Rooftop Gunman

Witnesses who saw a shooter on the roof

East side of the school

Candice Cushman [pp.2793-2797]

“I was walking back from the lunch line + everyone yelled get down. I hesitated + Mr. Sanders said ‘Candice get down.’ Everyone started to get out + I got stuck in the back. One guy got shot + I ran through the auditorium + caught up with the people I had been with. When we got outside I saw someone on the roof with what I thought was a black trenchcoat. He was aiming a gun, so Erica Nick + I ran toward the smoker’s pit.” (11k, p.2794)

Jason Cornelius [pp.6279-6282]

“Jason stated that they returned to school about 11:15AM and found a large group of students gathered in Leawood Park across the street from the school, and police cars arriving at the school. Jason said that he parked his car on West Fair Avenue, and they began talking to students in the park and learned that there had been a shooting in the school. Jason stated that while he was standing in the park he heard shots and thought someone was shooting at the people in the park. Jason said it sounded like the shots were coming from the area of math rooms on the main level. Jason continued to say that he thought he observed a person on the school roof but did not know if this was a shooter. Jason did not see who was doing the shooting. Jason stated that after they heard the shots he and his friends got into this car and left the area, going to his house.” (11k, p.6281)

Jeff Barrett [pp.2431-2435]

“He and the other students ran from the auditorium to the hallway in the lower level and out the southeast door. They ran up the hill and across Pierce to Leawood Park. They could hear gunfire and explosions. After about fifteen minutes, someone yelled that someone was on the roof shooting. Jeff stated he then ran through the neighborhood. Jeff stated he never saw the shooter.” (11k, p.2433)

Jessica Lucero [pp.1506-1508]

“Jessica stated she ran east down the math/science hallway and exited the school and went to Leawood Park. Jessica was asked if she saw any gunmen while in Columbine High School or if she saw any gunmen after she had exited. She stated as she was running out the east doors of the high school that she believes she saw an individual dressed in black holding a gun up on the roof of the school. I asked if she could provide a description of the individual. She stated she couldn’t. I asked if she could provide a description of the gun this person was carrying. She said it wasn’t a pistol, it appeared to be some long gun. Jessica was asked if she was sure about this information. She told me that she believes she saw someone, but she couldn’t provide any additional information about the person.” (11k, p.1508)

Lindsay Conwell [pp.2760-2767]

“Lindsay went straight east down the hallway by the math area. It leads out to Pierce Street. … She ran out the doors. So many people were trying to get out the doors. She hit a set of steps and tripped. When she looked back, there was someone on the roof. It was just a glance. She couldn’t tell what the person was wearing or holding, or what the person looked like. She kept running after that.” (11k, pp.2762-63)

Shelby Myers [pp.3861-3865]

“We then ran to the main entrance and out. As we ran towards the front entrance we could hear gunshots behind us and they sounded very close. We got in a car and were driven to Clement Park and then home. We heard explosions and shooting outside. Some of the noises sounded like they were coming from the roof.” (11k, p.3862)

Tony Martinez [pp.7532-7539]

“Tony said that he then quickly retreated to a position behind the ‘Leawood Park’ sign which is located on the grass, southeast of the intersection. … Tony said that while he was standing behind the sign and communicating with the Denver officer, he remembered seeing ‘a really strange, goofy guy’ crawling on the grass nearby, in the park. Tony said that this individual, whom he described as a white adult male, said, ‘There’s a sniper on the roof,’ after which he began crawling around on his stomach ‘like he was in a war movie.’ … Tony said that he remembered hearing a single gunshot at about that time, which sounded as though it had originated from outside the school. Tony said that he looked toward the school, but never saw anyone on the roof at any time. Tony said that this individual then ‘crawled away into the park’ and that he didn’t see him again after that.” (11k, pp.7535-36)