Red Lake Nation Chairman Floyd Jourdain Jr. has given another interview in defense of his son, the only person charged in connection with the March 21, 2005, shootings on the reservation.

Jourdain told The Minneapolis Star Tribune that Louis, now 17, is innocent. He said that Louis tried to stop his cousin, 16-year-old Jeff Weise, from carrying out the shootings that left nine people dead. Jeff also killed himself.

Jourdain said his son is being used as a scapegoat. "Yes, I believe that. Absolutely," Jourdain told the paper. "He was unfairly targeted. These are very serious charges against my son."

Jourdain gave an interview to another Minnesota paper and made similar comments. He also said the case against his son is built on electronic exchanges between Louis and Jeff.

Meanwhile, a friend of Louis has started a "Free Louie" campaign, including t-shirts, in defense of Jourdain's son. James King, 16, who has known Louis since age 6, says his friend is innocent, has lost 15 pounds due to a new exercise regimen in jail and has been reading more, including the works of Spokane/Coeur d'Alene author Sherman Alexie.

Get the Story:
Red Lake chairman insists son is innocent (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 10/13)
pwlat

Relevant Links:
Red Lake Net News - http://www.rlnn.com
Red Lake Nation - http://www.redlakenation.org
Red Lake High School - http://www.paulbunyan.net/rlschools/hs.htm

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