The Hindu : International : Worst shooting since Columbine massacre

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Wednesday, Mar 23, 2005

International

International

Worst shooting since Columbine massacre

DRAWING STRENGTH: Students weep following the shooting rampage at their school in Red Lake, Minnesota, on Monday. — AP

REDBY (MINNESOTA), MARCH 22. A heavily-armed teenager killed his grandparents and later smiled and waved during a rampage at a high school as he gunned down seven more persons, brushing off pleas to stop and asking one of his victims whether he believed in God.

A student at Red Lake High School said he was watching a movie about Shakespeare in class on Monday when he heard the teenager blast his way past the metal detector at the school's entrance, killing a guard.

Then, in a nearby classroom, he heard the gunman say something to his friend Ryan: ``He asked Ryan if he believed in God,'' Graves said. ``And then he shot him.''

Grandparents killed

The rampage at Red Lake Indian Reservation in far-northern Minnesota was the nation's worst school shooting since the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 that left 13 persons dead.

When the rampage was over, 10 persons were dead, including the boy's grandparents; a school security guard; a teacher; and five other students. At least 14 others were wounded, officials said.

Police said the teenager killed himself after exchanging fire with officers.

``We ask Minnesotans to help comfort the families and friends of the victims who are suffering unimaginable pain by extending prayers and expressions of support,'' the Governor Tim Pawlenty said.

Officials did not identify the shooter, but several students said he was Jeff Weise, a teenager who may or may not have been a student at the school. Accounts of Weise's age varied from 15 to 17.

During the rampage, teachers herded students from one room to another, trying to move away from the sound of the shooting.

Some pleaded with the shooter to stop. ``You could hear a girl saying, `No, Jeff, quit, quit. Leave me alone. What are you doing?''' said a student.

Another student said she heard shots, then saw the gunman's face peering though a door window of a classroom where she was hiding with several other students. After banging at the door, the shooter walked away and she heard more shots. ``I can't even count how many gunshots you heard, there were people screaming, and they made us get behind the desk,'' she said.

Attacker dead

The FBI spokesman, Paul McCabe, said the gunman exchanged fire with police in a hallway, then retreated to a classroom, where he was believed to have shot himself.

All of the dead students were found in one room, including the teenager believed to be the shooter. Red Lake Fire Director Roman Stately said the gunman had two handguns and a shotgun. - AP

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