Yellow Hat

There are two sources that make reference to someone in a yellow hat: Eric's writing and witness Sydney Keating's interview.

Eric Harris' "should have died first" list

Eric Harris made a list of people titled “Should have died first," which included:

• Scoop
• Pretty Boy (Dan Lab - the kid who punched Harris in the face)
• The Man in the Yellow Hat

Sydney Keating reported seeing a suspect in a yellow hat

Sydney Keating [11k, pp.5709-5725]

Sydney Keating was a campus supervisor at Columbine High School.

"She indicated that at about 11:25 a.m., she had seen three kids running down the hall wearing black trench coats. She stated she believed one of them was wearing a yellow hat, but did not know for sure. She described the first male as about 5'5" wearing a black coat and a yellow hat." (Source: 11k, p.9822)

Keating allegedly references the yellow hat in her 911 call

Referencing Sydney Keating, Jane, a CRTF poster, wrote: "she's heard whispering in the 911 tapes that a man with a yellow hat just passed the door."

This was posted Oct 14, 2002 on the original C.R.T.F. discussion forum hosted on the EZBoard Network (which changed to Yuku, then Tapatalk). Jane said the tape was played for her over the phone, but doesn't say by whom. It's speculated that Randy Brown played the tape for Jane.

Keating's interview from Ralph Gallegos' section [pp.9816-9842]

"I then spoke to Sydney Keating, who is a campus supervisor. She indicated that at about 11:25 a.m., she had seen three kids running down the hall wearing black trench coats. She stated she believed one of them was wearing a yellow hat, but did not know for sure. She described the first male as about 5'5" wearing a black coat and a yellow hat. She stated the second male was approximately 5'8", wearing a trench coat, and the third male she did not see very well. She indicated she did not see any of the faces of the individuals and did not know who they were, but believed they were all members of the "Trench Coat Mafia" gang.

She stated that Chris Morris, Brian Sargent, and Dylan Klebold are all individuals she knew to be associated with the "Trench Coat Mafia" gang. She stated that Christopher Morris wears a green beret daily and believed he was the leader of the "Trench Coat Mafia" gang. She stated that when she heard the shooting she got under her desk and called 9-1-1 from the administration office. She indicated that there were nine people in the English Office, adult and students. She stated she knew that there were four to six people in one of the Science Offices, but did not know for sure. When asked how she knew these individuals were there, she indicted that she had spoken to them on her handheld radio. She stated she did not know the conditions of the individuals in the classrooms or who they were. She could provide no additional information." (Source: 11k, p.9822)

Keating was interviewed four times

1. Interview #1 took place on 4-20-99
2. Interview #2 took place on 4-23-99
3. Interview #3 took place on 4-30-99
4. Interview #4 took place on 11-19-99

While it's expected that witnesses will forget details over time, Keating seems to have "forgotten" everything she saw that day in her fourth interview.

Interview #1 on 4-20-99

..."I turned around and grabbed a sect. named Susan White, shoved her in Dean's office, slammed the door and dialed 911 - as I was on the phone 3 people walked by, the first person had on a yellow hat and a black coat. the two people behind him had on all black too." (11k, p.5710)

Interview #2 on 4-23-99

This interview with Keating was not made public.

Interview #3 on 4-30-99

"She was able to get through to Dispatch and advised them of the shooting. Keating was then looking through the office door window and saw three males, all together, run by. Keating described the males as:

Number one:

W/M, approximately 17 years old, approximately 5'5", wearing a black coat. No hat no mask unknown hair color.

Number two:

W/M approximately 5'5", teenager, wearing neon yellow baseball cap and a black coat.

Number three:

Shorter than number 1 and number 2. Looked "real young."

(11k, p.5712-5713)

Interview #4 on 11-19-99

Keating recants seeing any suspects

"IO told Sydney Keating when comparing the statement she provided to Special Agent Price to other witness statements as well as physical evidence collected from the scene, there were several conflicts. Sydney Keating then told IO the initial interview she provided to the "F.B.I." was somewhat "confusing." Sydney Keating told IO it was possible there had been some "misunderstandings" in respect to the information she initially supplied. When asked to elaborate, Sydney Keating stated it was possible she became confused with what she "thought happened" and what she had actually seen. IO subsequently told Sydney Keating the best way to resolve those issues would be to have her recall her activities and observations on the date in question." (11k, p.5716)

After describing hearing the bar latch mechanism popping on the East entrance to the school, after hearing the glass break at those double doors, she recants seeing any shooters and denies ever being in a position that made it possible to look out the window into the hall.

"Sydney Keating stated it is at this point she believed she had previously become somewhat confused during her previous interview with the F.B.I. Sydney Keating stated she initially indicated a gunman had entered the school from that location but now realizes that was not the case. Sydney Keating stated at the time she began to hear the gunshots (previously referred to as popping noises) along with the glass breaking and the bar jam noise (all located near the East entrance to the school) she concluded the gunman must have entered from that location. Sydney Keating added, "I just think it's a gunman." IO confirmed with Sydney Keating at no time did she ever see anyone entering the school nor did she see anyone at that location in possession of anything resembling a firearm. Sydney Keating stated she now realizes (based on what she recalls of the incident) no one, specifically a gunman had entered the school via the East entrance." (11k, p.5720)

"IO did confirm with Sydney Keating Peter Horvath's door had a window which allowed viewing both in and out of the office. Sydney Keating then told IO at no time while she was in Peter Horvath's office was she in a position to look out of the window." (11k, p.5721)

Keating's 911 call transcript

Credit: Transcript created by Catnip20 from CRTF

CD 1 Tape 1

27:47 K- We have a shooting at Columbine high school

D- We got the call in, we've got units coming to the school now, Do you know where the suspect is?

K- He's in the..He's in the ..He's in the building by custodial.

D- Where is that? Where is custodial?

K- He's shooting everywhere, he's out..he's out in the commons shooting (background noise) Ok we got, weve got the police here.

D- Ok Im gonna keep you on the phone

K- Ok Im gonna lay on the floor under my desk and you can listen to my radio.

D- Ok I want you to be as quiet as possible are there students with you?

K- we pulled the fire alarm and all the students are outside the building the guy 28:45 is running around shooting like crazy. big gun

D- Do we know who that is?

K- No we do not

D- Does he belong to the school? Do we know this?

28:49 K- No we do not know, no affirmative on that.

D- ok..ok

K-(on her radio) Does anybody know who the shooter is? Ive got the police on the line, ok theyre sending more units Peter.

29:00 D- Ok ma'am, Do you have students with you?

K- No, I do not. (on radio) Do you know who the shooter is? (background noise) Im on the line with the sheriff if anybody gets a line on it let me know so she can put it over the radio.

D- Ma'am are you the only one in that room?

29:26 K- No I have another lady with me.

D- Ok is that door locked?

K- Yes the door is locked

D- I want you two to stay low stay low to the ground.

K- We are were behind a metal file cabinet

29:36 D- Ok I want you to lay on the ground and if you hear anything I want you to leave the phone open and whisper to me, ok we don't know how he got in? or who he is?

K- No we have no idea, we just heard that there was a shooting downstairs, the next thing we knew the shooting was up in the front of the building.

D- We've got numerous injuries to my understanding

29:59 K- Numerous injuries, he just shot everybody

D- Ok alright, just stay with me ok?

K- Ok were ok

D- I want you to stay low

K- (background) I know Miss White, I want you to calm down. She's got a daughter here.

30:19 D- Ok tell her to breathe, keep her calm we've got units coming, there out there ok? (Keating repeats to White)

D- Hold on Ok?

30:25 D- Ma'am?

K- They've got the shooter, he's...

D- They've got the shooter?

K- They've got the shooter cornered on the football field hes...

D- (Repeats)

30:36 K- on the football field behind the shed in the back half of the school

D- so he's at the back half of the school?

30:55 K- (Repeats)

D- (Relays to someone named Kathy there)

D- Is that?....My deputies have him cornered?

K- Hold on just a minute, (on radio) Do we have the shooter cornered you guys? Peter this is Syd wheres the shooter? (background noise) Now they said he's gone to the library, he's in the building.

D- (Relays) He's gone in to the library he's in the building Kat.

31:33 K- (Repeats) (to Mrs White)- get over here get under here he cant see (inaudible)

D- Ok stay with me now you are doing great. Is he in there?

K- No he cant (inaudible)

D- Stay low (Relay) he's shooting in the library right now, he's firing shots from the library.

K- (Inaudible) ...our way do we need to leave?

32:00 D- Ok, hold on...I want you to stay low, ok? and be very quiet. ok, stay low because if you try to leave I don't want you to get shot ok? stay very low and quiet.

K- (whispering) (inaudible)

32:15 D- (whispering) stay low and quiet

K- (Background inaudible) whispering- we are in the other end of the building should we leave?

D- No, can you hear him?

32:43 K- No we cant hear him, he's in the library at the other end of the building.

D- Ok where are you at from the library?

K- We are clear at the other end of the school.

D- ok- (inaudible) No I don't want you to put yourself in any danger I want you to lay low. (inaudible) Is there any other way out of the room?

K- Out of the Library? Nope

33:18 (Background noise)

D- Are you doin ok? Im gonna put you on hold, cause I have to grab this other emergency line ok? I'll be right back with you ok? (cut)

33:25 D. Are you still there? Are you laying on the ground

K- No

D- Ok I want you to lay on the ground and I want you to stay as quiet as you can.

K- (inaudible)

D- He doesn't know your in there right?...ok

D- ( Loud background noise) Can you hear anything?......Ma'am?

34:03 K- (Whispers) Ive got somebody walking by

D- He's walking by?

K- (Whispers loudly) Ive got SOMEBODY walking by

34:07 D- (Whispering) Ok Ok stay very quiet, Ok Ok stay (background dispatch noise)

D- What is your name ma'am?

K- ( Almost inaudible whisper) Sid Keating and Im with Susan White

D- Susan White and who else?

34:29 K- (whispering) Sid Keating

(Background noise)

D- (Whispering) stay very very quiet, ........can you hear anything?

35:04 D- Can you hear anymore shots fired? (Background) what is that? In the food preparation area? Ma'am, are you close to the food preparation area? Both you and Mrs. White be very very quiet the shooters are over in that area, I want you to know that ok?

Catnip20's notes: The tape continues on to tell them the shooters are in the kitchen area much of Keating is inaudible due to background noise and whispering. Parts of Keating's conversation with dispatch is in sections on different tapes scattered through the tapes, there are 21+ tapes anywhere from 50 to 90 something minutes each. I will try to find the description of who walked by.

Additional Notes

Keating was shown a portion of the Basement Tapes

What's interesting about Keating's interview is that they had her watch a portion of the basement tapes that were filmed at Harris' house the day of the shooting. (11k, p.5715)