan, Andrew and Michelle Park on behalf of their injured daughter Jeanna, and Gregory and Darcey Ruegsegger on behalf of their injured daughter Kacey
September 8, 2000 - Anne Marie Hochhalter and her father sued Porter Adventist Hospital and three staff members for negligence in the suicide death of Carla June, Anne Marie's mother who shot herself in an Englewood pawnshop on October 22, 1999. Also today, Jefferson County District Judge Brooke Jackson ordered the 40 binders of information pertaining to the Columbine massacre that the sheriff's office is holding to be released to the public
September 12, 2000 - Lawyers for Columbine principle Frank DeAngelis, and teachers Judy Kelly, Tom Johnson and Garrett Talocco asked the court to dismiss lawsuits filed against them by families of wound students, stating that, "The tragedy here originated and ended with Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold."
September 18, 2000 - Wayne and Katherine Harris file papers in federal court against psychologist Kevin Albert, who treated their son, Eric, for obsessive compulsive disorder and depression. They claim that if Eric had ever hinted at carrying out the massacre during any of their sessions together, Kevin should have told somebody
September 20, 2000 - On Wednesday, Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone agrees to speak at a school crisis seminar in Denver on Friday titled "Mobilization Efforts During the Columbine Shootings." He later changes his mind and skips the seminar
October 2, 2000 - Thomas and Susan Klebold ask for the lawsuit filed against them by the families of Daniel Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Matthew Kechter, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Velasquez and Cassie Bernall to be thrown out of court, stating they're not to blame for their son's actions. The Governor's Columbine Review Commission heard from public testimony for the first time today. Many of the families of the Angels and Survivors spoke before the commission, stating that bullying was rampant in the school, the Trench Coat Mafia was menacing and the killers did give off warning signs, a stark contrast to Principle Frank DeAngelis' testimony earlier. Jefferson County officials also refused to release the tapes made by the killers that came to light in the Time Magazine December 20 issue
October 6, 2000 - Wayne and Kathy Harris denied in federal court today that they denied blocking a police search for explosives in their home a year before the Columbine massacre. They also denied having any prior knowledge that the massacre was going to happen
October 11, 2000 - Attorney Steven Zansberg, representing The Denver Post, requested of Jefferson County District Court Judge Brooks Jackson to release the remaining autopsies to reveal if a police officer killed Daniel Rohrbough, when Dave Sanders died and whether Dylan killed himself or not
October 23, 2000 - County Attorney Frank Hutfless sent a letter to Gov. Bill Owens' Columbine Review Commission stating that the county won't release the tapes made by Eric and Dylan that became the feature story of a December Time magazine. Hutfless stated if the tapes were released, copy caters could pop up overnight. U. S. District Judge Lewis Babcock ordered all of the lawsuits filed to be reworded and clarified, with the exception of the lawsuit filed by the family of Dave Sanders, whose lawsuit clearly stated whether they believed the defendants acted in their official capacities or as individuals
October 24, 2000 - Anne Marie Hochholter, Richard Castaldo, Sean Graves and Patrick Ireland helped Craig Hospital dedicate a van equipped with a wheelchair lift to be used by patients and their families
November 1, 2000 - Tom and Linda Mauser settle back into their home after spending the previous couple of weeks in China. They returned with their new adoptive daughter Madeline HaiXing Mauser, who is almost a 1-year-old toddler
November 15, 2000 - Jefferson County attorney's argued in court today to keep the videotapes made by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold from public, stating that it could cause copycat violence
November 21, 2000 - Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone release 11,000 pages of information to public pertaining to the Columbine massacre. The volumes of information contain an English paper written by Dylan in February 1999 detailing a man who murders college preps by pulling a shot gun from his trench coat; the interview with Tom and Susan Klebold by police investigators; details of the two gun dealers, Ron Hartmann and James Washington, who sold two shot guns and a HiPoint 9mm carbine rifle to Robyn Anderson in November of 1998; teacher's account of April 20, 1999; and Eric and Dylan's relationship with their boss at Blackjack Pizza. The report did not include the long delayed questioning of Wayne and Kathy Harris; medical reports; instructions on how to make bombs; and autopsy reports. The report is being sold to public for $602, the price for copying
November 28, 2000 - Word leaked out to the general public today of a $1.6 million settlement offered by Wayne and Kathy Harris, Tom and Sue Klebold and Mark Manes to families of the Angles and the Survivors. Lawyers feared the leak would jeopardize the settlement talks
November 30, 2000 - Attorneys for The Denver Post urged District Judge Brooke Johnson to unseal the 13 autopsies and release them to the public, stating they are public knowledge and should be released. So far, Eric Harris and Isaiah Shoels' autopsy has been released. Attorney James Rouse, representing six families, and family members argued the release would re-traumatize the families. Judge Johnson delayed his ruling until after the holidays
December 1, 2000 - At a Columbine Review Commission meeting, Regina Huerter said that "jocks" at Columbine High School were not disciplined following assaults, taunting and bullying. Regina had talked to parents and students who were afraid to testify themselves
December 2, 2000 - The Columbine Rebels repeat as Colorado state football champions, defeating Bear Creek 41-7
December 16, 2000 - The Place, a coffee-shop style restaurant that opened up on July 31, 1999, to mentor teens after the Columbine massacre, closed today due to the sale of the property. Ray and Aricia LaFrance, who opened up The Place, started looking for another rent-free, or low-rent shop, to move to
December 30, 2000 - Robert Kirgis, owner of Blackjack Pizza where the killers worked, and gun dealers James Royce Washington and Ronald F. Hartmann, who sold Robyn Anderson three of the guns at the Tanner Gun Show, were added to the lawsuits filed by the families of Richard Castaldo, Lance Kirklin, Mark Taylor and Sean Graves. The families of Daniel Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Matt Kechter, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Velasquez and Cassie Bernall added Hartmann to their lawsuits, as well as alleging that the sheriff's office has kept evidence from them
January 3, 2001 - The National Association of Counties appointed Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone to help lobby the transition team of President-elect George W. Bush on issues concerning counties in the United States. Critics claimed he is being reward for his ineptitude in the Columbine massacre
January 9, 2001 - Robyn Anderson denied in federal court that she actually bought any guns used in the Columbine massacre. She originally said that she went to the Tanner Gun Show in Denver and purchased two shot guns and a HiPoint 9mm carbine from private dealers because she didn't want to have a background check done. Robyn stated the killers asked all the questions and paid for the guns, all she did was show her ID verifying her age
January 12, 2001 - US District Court Judge Lewis T. Babcock rejected requests for dismissal by the Jefferson County sheriff's office, the Jefferson County School District, the county commissioners and the gunmen's parents without prejudice, meaning they can't be refiled. Judge Babcock also refused to dismiss lawsuits against Phillip Duran, Robyn Anderson and Mark Manes; the Tanner Gun Show, the vendors who sold the guns and the owner of Blackjack Pizza
January 19, 2001 - Attorneys for Frank DeAngelis, six teachers, and the Jefferson County School District asked that lawsuits against their clients be dismissed. A federal appeals court ruled earlier that public schools aren't required to protect students from each other. This was the basis of the attorneys' request for the dismissal
January 30, 2001 - Jefferson County District Judge Brooke Jackson ordered the release of Daniel Rohrbough's autopsy. Daniels' parents contest that their son was killed by Eric or Dylan, and argue that he was killed by police officers. Judge Jackson also ordered summaries of the remaining autopsies to be released as well
January 31, 2001 - Daniel Rohrbough's autopsy is officially released to the public
February 7, 2001 - The summaries of the remaining 11 autopsies were released to the public. Pathologists say that teacher Dave Sanders would have died even if SWAT and medical aid had gotten to him sooner because one of the bullets that struck him tore through his carotid artery in his neck. This artery supplies blood to the brain. Only Dylan Klebold's autopsy remains in the hands of Jefferson County officials as it's release is being appealed
February 8, 2001 - Mark Manes, serving a six-year prison term for selling the TEC-DC9 to the killers, had his lawyers ask for a reduction in his sentence, stating "Justice wasn't done. Fairness, reason, and logic were ignored - an opportunity to start a nation's healing process by demonstrating compassion and understanding was passed over."
February 16, 2001 - Attorneys for the families of injured students Richard Castaldo, Lance Kirklin, Sean Graves and Mark Taylor argued that the relationship between the school and the students required Columbine High, and eventually the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, to investigate early warning signs of impeding violence. With a rash of copy-cat plots being thwarted with far less signs of intent, the brief highlights three events which, the attorneys believe, should have been investigated further. The first is vicious composition written by Dylan for an English class paper. The teacher, Judy Kelly, took the paper to Assistant Principle Peter Horvath and school counselor William Butts, but nothing was done. The second was Eric's web site, laced with death threats, foul language and how to use a sawed-off shot gun to kill people. The third was a video made my Eric for Garrett Tolocco's video class, in which a student takes his revenge by shooting bullies and athletes. The brief was filed in opposition by the sheriff's office and school administrators to dismiss the lawsuits against them
February 22, 2001 - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office released clothing worn the day of the Columbine massacre to the parents of Kyle Velasquez, Daniel Rohrbough, Cassie Bernall, Matthew Kechter, Kelly Fleming and Lauren Townsend
February 23, 2001 - A three paragraph summary of Dylan Klebold's autopsy is released to the public. It states that he died of head and brain injuries from a large-caliber gunshot wound to the left side of his head
March 2, 2001 - The governor's Columbine Review Commission battled with law enforcement's philosophy to to corral the shooters and establish a perimeter instead of storming Columbine and ending the siege. The commission has until mid May to complete its report
March 6, 2001 - Columbine High School senior Richard Hoover kept a 25-minute online volley alive long enough to use his second phone line to alert authorities about an Internet threat to his school. The threat came from 18-year old Patrick Smith in Walkersville, Maryland, stating "Don't go to school Friday. It's going to happen again." Patrick also e-mailed a threat to a Santana High School (Santee, California) student, saying he would blow her head off. Authorities arrested Patrick on Friday, March 9 and extradited him to California. Jefferson County officials denied to press charges
March 28, 2001 - The parents of those who died or were wounded during the Columbine massacre requested private time on April 20, 2001. Most did not want to be a part of a ceremony that Jefferson County officials wanted to hold. The officials continued talks of planning a low-key ceremony
April 2, 2001 - Columbine Connections, a clinic that has helped the Survivors in counseling, announced that it will close at the end of June unless it receives $350,000 in state funding
April 5, 2001 - Inspired by visits from holocaust survivor Gerda Weissman Klein, Columbine students and staff started a community service effort called "The Heart of Columbine." The service is devoting this year to hunger prevention and is encouraging other schools to join them. For more information you can e-mail them at theheartofcolumbine@yahoo.com Also today, Jefferson County school officials announced a subdued memorial service to be held two weeks later at Clement Park's pavilion. The names of the Angels will be read and a moment of silence will be observed. And finally today, Jefferson County District Court Judge Brooke Jackson ordered multiple items released to the public. They include 1) a draft affidavit to search the Harris residence in 1998 in conjunction with the Brown's complaint of Eric's threats on his website (the affidavit was incomplete and the search never occurred); 2) four more evidence notebooks; 3) a detective's memo about 47 events that occurred in the library; and 4) audiotapes and other material of interviews with officers involved in the first response to the shootings. A county spokeswoman said the materials would be released next week
April 9, 2001 - In a repeat of last year, droves of students write their college entrance essays on the Columbine massacre
April 10, 2001 - The draft affidavit to search the Harris residence and a detective's memo about 47 events that occurred in the library is released to the public
April 12, 2001 - The audiotapes and other material of interviews with officers involved in the first response were released to the public
April 16, 2001 - Battling in the courts today was J. D. Tanner, who operated the gun show where Robyn Anderson bought three of the four guns used in the massacre. He asked a U. S. District Court judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Richard Castaldo and his parents. The Castaldo lawsuit claims that J.D. is partly to blame for Richard's injuries since he provided a place where guns could be sold illegally to minors and that he operated the show with negligence. J.D. said that had no connection with the killers or Richard and therefore wasn't legally responsible for the massacre at Columbine High
April 17, 2001 - 60 Minutes II spends the entire hour on the response, or lack thereof, by officials on April 20, 1999 and ways the massacre at Columbine High School could have been prevented
April 18, 2001 - Illinois carpenter Greg Zanis, who erected the Crosses of Columbine shortly after the massacre, filed a lawsuit against the Foothills Park and Recreation District to allow him to put the Crosses back atop Rebel Hill for the upcoming two-year anniversary. The district originally assigned him a space near a picnic shelter on Clement Park's east side
April 19, 2001 - A $1.56 million settlement with Wayne and Kathy Harris and Tom and Sue Klebold is reached in the negligence lawsuits of 30 families whose relatives were either killed or wounded in the massacre at Columbine High School. All 36 suits against Mark Manes and Philip Duran were settled for $720,000 and $250,000 respectively. The families are still in settlement talks with Robyn Anderson, who legally bought three of the guns used. The six families who did not agree to the settlement are the families of Daniel Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Matt Kechter, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Velasquez and Cassie Bernall. Hours after the lawsuits were settled, Linda Sanders, wife of Dave Sanders, and two of his stepdaughters brought a multibillion-dollar, class-action lawsuit against 25 media companies, most of which manufacture or distribute violent video games. Greg Zanis lost his lawsuit and was ordered to display the crosses near the picnic shelter that the Foothills Park and Recreation District had originally set aside for him
April 20, 2001 - A 30-minute memorial was held today at a amphitheatre in Clement Park. Jefferson County School District Superintendent Jane Hammond, student body president Mandy Bowen and Genesis Presbyterian Church pastor Dave Peters spoke at the service. The names of Rachel Scott, Daniel Rohrbough, Kyle Velasquez, Steven Curnow, Cassie Bernall, Isaiah Shoels, Matthew Kechter, Lauren Townsend, John Tomlin, Kelly Fleming, Daniel Mauser, Corey DePooter and Dave Sanders were read aloud and a moment of silence was observed at 11:21 a.m.
April 26, 2001 - Mark Manes' six year sentence is upheld by a Colorado Court of Appeals. He had requested a reduction in his sentence because he lacked knowledge of the killers intent, had no significant criminal history, cooperated with authorities and was remorseful
April 27, 2001 - Columbine Review Commission Chairman William Erickson said today that the massacre could have been prevented if authorities had seriously investigated a "massive" number of clues revealing the killers' plan. He also stated more lives could have been saved if SWAT had stormed the school instead of setting up a perimeter. Jefferson County School Superintendent Jane Hammond was also at the meeting and testified that the district can't guarantee safety to the students, but measures are in place and being acted upon to decrease the chances of another massacre in the district. The commission held it's final meeting today and will present their report to Governor Bill Owens on May 17. Also today, Assistant Jefferson County Attorney William Tuthill's argument that officers shouldn't be liable for decisions made in chaotic emergencies was soundly denounced by Denver U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock, who roared, "Well, they had time in the third hour!" (This is in reference to the amount of time it took a SWAT team to reach Dave Sanders after he had been shot.) Judge Babcock spent the day listening to lawyers on whether or not to dismiss nine lawsuits filed by twenty Columbine families against Jefferson County sheriff's officials and public school educators
May 4, 2001 - Shock-rocker Marilyn Manson, who canceled a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater shortly after the massacre, plans to perform at Ozzfest at Mile High Stadium on June 21. The Citizens for Peace and Respect, consisting of 21 churches and three Columbine families, have asked him not perform his nihilistic music. However, concert promoter SFX confirmed that Marilyn Manson is still planning to perform
May 7, 2001 - Robyn Anderson's lawyers settled a suit with 36 Columbine families today. Although the terms were kept confidential, it is speculated the amount would be close to $300,000, her family's homeowner's insurance policy. Robyn legally bought three of the four guns used in the massacre at a gun show in Denver in November 1998
May 11, 2001 - Hundreds of more pages of evidence was released today to the public by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. Some of the information details the clothing the Angels wear wearing on April 20, 1999
May 17, 2001 - The Governor's Columbine Review Commission released its report. The report is critical of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, stating they waited too long to storm the school, ignored warnings abut the gunmen and then stonewalled the commission. The report also calls for every high school in Colorado to establish teams to assess threats that could lead to deadly violence and better training and preparation for law enforcement agencies that respond to school violence
May 21, 2001 - 55 more pages of interviews, mainly from the FBI, were released today. They shed no new light on the massacre
May 25, 2001 - Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone emphatically disagreed with the Governor's Columbine Review Commission report today. He continued to defend the actions of his officers and their response to the massacre
June 9, 2001 - Dawn Anna, mother of Lauren Townsend, led a group from the school and the community through Columbine's new 13,900-square-foot library. The massive library was opened to the students in late May and was a warm addition to the school
June 12, 2001 - Survivor Patrick Ireland filed a federal lawsuit against Jefferson County officials today, asking for unspecified damages for negligence, failure to act and violation of his constitutional rights from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, Board of County Commissioners, Sheriff John Stone, former Sheriff Ronald Beckham, 12 deputies and the sellers of the three guns that were bought by Robyn Anderson
June 13, 2001 - Tom Mauser, father of Angel Daniel, was arrested outside the National Rifle Association headquarters after refusing to end his one-man march. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing Daniel's sneakers. Tom had sent a letter to NRA President Charlton Heston last year, but so far has not received any response. He was released an hour later on $250 bail. Later in the day, Tom spoke at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
June 19, 2001 - 700 more pages of information, some of it very graphic of the carnage from April 20, 1999, are released to the public today. District Court Judge Brooke Jackson ordered the pages released on April 6, 2001 under Colorado's Open Records Act
June 21, 2001 - After several peaceful demonstrations (led by youth group leader Jason Janz of Citizens for Peace and Respect) were staged against his music, shock-rocker Marilyn Manson performed at Ozzfest at Denver's Mile High Stadium. About 24,000 people attended the day long concert
June 27, 2001 - Mark Manes, who sold the killers the illegal TEC-DC9 semi-automatic handgun, was released from prison today and transferred to a halfway house in Lakewood, Colorado. The move angered some of the families of the Angels
June 28, 2001 - Columbine Survivors Mark Taylor, Richard Castaldo and Brooks Brown and film maker Michael Moore lobbied K-Mart executives to stop selling hand gun ammunition in its stores. K-Mart CEO Chuck Conaway announced today that by the fall the retailer will stop the practice
July 12, 2001 - Several counties in Colorado report the new Columbine "Respect Life" license plates are in high demand. The new plates have the Rockies as the backdrop with a large columbine flower in the center just above the words "Respect Life." Mark Schnurr and Dale Todd, parents of Columbine Survivors, spearheaded the creation of the license plates. Also today, the 32nd annual National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers conference was denied a tour of Columbine High School by Jefferson County officials. The conference will be held next week, but will not tour the school
August 9, 2001 - 2,651 more pages of evidence is released to the public by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in Golden, Colorado. The pages include expletive-laced notes that Eric Harris had passed to several friends, and the substantial Internet threats that arose shortly after the massacre
August 23, 2001 - Tom Mauser was in a Fairfax County Courthouse for his June trespassing arrest at the NRA headquarters. However, the arresting officer had resigned and the NRA did not send any representation to the court hearing. Judge Lorraine Nordlund dismissed the case. Tom went back to NRA headquarters and picketed along a public sidewalk for just over an hour after the case dismissal in his son's tennis shoes
August 27, 2001 - Midway Home Entertainment, who distribute the video game Doom asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit against brought on by Angela Sanders, daughter of "Dave" Sanders. They cited a similar case in Kentucky after Michael Carneal killed three Heath High School students in 1997 that was thrown out when the judge ruled that video games are not subject to product liability laws
September 1, 2001 - Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Spokeswoman Jacki Tallman said the department will release more documents later this week after they spend several days editing out certain sections to protect witnesses and the families of those who died at Columbine
September 2, 2001 - Two , Iowa, teenagers, a 17-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl, one in Birmingham and the other in Fairfield, allegedly made a threat against Columbine High School via an Internet chat room today to a Lakewood woman. The threat was turned over to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for review
September 4, 2001 - The references in a new book entitled Parents Under Siege: Why You Are the Solution, Not the Problem, in Your Child's Life by James Garbarino and Clair Bedard angered some of the families of those who died in the Columbine massacre. James and Clair interviewed Tom and Sue Klebold in June 1999, however the Klebold's are not directly quoted in the book. The families are angry that the Klebold's would talk to an author before talking to them about their son's actions
September 6, 2001 - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office released 242 more pages of evidence. Jacki Tallman says no new evidence is covered in the 242 pages, however, Brian Rohrbough is still waiting for detailed information on the outside crime scene. (A detailed report of the library investigative team findings were released earlier)
September 26, 2001 - The Hearts of Columbine, a group of students and staff members at CHS, wrote messages of hope and thanks on two donated vinyl banners shortly after the attack on America on September 11. One banner was mailed to the Pentagon and the other one was sent to New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiuliani. The students wanted to do something after all that was done for them two and a half years ago. A member of the Army and Air Force wrote back to school thanking them for the banner, which hangs in the Pentagon
October 10, 2001 - Susan Petrone, mother of Daniel Rohrbough, testified against the Jefferson County School District at the opening of a U.S. District Court in Denver. She and six other plaintiffs claim their right to free speech and religious expression were suppressed when they were invited in the summer of 1999 to paint tiles that were going to be placed in Columbine High School. However, they could not paint anything that referred to massacre, the Angels, the date or any religious symbols. Susan found 135 tiles with such references in the school when they were put on display in Columbine's hallways
October 15, 2001 - U.S. District Judge Wiley Daniel ruled that the Jefferson County School district had no right to restrict what images the Columbine families wanted to paint on their memorial tiles, and ordered 90 tiles that had been removed from the high school walls must be put back up within 20 days. He also gave Don and Dee Fleming, parents of Kelly, 20 days to paint whatever they wanted on their tiles and have them installed at the school. School officials said they are considering an appeal
October 17, 2001 - $2.85 million has been distributed to about 30 families of the Columbine Angels and Survivors in a settlement with the parents of the killers of Columbine and some of those involved in supplying the two killers with guns. The settlement was reached in May with negotiations finalized this week. The families of Survivors Sean Graves, Lance Kirklin, Mark Taylor and Richard Castaldo filed motions today to dismiss their suits against Wayne and Kathy Harris
October 19, 2001 - The families of Mark Taylor, Evan Todd, Brian Anderson, Corey DePooter and Dave Sanders filed a suit against Solvay Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the antidepressant drug Luvox Eric Harris was taking before the Columbine massacre. The families believe Solvay failed to warn Eric's doctor about side effects, mainly "emotional blunting or disinhibition" causing the killer of Columbine "to become manic and psychotic." The families are seeking damages in excess of $75,000 each
October 28, 2001 - On what would have been Stephanie Hart's 18th birthday, her mother, Kelly Grizzell, was charged with harassment and obstruction of a peace officer. Kelly was driving home late last night when she came across three unmarked deputies' cars making a traffic stop on Survivor Lance Kirklin. She got out of her car to find why it took six of them to pull Lance over for a busted headlight. Police reports said she struck Deputy James Lucas in the stomach with her closed fist. However, Kelly says she just put her hand on his shoulder. Lance supports Kelly's statement, however police officials supported Deputy Lucas's statement. So far, Kelly has become the only person arrested who has some connection to the case. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has only one detective working the case. The charges against Kelly were settled out of court in July of 2002
November 1, 2001 - Jefferson County Public Schools is planning to appeal Judge Daniel's decision to put, what the board considers, religious memorial tiles back in Columbine High School to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals
November 2, 2001 - Judge Daniels refused to issues Jefferson County Public Schools a stay in their appeal. The tiles are supposed to be in Columbine High School by Sunday, the 4th
November 6, 2001 - The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay, blocking the tiles from being placed in Columbine High School until the legal issues are more thoroughly researched. The decision blocked the Rohrbough's and the Fleming's from putting their religious-themed tiles inside CHS
November 10, 2001 - After cross-examining the ballistics report, the Sheriff's report and the 15,000 pages of released information, Randy and Judy Brown find evidence that Jefferson County Deputy, and Columbine High School Resource Officer, Neil Gardner, fired three shots into the library on April 20, 1999. Neil contests that he only fired his weapon eight times at the west doors. However, three of his bullets are found in the library. The Browns are wanting to know why the sheriff's office never published what they found on their own
November 27, 2001 - U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock dismissed eight lawsuits against the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Jefferson County School District, stating the two entities' met the claim of government immunity. The only lawsuit he stayed was the one brought by Dave Sanders family. They claim the police gave "Repeated false assurances that help would be there in 10 minutes" to teachers over the phone who were rendering aid to the fallen teacher. Judge Babcock also ruled a portion of Survivors Jeanna Park and Valeen Schnurr's lawsuits could go forward. They contend sheriff's deputies failed to provide medical care outside the school. Lawyers for the families plan to appeal the decision
December 4, 2001 - Westword reporter Alan Pendergast releases an extensive report of Eric Harris's dairy, complete with examples of his explosive rage and hatred of the world laced with expletives. Included in the dairy coverage was a letter of apology he wrote to Rickey Becker, the owner of the van that the killers broke into in January, 1998
December 6, 2001 - Wayne and Kathy Harris gave a rare statement today, saying they were "horrified" by the unexpected release of their son's journal entries and drawings. They also stressed they did not leak the documents
December 7, 2001 - Judge Babcock did not enter a judgment when he dismissed eight lawsuits over a week ago, only a ruling in the case. This gives the lawyers of the families more time to appeal his decision
December 10, 2001 - The families of Daniel Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Matt Kechter, Kyle Velasquez and Lauren Townsend fired attorney Jim Rouse today and hired their former attorney Barry Arrington. The Bernall's still use Jim Rouse as their counsel. Also today, Michael and Vonda Shoels, parents of Isaiah, asked Judge Babcock to reconsider the dismissal of their lawsuit in light of the Westword story, which provide new information on the case
December 11, 2001 - The families of Valeen Schnurr, Evan Todd, and Jeanna Park asked Judge Babcock to separated their cases from the others so that they can pursue the claim that they should have received medical care sooner, without losing their right to appeal a decision later
December 12, 2001 - U.S. Chief District Judge Lewis Babcock refused to reconsider his dismissal of the suits filed by the families of Daniel Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Matt Kechter, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Velasquez and Cassie Bernall against the Sheriff's Office and the school district. Attorney Barry Arrington said he would re-file the dismissal request
December 26, 2001 - Attorney Barry Arrington, representing five Columbine families, named Denver SWAT team member Sgt. Dan O'Shea as the person who shot and killed Daniel Rohrbough. Barry produced evidence of Dan breaking down in tears two days after the shootings, telling a school administrator "he hadn't slept in days because he may have shot an innocent student." Barry also accused Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone and his department of making 29 "blatant, bald-faced lies about the investigation during the past three years." Dan made his statement at Westridge Elementary School, who kept his young daughter there on April 20, 1999. When he returned to the school two days later to thank with a bouquet of flowers, he broke down in front of Jefferson County School District administrator Celine Marquez
December 27, 2001 - Brad and Misty Bernall settled their lawsuit against the parents of the killers of Columbine today. Their attorney, Jim Rouse, declined to specify the financial settlement reached. The Bernall's still have a lawsuit pending against Ronald F. Hartmann for selling three of the four guns used in the massacre to Robyn Anderson, who gave them to the killers, a purely legal transaction. Also today, Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas promised Columbine families that he will take a second look at threats made by Eric Harris before the massacre. This includes the threat against Brooks Brown and setting off pipe bombs
December 28, 2001 - Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone requested the El Paso County Sheriff's Office review the allegations that a Denver police sergeant killed Daniel Rohrbough. El Paso County Sheriff John Anderson agreed and said he would four to five people working on the two to three month investigation
January 2, 2002 - Brian Rohrbough and Sue Petrone, parents of Daniel, released an audio tape they made with Arapahoe County Deputy Jim Taylor, who says he witnessed the fatal shooting of their son. In direct contrast, Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat Sullivan says Jim was dispatched to the east side of Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, and couldn't have possibly seen the fatal shooting take place on the south side of the school. The audio tape was made in March, 2000. Also today, Jefferson County District Judge Brooke Jackson ruled that Dylan's full autopsy report would not be released to the public
January 3, 2002 - Governor Bill Owens urged Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas to impanel a state grand jury to investigate the misstatements and cover-up efforts by officials in the Columbine massacre. Also today, Tom and Sue Klebold asked the Colorado Court of Appeals to overrule Judge Jackson's decision that Jefferson County sheriff's officials can keep their sons clothing, which include the trench coat, black boots, baseball cap, black pants, belt, black t-shirt, one black glove with the fingers cut out and black suspenders. Also today, the sheriff's office rebutted the claim of Brian Rohrbough and Sue Petrone that students were not present when their son was shot with witness statements from Sean Graves, Lance Kirklin and Mark William Opfer
January 4, 2002 - Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas announced that he is considering a rarely used coroner's inquest to determine how Daniel Rohrbough died
January 7, 2002 - Arapahoe County Deputy Jim Taylor acknowledge that it is his voice on the audio tape Brian Rohrbough played of the recorded conversation between himself and Sue Petrone. Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat Sullivan still contends that Jim's written statement is accurate and the tape is "misleading"
January 8, 2002 - Attorney Barry Arrington asked U.S. Attorney John Suthers to convene a grand jury to investigate "the cover up of possible violations of federal law by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department." Also today, former chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court William Erickson, and head of Governor Bill Owen's Columbine Review Commission, said the body will meet again in the near future. Also today, Arapahoe County released 800 pages of new information of the Columbine massacre to Randy Brown
January 9, 2002 - Arapahoe County Deputy Jim Taylor was fired today after admitting he lied to the Rohrbough's about what he saw at Columbine on April 20, 1999
January 11, 2002 - William Erickson said the court system and not the governor's review commission is the appropriate forum to fully investigate the Columbine massacre. Also today, Brian Rohrbough and Sue Petrone used a map to show that bullets from law enforcement officials were closer to their son, Daniel, than any bullets fired by the killers of Columbine
January 14, 2002 - Attorney David Bruno said his client, Denver Police Sergeant Dan O'Shea, did not shoot anyone at Columbine. Also today, the Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas asked County Coroner Carl Belsch to hold an inquest into the death of Daniel Rohrbough. Carl said he would ponder the request and make his decision known on Thursday
January 15, 2002 - Colorado State Representative Don Lee, R-Littleton, said that if a federal grand jury doesn't investigate the Columbine massacre he will push to create a legislative panel to do it
January 16, 2002 - Mark Manes was denied parole today, his first chance with the parole board. Mark sold the killers of Columbine the illegal TEC-DC9 semiautomatic handgun. He continues to live in a halfway house in Lakewood as he carries out his six year sentence. Also today, Jefferson County Coroner Carl Blesch said he would not hold an inquest in the death of Daniel Rohrbough
January 20, 2002 - The Denver Post reported today that Denver Police Sergeant Dan O'Shea says that his comments to a school administrator about "friendly fire" at Columbine High School have been misinterpreted as evidence that he killed Daniel Rohrbough
January 21, 2002 - Columbine High School Principal Frank DeAngelis said he would remain Columbine's principal for the foreseeable future. Earlier he had announced he would step down with the class of 2002, the last class of students who were at Columbine on April 20, 1999
January 23, 2002 - U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock refused to reinstate lawsuits brought by families of 15 students killed or injured in the Columbine massacre. Also today, Denver Police Sergeant Dan O'Shea viewed aerial tapes from Denver's Channel 7 and says they show that he first fired after Daniel Rohrbough went down. Channel 7's aerial has not been released to the public
January 25, 2002 - A court hearing to decide whether materials seized by authorities from the homes of the killers of Columbine should be made public was postponed today to allow expert testimony to present an opinion on how the public, and potential copycats, may react to the release of the materials. The testimony is expected to be heard no later than mid-March
January 27, 2002 - The Denver Post reported today that Denver Police Sergeant Dan O'Shea was using a very unique bullet, Speer +P 9mm Gold Dot Hollow Point, that is only sold to law enforcement agencies. The bullet's projection pattern and copper jacket that is chemically bonded to the bullet are patented by Speer. Speer representatives an easy test can be done to determine if the one bullet recovered from Daniel Rohrbough came from Dan O'Shea or one of the killers. However, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation has not done an extensive test of this bullet, the only bullet recovered from Daniel
January 30, 2002 - Seven Columbine families visited the Colorado State Capital today to ask for a legislative probe of the Columbine massacre, the "last best hope" for an unbiased and comprehensive investigation of the events of April 20, 1999. Patricia DePooter, mother of Corey, asked for retesting of a bullet that passed through Corey's arm and ended up in his backpack. The bullet was compared against law enforcement weapons and not the weapons of the killers of Columbine
January 31, 2002 - Colorado U.S. Attorney John Suthers refused to launch a federal grand jury probe into the Columbine massacre or allegations that authorities hid the truth about them. Also today, along Pierce Street, Survivor Patrick Ireland passed the Olympic flame to Columbine High School Principle Frank DeAngelis, who, after running the 2/10 of a mile relay, handed it John Tomlin Sr., father of John Tomlin
February 1, 2002 - Stuart Stuller, a lawyer for the school district, told the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that forcing Columbine High School to hang tiles with religious messages would open the door for people to express anti-religious views. The school district is asking the court to overturn a lower court's decision to hang eight religious tiles painted by relatives of two Columbine Angels. Also today, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office submitted the bullet found in Corey DePooter's backpack to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for further testing
February 4, 2002 - The Colorado Bureau of Investigation confirmed today that Eric Harris fired the shot that went through Corey's arm and ended up in his backpack
February 5, 2002 - The families of Daniel Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Matthew Kechter, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Velasquez, Valeen Schnurr, Evan Todd and Jeana Park formally notified federal courts today they will appeal the dismissal of their civil suits against the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and Jefferson County Public Schools
February 7, 2002 - Colorado House Speaker Doug Dean announced a legislative commission to probe the Columbine massacre would not begin until the summer to ensure the commission has enough time to get the necessary answers
February 12, 2002 - Colorado Attorney General and Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas announced today an orderly process to release all information pertaining to the Columbine massacre in an effort to seek "closure" for those involved
February 18, 2002 - Colorado State Representative Don Lee, R-Littleton, proposed a legislative commission, with subpoena powers, to investigate the massacre at Columbine High School. Survivors would have the option to opt-out of the investigation if they feel uncomfortable talking about April 20, 1999. The committee would issue it's public report by December 1
February 22, 2002 - A food fight in the Columbine High School cafeteria resulted in the arrest of four students. Administrators said they knew the food fight was going to happen, and even asked the students to move it outside, instead of clamping down and preventing it from ever starting in the first place. Names were not released in this AP wire report
March 4, 2002 - Over 60 top secret, crime-scene photos from the Columbine massacre, showing the killer's bodies, the Angels and even their bombs, have leaked out outraging some of the families. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office began investigating how the photos were released to various people and agencies without their knowledge. Also today, U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock dismissed a case brought on by Linda Sanders, wife of Dave, against the makers and distributors of violent movies and video games for propelling the killers of Columbine into their deadly rampage
March 5, 2002 - Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone and Undersheriff John Dunaway will be the first in line to submit to polygraph tests as JeffCo tests its employees to discover who leaked the crime-scene photos
March 6, 2002 - To prevent the videotapes the killers of Columbine made before their deadly assault, U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer ordered the tapes and other evidence be moved to downtown Denver and locked up in the federal courthouse
March 7, 2002 - The Colorado House of Representatives Civil Justice and Judiciary Committee voted 7-2 against a proposal to launch a commission with subpoena power to find out what really happened at Columbine High School, thus ending all hope of the families of ever finding answers to their lingering questions
March 8, 2002 - Attorney Bruce Jones, representing the family of Dave Sanders, told U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock today that he wants to interview authorities of the 34 agencies involved in the Columbine massacre before setting up depositions in which they must appear and testify. Judge Babcock set a May 10 hearing date to determine the first group of people to be formally questioned
March 11, 2002 - Colorado State Representative Don Lee, R-Littleton, announced he will introduce a new, streamlined proposal to get answers involving the Columbine massacre
March 19, 2002 - Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone asked a federal judge to allow his office to distribute the basement video tapes made by the killers of Columbine. Their parents are fighting to keep the video tapes sealed and claim copyright ownership. The sheriff's office claim ownership in that the tapes are evidence, and therefore their property
March 20, 2002 - U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Babcock dismissed five Columbine lawsuits against the gun-show vendors today, however he let stand one lawsuit continue. That lawsuit was brought by four families whose children were killed or wounded by shotgun fire. They claim Ronald Frank Hartmann of Colorado Springs sold a shotgun to Robyn Anderson and that it was clear she was purchasing it for the killers of Columbine. Robyn legally bought the weapon at the Tanner Gun Show
March 22, 2002 - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office released updated digital crime scene diagrams from the Columbine massacre on a new CD-ROM today. The CD contains information that was omitted earlier from the FBI
March 26, 2002 - U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock dismissed claims against law enforcement and school officials brought by Survivor Patrick Ireland. However, Judge Babcock let Patrick's case against Ronald Hartmann and James Washington, the gun dealers who sold two rifles to Robyn Anderson, to continue
April 1, 2002 - Randy and Judy Brown, parents of Survivor Brooks, asked the Columbine task force for copies of all the materials Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas gave to A&E Investigative Reports for an upcoming episode set to air April 15 entitled Columbine: Understanding Why. A&E asked the Browns to participate in the show. Also today, the Columbine task force added John Ireland, father of Survivor Patrick, to its team. Dawn Anna, mother of Angel Lauren Townsend, declined to join the panel
April 4, 2002 - Colorado House Bill 1418 that would create a bipartisan group of six lawmakers seeking answers to specific questions related to the Columbine massacre was introduced today by Representative Don Lee, R-Littleton. The bill is a more focused version of the one that failed to pass in a subcommittee last month
April 5, 2002 - Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone announced he will not seek re-election, calling Columbine "a tar baby" he couldn't shake
April 10, 2002 - The El Paso County Sheriff's Office delivered its completed 1200-page review of Daniel Rohrbough's death to Jefferson County authorities. However, Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas said he wouldn't release the report until after the upcoming three-year anniversary
April 11, 2002 - Survivor Patrick Ireland asked U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Babcock to reconsider his recent ruling that Jefferson County officials and an Adams County gun show aren't responsible for his injuries. Patrick's motion included a sealed affidavit given by his father that includes "a nonpublic document of a sensitive nature." Also today, the Rocky Mountain News reported that the El Paso County Sheriff's report of Daniel Rohrbough's death say he was not killed by Dylan Klebold at close range, as the official Jefferson County Sheriff's report, release May 15, 2000, states. Also today, Jefferson County authorities asked Judge Babcock to review an additional 5000 pages of Columbine documents to release to the public. The documents include an extensive index that would be helpful to those still investigating the Columbine massacre.
April 13, 2002 - Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas changed his mind and announced the El Paso County Sheriff Office's report will be released by Wednesday or Thursday of the upcoming week, instead of waiting until after the anniversary has he had originally decided
April 15, 2002 - A&E's Investigative Reports spent tonight's episode reviewing the Columbine massacre with a "psychiatric autopsy" of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. However, one parent called the show "shallow, at best"
April 16, 2002 - The Columbine Review task force added Randy Brown, father of Brooks, to their panel tonight
April 17, 2002 - Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas released the El Paso County Sheriff's Office report to the public today in a 1 p.m. news conference. The report states that Daniel Rohrbough was killed by Eric Harris
April 18, 2002 - Colorado State Representative Don Lee, R-Littleton, brought HB 1418 before his fellow legislators in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee today asking they approve the bill to create a probe, with subpoena powers, into the Columbine massacre. The measure passed, 8-1. However, Don expects the measure to die in the House Appropriations Committee if he doesn't show proof that donations and lawyers working pro bono will cover the $300,000 cost
April 19, 2002 - Illinois carpenter Greg Zanis unveiled a proposal for a permanent Christian memorial to those who died at Columbine with 13 wooden crosses encased in marble encased in glass in his home town. Tomorrow he plans to show the design to Columbine High School
April 20, 2002 - A memorial service at Clement Park at 11:00 a.m. marked the third anniversary of the nation's deadliest high school shooting
April 22, 2002 - Brian Rohrbough issued a public apology to Denver Police Sgt. Dan O'Shea for accusing him killing his son during the Columbine massacre. Also today, several members of the Columbine open-records task force supported releasing the basement tapes and crime scene photos. However, some members still had reservations about releasing such evidence
April 24, 2002 - The Colorado Bureau of Investigation released 3,221 pages of Columbine material to the public
April 30, 2002 - The Colorado House Appropriations Committee approved a more modified version of Representative Don Lee's (R-Littleton) HB 1418 to investigate "What can be learned from the law enforcement response on April 20, 1999, in preparation for a similar terrorist-type attack on schools or other public buildings." The approved bill discarded two other points Don had written into the bill
May 3, 2002 - The full Colorado House of Representatives approved HB 1418 with a 39-24 vote. The bill was then passed to the Colorado Senate
May 6, 2002 - Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee killed Representative Don Lee's bill 4-3 today, thus ending any hope of answering the lingering questions of the Columbine massacre
May 7, 2002 - Solvay Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Luvox, the antidepressant drug prescribed to Eric Harris, asked a U.S. district judge to remove Donna Taylor, mother of Survivor Mark, from the lawsuit against them. A decision was not reached when this story was published
May 15, 2002 - Jefferson County School Superintendent Jane Hammond resigned today to take a position with a California foundation that focuses on student performance
May 17, 2002 - Michael Moore premiered his documentary, Bowling for Columbine, at the 55th Cannes Film Festival and was received with very high marks for the film. The film is the first documentary in 46 years to be competing for the top prize, the Palm d'Or
May 18, 2002 - The last class of Columbine Rebels, 457 of them, to witness the massacre at their school graduated today at Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre in Denver
May 20, 2002 - Survivor Patrick Ireland's appeal to U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Babcock for dismissing his case in March was unsealed today. Patrick claims that law enforcement personnel knew wounded students were in the library but did nothing to expedite their rescue, much like the case of Dave Sanders, whom Judge Babcock let stand. Patrick wants to amend his case with a new picture and video footage. Judge Babcock will conduct a hearing in July on this matter
May 21, 2002 - The National Enquirer interviewed Brian Rohrbough, father of Daniel, and said they would published leaked crime scene photos of the two dead killers of Columbine in an upcoming issue
May 24, 2002 - The National Enquirer publishes the leaked crime scene photos of the killers of Columbine the way they were found in the school's library on April 20, 1999. Colorado's largest grocery stores did not put the magazine in their checkout lines
May 28, 2002 - The Columbine Open Records Task Force formally asked the Colorado Court of Appeals to unseal Dylan Klebold's autopsy report today
June 4, 2002 - A group of Columbine Survivors and their family members led by Pastor Bruce Porter set out for Erfurt, Germany, today to help console those afflicted by the shooting there on April 26, 2002
June 6, 2002 - Thirteen Columbine families settled most of their lawsuits with the Jefferson County School District and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office when they reached a $285,000 deal today. The families will received about $15,000 each. The settlement is expected to be finalized next week
June 7, 2002 - Pastor Bruce Porter and his group of Columbine Survivors presented Johann Gutenberg survivors with a torch, a plaque and a wreath carried all the way from Littleton
June 17, 2002 - The Acts of Kindness Association posthumously honored Rachel Scott as Student of the Year of leading an honorable life filled with intentional kindness. Also today, lawyers for Jefferson County argued in court that the suit against them filed by Angela Sanders, Dave Sander's daughter, be thrown out on the basis that the Columbine massacre was so unprecedented that law enforcement officials couldn't have known they might be held legally liable for not rescuing Dave Sanders
June 24, 2002 - The Columbine Open Records Task Force reviewed 1,800 more pages of information today and found that Dylan was harassing someone at the high school six months before the massacre. They also discovered that an entry in Eric's dairy stated he had enough explosives to kill 100 people and wanted to rob a gun collector to get the weapons. Also today, Michael and Vonda Shoels, parents of Isaiah, said they wanted to move their lawsuit against the killers parents back to state court. Also today, Luvox, the prescription drug that Eric had stopped taking days before the the massacre, was pulled from the shelves
June 27, 2002 - The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Jefferson County School District acted properly when it prohibited religious themed tiles from being displayed at Columbine High School. Attorney Jim Rouse, who represented the families of Kelly Fleming and Daniel Rohrbough, said they will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court
July 12, 2002 - Thomas and Susan Klebold and Wayne and Katherine Harris, parents of the killers of Columbine, asked U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Babcock to order Michael and Vonda Shoels, parents of Isaiah, to sign the formal settlement papers and dismiss their lawsuit. Their request stems from the April decision to settle the suits and disburse more than $1.5 million if they were dismissed
July 15, 2002 - Jefferson County officials removed themselves from the Columbine Open Records Task Force stating a lawsuit, filed by the task force, seeking records from the sheriff's office
July 17, 2002 - Using a newly found photo that shows law enforcement personnel could see into the Columbine library on the afternoon of April 20, 1999, and still did nothing to help the Survivors, Patrick Ireland's attorney, Stephen Peters, asked Judge Babcock to rehear the suit. Judge Babcock said he would consider the request
July 24, 2002 - The Columbine Records Review Task Force asked that the juvenile records of the killers of Columbine be released to the public. Some of the records have already been release and the group viewed all of the records after signing a confidentiality agreement. They now want all the records released
August 18, 2002 - As Columbine High School prepared to begin the 2002-03 school year, it was reported today that 60 percent of the staff have left the school since the massacre
August 20, 2002 - Angela Sanders, daughter of William "Dave" Sanders, accepted a $1.5 million lawsuit settlement from Jefferson County. The Sheriff's Office still admits to no liability or culpability in the case. The only remaining case against the county is Patrick Ireland's appeal
August 26, 2002 - Jefferson County Sheriff John Stone decided not to allow the Columbine Records Review Task Force to go through his department's files concerning the Columbine massacre. In a letter to State Solicitor General Alan Gilber, assistant Jefferson County Attorney Lily Oeffler said that Sheriff Stone would have to release the documents to the public if he gave them to the task force
September 3, 2002 - Mark Taylor's lawsuit against Solvay Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Luvox, was allowed to continue with a trial date set for March 2004
September 4, 2002 - Brian Rohrbough and Sue Petrone, parents of Daniel Rohrbough, sued former Arapahoe County Sheriff Deputy James D. Taylor for defamation, negligence and outrageous conduct. Deputy Taylor told Daniel parents he witnessed their son's death, but later recanted under heavy pressure from his superiors
September 15, 2002 - Tom and Sue Klebold received an anonymous phone message (on their unlisted telephone number) from a young male vowing a copycat attack at his school this evening sometime after 11 p.m. Jefferson County schools were put on a heightened security alert Monday, but the day passed without incident. Students were not told of the threat
September 16, 2002 - The Columbine Records Review Task Force filed a lawsuit in Jefferson County stating public safety outweighs any loss of privacy when it comes to releasing juvenile diversion records of the killers of Columbine. The task force want the sheriff's office to release the records of killers from their participation in the diversion program after they were caught breaking into a van on January 30, 1998
September 17, 2002 - The FBI announced today that it is taking over the investigation into the threatening phone call received by the Klebold's earlier this week
October 5, 2002 - The Rocky Mountain News reported today that a year and 13 days before the Columbine massacre, Eric Harris told his Jefferson County juvenile probation officer that he had experienced homicidal and suicidal thoughts. Eric also stated he had wrestled with anger, anxiety and disorganized thoughts, that he frequently blew up and that he often cried. These statement led the officer to put him in an anger management class. The juvenile diversion files, which have never been released, are the subject of court case involving the Columbine Open Records Task Force
October 6, 2002 - C. Michael Montgomery, an attorney for Wayne and Kathy Harris, filed a response with the Jefferson County Court stating the family will not oppose the release of the juvenile diversion files. Also today, Illinois carpenter Greg Zanis wants to raise $650,000 for a permanent memorial at Roxborough State Park southwest of Denver. Thirteen eight-foot tall crosses are currently standing in the park, but the elements have deteriorated them. Mr. Zanis wants to erect new crosses encased in marble and glass
October 8, 2002 - C. Michael Montgomery and Gregg Kay, representing Tom and Sue Klebold, asked that portions of a civil trial in which their sons' videos, audiotapes and writings will be shown be held in secret. They fear that a public showing of the materials could lead to copycats and glorification of their son's actions
October 11, 2002 - A judge ruled that four videotapes made by the killers of Columbine do not have to be locked in an evidence room and can be removed from the courthouse by lawyers working on a suit related to the attack, despite fears or leaks
October 19, 2002 - Mark Taylor's lawsuit against Solvay Pharmaceuticals received a tremendous boost when Lisa Van Syckel contributed $31,000 and pledged to do whatever it takes to get the lawsuit to trail. Lisa's daughter had a violent reaction to a drug similar to Luvox, the drug Eric Harris was taking. Mark suit claims the drug contributed to the massacre and that Solvay failed to warn of "risks and dangers" associated with the drug
October 21, 2002 - The Columbine Open Records Task Force reiterated its case for the disclosure of the juvenile probation records of the killers of Columbine
October 23, 2002 - No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Columbine, written by Brooks Brown and Rob Merritt went on sale today to the general public
October 25, 2002 - Bowling for Columbine opens in theaters across the country. The movie, a documentary by Michael Moore on America's culture of violence, received high marks at the Cannes Film Festival
October 29, 2002 - The Rocky Mountain News asked the Colorado Court of Appeals to overturn a January 2 Jefferson County District Judge Brooke Jackson court order and unseal the autopsy of Columbine killer Dylan Klebold
October 30, 2002 - Jefferson County District Judge Brooke Jackson ordered the release of the killers of Columbine juvenile-diversion program records, saying public scrutiny may help determine whether officials missed warning signs months before the pair assaulted Columbine High School
October 31, 2002 - Two experts Mark Taylor had planned to use against Solvay Pharmaceuticals were severely limited in what they can say during the trial. Solvay lawyer Mark Kennedy produced records that Dr. Donald Marks and Dr. Peter Breggin haven't gone to the highly secured evidence room at the federal courthouse in Denver to look at hundreds of documents and other evidence connected to the Columbine case. Mark Kennedy maintained that the two doctors, to form any kind of sound opinion, would need to hear audio tapes, view videotapes and read other materials connected to the case. U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer was visibly angry that the experts failed to view evidence prior to their case depositions, however he denied Solvay's motion for sanctions against Mark's attorneys. Judge Brimmer did agree the medical experts would not be allowed to review the evidence now that the deadline has passed and would only be allowed to testify about matters mentioned in the reports they have already made.
November 4, 2002 - Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas releases Eric Harris's juvenile diversion file to the public. Dylan Klebold's record, also ordered to be released, is being held for a short time while his parents consider an appeal of Judge Brooke Jackson's decision last week
November 12, 2002 - Jim Rouse, attorney for the families of Kelly Fleming and Daniel Rohrbough asked the Supreme Court to hear their case against the Jefferson County School District for not displaying their religious themed painted tiles in the halls of Columbine after the massacre. The 10th U.S. Court of Appeals ruled against the families stating the separation of church and state must be upheld
November 13, 2002 - U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch angrily accused Jefferson County officials and the families of the killers of Columbine of striking a deal that would forever keep audio and video tapes made by the killers from the public. The deal seeks to return the tapes to the families and would be released only for scientific research. Judge Matsch refused to approve the agreement. Judge Matsch gave the Harris family lawyer, Michael Montgomery, ten days to file additional arguments to support approval of the agreement
November 14, 2002 - Attorneys for the family of Dylan Klebold asked District Judge Brooke Jackson to remove some of the information in killer's juvenile probation file before releasing it to the public. Judge Jackson did not immediately set a date for his decision
November 19, 2002 - The Jefferson County district attorney's office announced today that the "prosecution files" on the killers of Columbine will remain sealed. The prosecution files are different from the diversion files and since they were not asked for specifically, they will remained sealed. The Columbine Records Review Task Force said it will pursue the release of the prosecution files
November 21, 2002 - The Colorado Court of Appeals ordered Jefferson County District Judge Brooke Jackson to reconsider his refusal to make Dylan Klebold's autopsy report public
November 22, 2002 - Dylan Klebold's diversion file is released to the public
December 4, 2002 - Columbine teacher Theresa Miller, who was in Science Room 3 with Dave Sanders as he lay bleeding to death, died today of cancer. She was 44
December 7, 2002 - The Columbine Rebels football team end their perfect season by defeating Fairview to become Colorado state football champions. The Rebels' record is 14-0 and this is their third championship since the massacre at Columbine
December 11, 2002 - U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch ruled that the parents of the killers of Columbine cannot rely on copyright law to keep audio and video tapes of their sons anticipating the massacre at their school from the public. The parents contend they own the copyright and have reached an out-of-court settlement with Sheriff John Stone to keep the recordings locked away. The decision by Judge Matsch doesn't immediately release the recordings to the public
January 8, 2003 - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office released 9,736 more pages of Columbine documents to the public on CD-ROM. The pages include school writings from the killers and notes from those trapped inside Columbine while they waited to be rescued
January 10, 2003 - Tom and Sue Klebold release their son's full autopsy report to the public
January 13, 2003 - The US Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by the families of Kelly Fleming and Daniel Rohrbough against the Jefferson County school district to display religious-themed tiles in Columbine High
January 15, 2003 - Columbine Survivor Mark Taylor talked with Wahluke High School hostage instigator Cory Baadsgaard for a filming of a documentary by Gary Null & Associates of New York on the use of prescription drugs taken by children
January 24, 2003 - Columbine Survivor Jonathan Ross Ladd died when the single-engine Cessna 172 Skyhawk he was piloting collided with a twin-engine Piper Cheyenne II. Both airplanes plummeted into a Denver residential neighborhood. Four others died in the crash.
January 31, 2003 - The families of Cassie Bernall, Daniel Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Matthew Kechter and Kyle Velasquez resolved their claims against Ronald Frank Hartmann, one of the two Tanner Gun Show vendor who sold Robyn Anderson three of guns used by the killers of Columbine. Survivors Patrick Ireland and Lance Kirklin settled separate claims against Hartmann and James Washington, the other vendor
February 6, 2003 - Survivor Mark Taylor dropped his lawsuit against Solvay Pharmaceuticals. No reason why was made in the joint statement
February 19, 2003 - The attorneys for the city of Denver released 309 pages of intelligence files today. Some of the documents released included the "spy files," documents that named 75 teenagers thought to have been in the Trench Coat Mafia, or their friends, and the results of a computer check on all of them
March 4, 2003 - A 14-year-old boy from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, using an online service for the hearing impaired, threatened to blow up Columbine High School last week. Today, he was arrested for investigation of making terrorist threats
March 12, 2003 - U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Babcock ruled in favor of five Columbine families, giving them the right to question the parents of the killers of Columbine. The attorneys and families of Daniel Rohrbough, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Velasquez, Matthew Kechter and Kelly Fleming can question up to 15 people under oath
March 13, 2003 - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office released more than seven hours of Denver police dispatch tapes from April 20, 1999 to the public
March 14, 2003 - U.S. District Court Judge Robert Blackburn was asked by the families of the killers of Columbine to enforce the terms from a $1.6 million settlement agreement in the summer of 2001 and prevent the family of Isaiah Shoels from pursuing a civil lawsuit. Judge Blackburn said he would have a decision as soon as possible
April 2, 2003 - After rumors surfaced that it may disband at today's meeting, the Columbine Records Review Task Force voted to stay together and continue their work. The Task Force also said that the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office still holds over 6,300 items related to the Columbine massacre
April 7, 2003 - Columbine families announced today that a permanent memorial would be in place in Clement Park for the five-year anniversary of the Columbine massacre, April 20, 2004
April 20, 2003 - The fourth anniversary of the Columbine massacre passed by quietly today with no official ceremony to honor the Angels or the Survivors. Many of the families spent today, Easter Sunday, in quiet reflection
May 9, 2003 - After finding three separate threatening notes, Columbine High School was under a modified lock down today. Only a third of the student body was present in class
May 12, 2003 - Jefferson County District Attorney Dave Thomas released his "prosecutor's files" that showed how the killers of Columbine sailed through a 12-month juvenile diversion course
June 9, 2003 - More than 200 pages of warrants and documents related to searches of the killers of Columbine, and their associates, were released today by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
June 25, 2003 - U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn ordered Michael and Vonda Shoels to accept a $366,000 settlement for wrongful death. The Shoels lawyer, Geoffrey Feiger, said his secretary "misworded" an acceptance letter, signed it and faxed it to Denver, even though he told her the Shoels were willing to participate in the process of settling the claim. Judge Blackburn called Geoffrey's claim not credible, because he knew specific terms of a settlement had been discussed
July 8, 2003 - Federal District Judge Clarence Brimmer opened a case for Survivor Mark Taylor as he brought questions about the amount of work attorney John DeCamp did for him in his suit against Solvay Pharmaceuticals. Mark wants his money back for the dismissed lawsuit. Mark's new attorney, Ron Miller, alleges the John violated Colorado rules that require a written fee agreement between attorney and client. Judge Brimmer gave John ten more days to submit a more thorough accounting of his work on Mark's lawsuit
July 28, 2003 - The parents of the killers of Columbine, Tom and Sue Klebold and Wayne and Kathy Harris, will give depositions this week to lawyers for the families of Danny Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Kyle Velasquez, Matthew Kechter and Lauren Townsend in the on-going wrongful-death lawsuit filed U.S. District Court. The depositions were taken in Room A-535 at the federal courthouse in downtown Denver and all parties signed privacy statements preventing information leaking to the media. U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock will review the depositions and determine to allow the lawsuit to proceed
August 12, 2003 - The families of Danny Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Kyle Velasquez, Matthew Kechter and Lauren Townsend settled their lawsuit with Tom and Sue Klebold and Wayne and Kathy Harris today. Details were not released, but a statement from the parents of the killers of Columbine would be made soon
August 21, 2003 - Dawn Anna, mother of Lauren Townsend, urged that the depositions from the parents of the killers of Columbine be made public to help other school systems and parents see the signs that were missed in the Columbine massacre
September 8, 2003 - U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock denied a request by Valeen Schnurr to file an amended lawsuit against law enforcement officers stating the statue of limitations had been reached
September 23, 2003 - Citing that all cases have been settled, U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Coan issued an order to clean out the Columbine evidence room in the downtown Denver federal courthouse that has been under strict lock-and-key by destroying the files, including the depositions of the parents of the killers of Columbine. Attorney Barry Arrington said he would appeal the judge's order
October 2, 2003 - Michael and Vonda Shoels, parents of Isaiah, filed a motion today objecting that the files in the Columbine evidence room be destroyed
October 7, 2003 - Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar filed a motion today to ask Judge Coan to preserve the files in the Columbine evidence room and for a public inventory of all records ever placed in the room
October 14, 2003 - Deputy Attorney General F. Michael Goodbee reviewed over 22,000 pages of Columbine material over the summer and found 406 pages that could be released to the public. Today he asked for those pages to be released. The Denver Police and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office released the documents. The released pages include police reports, maps of the school and crime scene, a roster of investigators and pages printed from Internet sites.
October 15, 2003 - U. S. District Judge Lewis Babcock gave the parents of the killers of Columbine 20 days to respond to the flurry of filings aimed at preserving the files in the Columbine evidence room. He also allowed the National Archives and Records Administration to file friend-of-the-court briefings to allow Columbine files to be stored in Washington, D. C. Also today, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office announced it would release the Rampart Range video tape next Wednesday. The video tape was made by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold as they shot their guns at a makeshift shooting range in Douglas County on March 6, 1999
October 22, 2003 - The Rampart Range video is made available to the public from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Jefferson County School District spokesman Rick Kaufman said it is very likely that the video was filmed with Columbine School equipment and edited using the school's computers
October 23, 2003 - The August 7, 1997 complaint about Eric Harris's violent laced web site was found in a three ring binder that is not related to the investigation. Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink released the complaint and asked Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar to conduct and investigation "focusing on how and why these documents were overlooked and improperly managed"
October 28, 2003 - Jefferson County District Judge James D. Zimmerman ruled that a lawsuit filed by Susan Petrone and Brian Rohrbough, parents of Daniel, may proceed to pursue damages against former Arapahoe Deputy Sheriff James D. Taylor for negligent and outrageous conduct. The lawsuit contends that Sheriff Taylor led them to falsely believe Daniel was killed by friendly fire of Denver SWAT team member Sgt. Dan O'Shea
November 3, 2003 - Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar asked U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Babcock to allow the director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado, Delbert Elliott, to review dozens of secret Columbine documents, including the deposition's by the Harris's and the Klebold's, and issue a public report. Also today, Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink filed a motion seeking to allow him to intervene in the court fight over the destruction of Columbine documents, as ordered by U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Coan
November 8, 2003 - Philip Duran, the man who helped the killers of Columbine obtain the illegal TEC-DC9 semi-automatic assault gun, was released from an electronic monitoring program and placed on parole today
November 20, 2003 - During the Jefferson County School Board meeting tonight, a small group of Columbine parents asked them to release their sealed report on the Columbine massacre. The report was compiled for school district attorneys as they prepared for several lawsuits
December 18, 2003 - Former Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy John Hicks spoke with two investigators from the Colorado Attorney's Office in his home in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The investigators traveled east to discover answers as to why the August 7, 1997 complaint about Eric Harris was filed in a three ring binder that had nothing to do with the investigation
January 14, 2004 - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is considering releasing 70-plus video tapes collected during the investigation into the nation's worst high school shooting ever. Some of the videos were made by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
January 20, 2004 - Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink said the results of an investigation into contacts between the killers of Columbine and local officials will be released next month. The results stem from interviews with former deputy John Hicks and others from 1997, two years before the massacre
January 23, 2004 - U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Babcock ruled that those who oppose the destruction of the only sworn statements from parents of the killers of Columbine cannot intervene in the case, however their arguments will be considered by the court
January 30, 2004 - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office records of the Columbine massacre were rejected for viewing by the Colorado Court of Appeals, stating a lower court must first determine if the records can even be released. The Denver Post is seeking release of the records because police investigation into the case has been completed. The Colorado Court of Appeals also announced that possibly some Columbine evidence may be released. This batch of evidence includes diaries, other writings, and audio and video tapes that were seized from Eric's home. The sticking point here is to determine if the evidence was labeled as a "criminal justice record" when it was asked to be released
February 20, 2004 - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office announced today that evidence collected after the massacre at Columbine High School, including videos made by the killers, will be made available to the public next Thursday, February 26, 2004
February 24, 2004 - After a four month probe into the anonymous August 7, 1997 report to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, investigators have concluded that Randy and Judy Brown were the source of the report. However, the Browns do not recall making report
February 25, 2004 - Relatives of the Angels and Survivors entered the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Auditorium to peruse the items the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office had on display for them and the public (viewing tomorrow). The items include all four guns, spent shell casings, remains of the exploded pipe bombs, library tables and chairs, thousands of pages of documents, the autopsies, the dry erase board with the message "1 Bleeding to Death" still on it in blue marker, videos, body bags, sealed bags of blood-stained clothes and the trench coats
February 26, 2004 - Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar said today that authorities had at least 15 contacts with the killers of Columbine before the massacre. However, he found no evidence of negligence by the sheriff's office. After his press conference, the public was allowed into the auditorium to view the evidence on display as well as purchase two video tapes. The first video tape is 34 minutes long and covers the crowd in Clement Park on April 20, 1999. The second video tape is 94 minutes long and consists of the killers of Columbine making fictional, violent movies for their video productions class
February 29, 2004 - The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office reached a $117,500 settlement with Patrick Ireland today. The sheriff's office assumes no liability in the settlement, which ends the last federal case filed against Jefferson County. The family of Isaiah Shoels still has a suit pending against the parents of the killers of Columbine
March 10, 2004 - Attorney Geoffrey Fieger asked a three-judge panel from the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overlook the mistyped letter of approval filed by his secretary stating that the Shoels' acceptance of the $366,000 settlement in 2001. If allowed, the Shoels' would then be able to back out of deal and continue their wrongful-death lawsuit against the parents of the killers of Columbine
March 30, 2004 - Chairman of the Columbine Memorial Committee Bob Easton said the construction of the memorial will be delayed until more funds are raised. The committee had hoped to begin construction on the upcoming 5-year anniversary, but less than a quarter of the $2.5 million have been raised so far
April 6, 2004 - Surviving Columbine, a new book that includes first-person stories of three Columbine Survivors (Liz Carlston, Amber Huntington and Mike Johnson) was promoted today in Salt Lake City by Mike
April 17, 2004 - Tom Mauser, father of Daniel, walked in his son's shoes to the NRA's national convention in Pittsburgh today in an effort to challenge Vice-President Dick Cheney to speak about extending the assault weapons ban, which expires in September. Vice-President Cheney was delivering the key note speech Saturday night at the convention.
April 20, 2004 - On the fifth anniversary of the Columbine massacre, Columbine High School closed it's doors completely and crowds gathered in the evening at the Clement Park amphitheater for a remembrance of the Angels and an interfaith candlelight vigil. A fighter-jet fly over at 6:00 started the evening, followed by the remembrance at which Survivor Anne Marie Hochhalter spoke about moving forward. Also at the remembrance, Steve and John Cohen performed their song Friend of Mine once more and Dawn Anna spoke to the crowd on behalf of the families of the Angels while principal Frank DeAngelis read the names of the Angels and lead a moment of silence
September 21, 2007 - Eight years, five months and one day after the Columbine High School massacre, the Columbine Memorial is finally completed and opened to the public today. The memorial consists of a broad oval sunken into the rolling Clement Park terrain with an outer wall called the Ring of Healing and a smaller interior circle called the Ring of Remembrance. Both rings are built of red stone. Dawn Anna and Patrick Ireland both spoke at the ceremony
And so ends this History of Columbine. No other news stories pertaining to the Columbine massacre were released after April 20, 2004 (with the exception of the opening of the Columbine Memorial on Friday, September 21, 2007). I am discontinuing updates on this timeline so that I can focus my attention on all of the other schools I have listed on the school violence side of my site so that I, and you, can learn so much more about the ones who died in less media covered acts of violence. I've done a substantial amount of research into the Columbine massacre and have had my questions answered. There are still more to ask, but hundreds of other schools need my attention now. I hope this timeline has been helpful to you.
Never Forget Always Remember