The Red Lake High School massacre was a school massacre that took place on March 21, 2005 in which Jeffrey Weise, a student at Red Lake High School in Red Lake, Minnesota, killed at least ten people, including his grandfather, his grandfather’s partner, a teacher and a security guard. Seven others were wounded. When police cornered Weise inside the school, he shot and killed himself. Another student believed to be involved in planning the event was arrested one week after the shootings, and there is some expectation of further arrests.
Overview
The incident is believed to have begun during the afternoon of March 21, when Weise shot and allegedly killed his grandfather, Daryl “Dash” Lussier, and his partner Michelle Sigana, at Lussier’s residence. Weise then drove his grandfather’s squad car to school, arriving at around 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. Passing through the building's main entrance, he encountered unarmed security guard Derrick Brun, who was manning the school's metal detector. Weise fatally shot Brun, and then proceeded down a hallway firing at students, killing five students and a teacher (Neva Rogers) and injuring seven others. Witnesses say he smiled and waved as he shot at people. In an incident reminiscent of events that took place during the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, one witness said that he asked one victim if he believed in God before he shot him. [1] Weise is said to have used two handguns and a shotgun to commit the shootings. One of these weapons is believed to have belonged to Lussier, a tribal police officer.
FBI special agent Paul McCabe stated that at some point, Weise had exchanged fire with Red Lake police in a corridor, before retreating to a classroom where he was believed to have shot himself.[2] A sheriff’s deputy’s email to his family members was leaked to several media outlets, revealing that Weise had been shot in the hip and leg as he exchanged fire with the Red Lake police before retreating into the classroom. [3]
The Chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Floyd Jourdain Jr. , stated that the shootings were “one of the darkest and most painful occurrences in the history of our tribe.” [4]
This was the deadliest school shooting in the United States since the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999, when twelve students and a teacher were lethally shot and 24 others were wounded.
Red Lake High School had installed metal detectors and had hired a security guard in 1995.
Louis Jourdain , the son of Tribal Chairman Floyd Jourdain Jr., was arrested in connection with the shootings on March 28, 2005 and charged with conspiracy. Law enforcement officials believe he helped plot out Weise’s actions. For instance, while events were unfolding, he identified the shooter as “Jeff” before actually seeing who it was. Other students may also be charged in the future. The FBI seized a number of personal computers in the Red Lake area and has been examining the online communications of students.
Victims
Killed
- Daryl Lussier, 58 – Weise's grandfather, killed at his residence
- Michelle Sigana, 32 – Daryl Lussier's partner
- Derrick Brun, 28 – security guard at Red Lake High School
- Neva Winnecoup-Rogers, 62 – teacher at Red Lake High School
- Thurlene Stillday, 15 – student
- Chase Lussier, 15 – student
- Chenelle Rosebear, 15 – student
- Alicia White, 14 – student
- Dewayne Lewis, 15 – student
Injured
- Steven Cobenais, 15 – shot in forehead, flown to Fargo, North Dakota for treatment
- Jeffrey May, 15 – tried to tackle and stab Weise with a pencil. Shot in neck, flown to Fargo, North Dakota for treatment
- Ryan Auginash, 14 – gunshot wound to chest
- Lance Crowe, 15 – gunshot wound to chest
- Cody Thunder, 15 – gunshot wound to hip
- and two others at Red Lake High School
Perpetrator
Related articles
External links
References
- “Ten killed in US school shooting.” BBC News, March 22, 2005.
- Karnowski, Steve. “Shooting suspect apparently posted messages on neo-Nazi site.” Duluth News Tribune, March 22, 2005.
- “Witnesses: Teen Smiled As He Gunned Down 7.” ABC News, March 22, 2005.
- ABC News: 10 Die in Minn. Student’s Shooting Rampage
- "Thoughts of a Dreamer". The perpetrator’s LiveJournal, January 27, 2005.
- (CCHR) RED LAKE MINNESOTA - Psychiatric Terror: Another school shooter on psychiatric drugs resulting in 29 dead and 62 wounded...
- Star Telegram: Shooter is described as “Goth kid” (subscription required)
- David Chanen, Terry Collins and Howie Padilla. Tribal leader's son charged with conspiracy. Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 29, 2005.
