A private meeting between the families of the victims of the March 21, 2005, shootings on the Red Lake Reservation and U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger stirred up strong emotions among attendees, according to news reports.
Family members said they were told that as many as 39 people of the attacks planned by Jeff Weise, the 16-year-old shooter who turned the gun on himself after killing nine people.
They were also told that Weise carried out the shootings in a manner similar to the 1999 Columbine school shooting in Colorado.
"It's horrid. I just got a headache," Barbara Brun, whose son, Derrick, died in the shooting, was quoted as saying. "I wasn't this angry before I came. I haven't been this angry since March 21st."
The families have been angered by what they say is lack of information about the incident. They protested when they were excluded from the court case involving Louis Jourdain, the only person charged in connection with the shootings. Jourdain, 17, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to juvenile rehabilitation for non-violent crimes.
Some of the families are planning to sue the public school district on the reservation. The Red Lake High School, where the shootings took place, is not part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs system.
Get the Story:Hurt remains as Red Lake case closes (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 1/31)
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At least 39 knew of shooter's plan to attack Red Lake school (The St. Paul Pioneer Press 1/31)
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Meeting provides details to families (The Fargo Forum 1/31)
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Kin of Shooting Victims, Prosecutor Meet (AP 1/31)
pwpwd 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 Related Stories:
Louis Jourdain sentenced to juvenile rehabilitation (01/17)
Judge won't allow access to Jourdain sentencing (12/19)
Judge to decide on access to Jourdain sentencing (12/02)
Red Lake shootings case not over despite plea (12/01)
Louis Jourdain pleads guilty to one charge (11/30)
Mother: Red Lake shooter 'must have went crazy' (11/28)
Editorial: Some access needed for Red Lake trial (11/15)
Judge keeps Red Lake shootings trial closed (11/14)
Red Lake shootings trial delayed until December (11/7)
Red Lake school receives threat of shooting (11/4)
News organizations seek to open Jourdain trial (11/2)
Louis Jourdain's trial to start November 14 (10/27)
Red Lake Nation gets new public safety director (10/20)
Red Lake chair again defends son from charges (10/13)
Red Lake chairman defends son in shootings case (10/12)
Run to publicize national Native Youth Crisis Hotline (10/12)
Red Lake shooting prompts elders' talking circle (09/27)
Second notice filed by victims of Red Lake shooting (9/19)
Red Lake families file notice of lawsuit against school (9/15)
Red Lake school expects lawsuits over shootings (9/9)
Red Lake school sees strong turnout on first day (9/7)
Red Lake teachers, staff wary of return to school (9/6)
Red Lake football team heads back to the field (9/6)
Students make return to Red Lake high school (9/2)
School districts accept students from Red Lake (9/1)
Some in Red Lake worried about teen's closed trial (8/31)
IHS Director Grim makes visit to Red Lake Reservation (8/31)
Red Lake teen to be tried as juvenile for shootings (8/30)
Carmona postpones Red Lake visit, Grim makes trip (8/30)
Red Lake Nation says BIA not stepping up to plate (8/29)
Red Lake council fires top law enforcement official (8/29)
Red Lake students urged to return to high school (8/26)
Red Lake workers go to China for employment (8/25)
Heffelfinger praises actions in Red Lake shooting (8/24)
One more armed officer sought for Red Lake schools (8/18)
Red Lake chair assesses coverage of tragedy (8/15)
Red Lake superintendent faces no-confidence vote (8/9)
Teens on Red Lake Reservation meet for REZiliency (8/8)
Life on Red Lake Reservation frustrating for youth (8/8)
Suicide called epidemic on Red Lake Reservation (8/8)
Red Lake youth hold first REZiliency festival (8/4)
Red Lake school to add two armed security guards (8/3)
Red Lake survivor looking forward to school (7/29)
Red Lake youth to hold REZiliency festival (7/28)
Red Lake youth form council to address issues (7/27)
Red Lake High School set to reopen in the fall (7/25)
Red Lake chairman called to stand in shootings case (7/22)
Closed hearing into Red Lake shootings continues (7/20)
Jourdain maintains son's innocence in shootings (7/19)
Red Lake teen charged with conspiracy to murder (7/18)
Red Lake teens get a week at summer camp (7/18)
Federal funds have yet to reach Red Lake Nation (7/13)
Jodi Rave: Tragedy on the Red Lake Reservation (7/11)
Red Lake schools don't have security plan yet (6/15)
Red Lake shooting survivor leaves hospital (6/9)
Red Lake survivor and mother slowly recovering (6/8)
Prosecutors drop request for DNA in Red Lake case (6/6)
Judge unseals document in Red Lake criminal case (6/2)
Red Lake High graduates largest class ever (5/30)
Red Lake Nation joins in opening of family center (05/26)
Red Lake Nation guests of honor at Twins game (05/20)
Mother of Red Lake survivor suffers stroke (05/11)
Students in Oregon send blanket to Red Lake (5/10)
FBI field office in charge of Red Lake investigation (5/2)
'Nobody' wanted to help Jeff Weise, says relative (4/29)
Red Lake kids head to Gathering of Nations (4/29)
First Lady Bush addresses tragedy at Red Lake (4/27)
Red Lake students to hold prom off the reservation (4/27)
Lawyers fight request for DNA from Red Lake teens (4/26)
Memorial held for victims of Red Lake tragedy (4/25)
Red Lake chairman seeks federal aid for tribe (4/21)
Opinion: Natives not upset with Bush on Red Lake (4/19)
Federal grand jury investigates Red Lake shootings (4/14)
Jodi Rave: 'No Media' sign at Red Lake not for me (4/14)
Red Lake returns to school where shootings occurred (4/12)
Opinion: Maybe Red Lake doesn't need free press (4/11)
Column: Red Lake people are just like you and me (4/11)
Red Lake reopening delayed admit new search (4/8)
Red Lake Nation schools will reopen next week (4/7)
Tragedy at Red Lake: Another arrest reported (4/5)
New York Times: Indian children being left behind (4/5)
Teacher: Native youth in losing battle against many ills (4/5)
More students investigated over Red Lake shootings (4/4)
Yellow Bird: Messages of life during time of sorrow (4/4)
Professor: Not the first tragedy in Indian education (4/4)
Column: Red Lake a place of triumph not just tragedy (4/4)
Opinion: A year from now, let us say we did something (4/4)
Opinion: Some serious advice to the media 'jackals' (4/4)
Tragedy at Red Lake: Protest and preparations (4/1)
Tragedy at Red Lake: Shootings at school detailed (3/31)
Paper apologizes for Red Lake shootings cartoon (3/31)
Column: Red Lake people look out for each other (3/31)
Opinion: Mascot gets more press than Red Lake (3/31)
Editorial: Red Lake Nation needs a free press (3/31)
Red Lake chairman defends son as information surfaces (3/30)
Yellow Bird: Media interested in getting the true story (3/30)
Column: Tragedy turns political with arrest of son (3/30)
Opinion: Indians should stop segregating themselves (3/30)
Chairman's son charged in connection with shootings (3/29)
Column: Teacher died a hero protecting students (3/29)
Editorial: Red Lake doesn't seem to want help (3/29)
Bad Eagle: Indian leaders today are pitiful (3/29)
Bush responds to shootings at Red Lake Reservation (3/29)
Red Lake begins to say goodbye to shooting victims (3/28)
Editorial: 'Massacre' at Red Lake Reservation (3/28)
Yellow Bird: Red Lake people are gentle warriors (3/28)
Ojibwe Reporter: Red Lake familiar yet different (3/28)
Opinion: Indian people suffer from disconnect (3/28)
Editorial: Tribe's response to shootings a model (3/28)
Native students talk about tragedy at Red Lake (3/28)
Reader Rep: Tribe's harsh policy against media (3/28)
Column: Lawmakers pray, but won't pay, for Red Lake (3/28)
Opinion: 'Warning signs' apply to every other child (3/28)
Column: Sadness fills services at Indian church (3/28)
Column: Covering Red Lake tragedy a difficult task (3/28)
Surviving victims talk about Red Lake tragedy (3/25)
Opinion: A dark day in the history of all tribes (3/25)
Column: Red Lake members in Twin Cities head home (3/25)
Opinion: Everyone to blame for Red Lake tragedy (3/25)
Deadly tragedy puts focus on Native youth problems (3/24)
Response continues to tragedy at Red Lake Reservation (3/24)
Yellow Bird: Red Lake community in deep pain (3/24)
Ojibwe Leader: Answers needed to help youth (3/24)
Opinion: Violence not uncommon at Red Lake (3/24)
Column: Has media underplayed Red Lake? (3/24)
Opinion: Media circus won't get to heart of matter (3/24)
Letters: Star Trib readers respond to tragedy (3/24)
Indian Country sends support to community in shock (3/23)
Details emerge on tragedy at Red Lake Reservation (3/23)
Tribal Member: My reservation will never be the same (3/23)
Opinion: Above all, this is a tribal nation tragedy (3/23)
Editorial: Tragedy at Red Lake unites all in grief (3/23)
Editorial: Solidarity with the people of Red Lake (3/23)
Column: Sacred pipe ceremony begins the healing (3/23)
Column: Media gets crash course in sovereignty (3/23)
Shooting at Red Lake Reservation leaves 10 dead (3/22)