Chris Morris

On April 20, 1999, Christopher Richard Morris, good friend of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, was identified as a suspect in the Columbine shooting by multiple witnesses. Morris was arrested at Cory Friesen's house and was brought to Clement Park for questioning, then he was brought to the Sheriff's office later that evening, and was eventually released with no charges filed.

Morris can be seen in news footage, in handcuffs, being escorted into a red van wearing a black South Park t-shirt.

Although it's been speculated that Morris was never arrested and was merely detained, page 10810 of his interview shows that he was arrested. The "Custody Classification" is marked "Arrest" and not "detention or "Welfare Placement."

Morris was cooperative with law enforcement and gave them permission to search his bedroom, take his computer, and take his clothing. Nothing of evidentiary value was observed. (11k, p.10809) Although, it should be noted that police didn't collect his clothing or computer directly.

Chris' brother, presumably Marc Morris, took it upon himself to place Chris' clothing in a paper sack and handed it over to police assuring them everything Chris wore that day was in the sack. (11k, p.10808) We don't have access to any records indicating what was in the sack. Also, Chris' mother disconnected his computer and placed it in front of the door before the police arrived. (11k, p.10808) Do police normally allow a suspect's family to collect and hand them evidence after they consent to a search?

On April 24, 1999, Morris called Philip Duran on behalf of law enforcement to see if he could get him to admit to selling a gun to Harris and Klebold. Duran didn't confess during the call, but did confess later. A transcript can be found in Morris' interview on page 10813 of the 11k report.

Interviews with Chris Morris

List of documents where Morris is interviewed:

11k, pp.9822-9823 (Ralph Gallegos' section [pp.9816-9842])

Details about Chris Morris

Life details

Born: June 9, 1981
Brother: Marc Allen Morris
Father: Gary Morris; a medical doctor since 1985.
Mother: Darlene French; worked for the Cherry Hills Police Department. (11k, p.10804)
Drove a 1985 red Dodge Lancer (11k, p.10802)

Legal details

Attorney: John Richilano of Richilano and Ridley PC.

Work details

Worked at Blackjack Pizza beginning in October 1996. (11k, p.10835)

School and Trench Coat Mafia details

Met Harris and Klebold junior year. (10834)
Claims to have started the Trench Coat Mafia (TCM) with Joseph Stair and Tad Boles. (11k, p.10834)
Says he began wearing a trench coat his sophomore year. (11k, p.10834)
Claims he stopped wearing his trench coat the school year prior to the shootings (97-98). (11k, p.10804, 10840)
In a 2002 interview, he claims he stopped wearing his trench coat at the beginning of his senior year (98-99). (El Paso, Case Core p.410)
Went to prom with his girlfriend, Nichole Markham and went to after prom with Markham and Harris. (11k, p.10836)

Personal details

His AOL name was "Grunt257" and shared an AOL account with Chuck Philips. (11k, p.10807)
Routinely wore a dark green beret that looked black, chains, a black trench coat, combat boots, and sunglasses. He also carried a gold butterfly knife. (11k, p.1091, 5052, 10188)
He was known to pull knives on people in fights and threaten people with chains. (11k, p.763, 1090)

Chris Morris on 4/20/99

Chris Morris' general story

Eric Harris was supposed to pick him up at 5:50 a.m. for bowling class, but never showed up and didn't call. (11k, p.10802)
At 6:00 a.m., he gave up waiting for Harris and drove himself to the bowling alley. (11k, p.10802)
The bowling lanes open at 6:30 a.m. and he likes to get there early to choose a good ball. (11k, p.10802)
He never saw Harris and Klebold at the bowling alley. (11k, p.10802)
He said his teammates were Nate LNU (Dykeman), Eddie Day, Terry Sabe (Carrie Sabey?), and Mike Paavilanian. (11k, p.10803)
Nate Dykeman asked Morris where Harris and Klebold were and he said he didn't know.
He and his team began bowling at 6:30 a.m. (11k, p.10837)
Morris told different stories about how he got from bowling to the school. See: Testimony Discrepancies on this page
Had no first period class. (11k, p.10840)
Skipped fourth hour acting class the day of the shooting. Told police (10837) and also Phil Duran he had been skipping that class for two weeks (11k, p.10824-5), but told a news crew in a video interview that he had been skipping that class for a month.
After attending third period, at 10:15 a.m., (11k, p.10806) he drove to Cub Foods, bought a Mountain Dew and other items, and then drove to his friend Cory Friesen's house, arriving about 10:35 a.m. (11k, p.10803, 10807)
Morris claims he and Cory played Nintendo for about 30 minutes to an hour, at which time, Cory's mother called and told him there had been a shooting at Columbine High School. (11k, p.10803)
He and Cory tried to drive to the school and were blocked, so they went to IHOP to try to connect with friends. They didn't find anyone, so they drove back to Cory's house. Morris called his girlfriend, Nichole Markham, and she said she was at IHOP, so they drove back there. His girlfriend had already left, so they went to her house and found here there. She told them one of the shooters was "Dylan." They went back to Cory's house. (11k, p.10803)

Chris Morris reaches JCSO Dispatch

According to law enforcement, Morris' mother connected him to JCSO Dispatch. The officer he made contact with was Acierno. Morris told this officer the following: (11k, p.9732)

He created the Trench Coat Mafia group, but not the name.
He was getting picked on his freshman and sophomore year, so he started wearing a trench coat and dark clothes to project an ominous appearance.
Last year, there were over 100 students who wore trench coats at school.
During the year, he exercised and "became buffed" and stopped wearing his trench coat before the 98-99 school year.
During the 98-99 school year, Harris and Klebold were the only two people who still wore a trench coat.

What Morris told the 911 dispatcher

A portion of Chris Morris' 911 call contains crosstalk at a critical moment in the conversation. A researcher enhanced this audio and was able to make out most of what he said. The following is a transcript of what can be heard on this portion of Morris' 911 call.

Chris, prior to the crosstalk: "I hang out with them and I've never heard about this."

Also Chris, prior to the crosstalk: "I heard them talk about it once before. I thought they were my friends."

Dispatcher: "Did they tell you what they were gonna do?"

Chris: "No... (unintelligible) (says a word that ends with an "S" sound) they're gonna blow up the school and that was two weeks ago, and I, I didn't think anything of it, I thought they were kiddin' around."

Morris mentions the shooters having an AK-47. This might be because Phil Duran had told Morris they were all shooting an AK-47 at Rampart Range. Morris may have assumed this was the gun they bought from Duran. (11k, p.10806) However, Morris also states he overheard two Blackjack employees - James and Billy LNU - talking about Harris and Klebold having purchased "an AK-47 or a TEC" from Duran. (11k, p.10839)

Chris Morris distanced himself from Harris and Klebold

After the attack, Morris claimed he wasn't close with Harris and Klebold, didn't hang out with them much, and didn't know anything about their personal lives. He told investigators in 2002 that he only considered them acquaintances, not friends. However, multiple witnesses claim otherwise.

Sue and Tom Klebold, Dylan Klebold's parents, said Morris was one of Dylan's best friends. (11k, p.10,522)
Robyn Anderson said Morris was one of Dylan's best friends. (11k, p.10,624)
Robyn Anderson said Morris went bowling with her, Harris, and Klebold on Friday nights. (11k, p.10,623)
Michelle Hartsough said Harris, Klebold, and Morris played paintball. (11k, p.10,150)

Testimony discrepancies

Where did Morris meet up with his girlfriend?

Morris told three different stories about how and where he met up with his girlfriend, Nicole Markham, when he heard about the shooting.

Story #1: He and Cory tried to drive to the school and were blocked, so they went to IHOP to try to connect with friends. They didn't find anyone, so they drove back to Cory's house. Morris called his girlfriend, Nichole Markham, and she said she was at IHOP, so they drove back there. His girlfriend had already left, so they went to her house and found here there. She told them one of the shooters was "Dylan." They went back to Cory's house. (11k, p.10803)

List of actions taken in story #1:

Morris & Friesen drive to Columbine, can't get through
They drive to IHOP, find nobody
They drive back to Friesen's house
Morris calls his girlfriend (Markham); she says she's at IHOP
They drive back to IHOP, girlfriend is gone
They drive to girlfriend's house - she's there
Morris & Friesen drive back to Friesen's house

What's missing from story #1:

The account of meeting up with Markham at Arby's (story #2)
The account of Morris and Friesen figuring out the shooters are Harris & Klebold on their own (story #2)
The account that Chuck Phillips was at Friesen's house with Morris & Friesen (story #3)

Story #2: He and Cory tried to drive to the school and were blocked, so they went back to Cory's house to watch the news some more and call his girlfriend. Then, Morris met up with his girlfriend at the Arby's store. Then they all drove back to Cory's house and continued watching the news. He realized the shooters were Harris and Klebold and immediately called 9-1-1. (11k, p.9823)

List of actions taken in story #2:

Morris & Friesen drive to Columbine, can't get through
They drive back to Friesen's house
Morris calls his girlfriend (Markham)
Morris and Friesen meet up with Markham at Arby's
Morris, Friesen, and girlfriend drive back to Friesen's house

What's missing from story #2:

The account of driving to IHOP twice (story #1)
The account of Markham stating she's at IHOP (story #2)
The account of driving to Markham's house and meeting her there (story #1)
The account of Markham telling Morris Dylan is one of the shooters (story #1)
The account that only Morris & Friesen drive back to Friesen's house (story #1)
The account that Chuck Phillips was at Friesen's house with Morris & Friesen (story #3)

Story #3: According to a summary of Morris' interview with Acierno, when Morris and Friesen drove back to Friesen's house for the final time, Morris, Friesen, and Chuck Phillips watched the story unfold on television. (11k, p.9732)

How did Morris end up in police custody?

Morris told a story that contradicts how law enforcement say they took him into custody.

Story #1: According to law enforcement, at 2:08 p.m., after being connected to a deputy by his mother, Morris made contact with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and was picked up at Cory Friesen's house by deputies from the Sheriff's Office and was interviewed. (11k, p.10797)

The investigator Morris spoke to (Acierno) told him to stay at Friesen's house and police would come talk with him. Morris told investigators the police arrived and told him to remove all of his property from his pockets. He did as he was asked, was placed in handcuffs, and was brought to Clement Park where he was put into a red van for questioning. After that, he was brought to the Sheriff's Office. (11k, p.10805; El Paso, Case Core p.410)

Story #2: Morris told another investigator he tried to contact the Jefferson County Police Department multiple times and was unsuccessful, so he decided to go to Clement Park on his own to tell them what he knew. When he arrived at Clement Park, he was detained by JCSO and later debriefed by T Acierno and Robert (Bob) Vette in the presence of his father, Gary, and his attorney, John Richilano. This was when he signed a consent to search form for his bedroom and residence. (11k, p.10838, 10840, 10841, 9733)

Which is it? Did Morris drive to Clement Park and was detained? Or did police pick him up at Cory Friesen's house and arrest him somewhere along the way?

Did he make contact with police successfully, or not? Considering we have his 911 call and testimony from the two male officers who interviewed him in person (Acierno and Vette), one male officer who spoke with Morris on the phone (Acierno), and 911 call with a female dispatcher, it's clear his story about not being able to reach police - and heading down to Clement Park of his own accord - is bogus.

Kids in trench coats and camos were at Friesen's house

Another interesting side note is that when officers arrived at Friesen's house and arrested Morris, they noted Morris was with two other males, who were dressed in black coats and camos. The only two people Morris mentions being at the house were Cory Friesen and Chuck Phillips.

From Annette Walker's section [pp.10037-10041]

"At about 1400 hrs, Sgt. Dunnebeck requested that deputy Baughman and I respond to 5702 S. Estes Way, to contact (W) Morris, Chris who is the founder of the "Trench Coat Mafia." We arrived at about 1408 hrs, and (W) Morris standing on his front porch with two other males, all dressed in black coats and camos, with numerous patches of unknown symbols and words on them. (W) Morris was cooperative with us and advised that he wanted to help in any way he could. (Source: 11k, p.10038)

How did Morris get in touch with law enforcement?

Story #1: According to one summary of Morris' interview with Acierno, the JCSO Dispatch officer who spoke with Morris on the phone after being transferred by his mother, Morris told him he was at his friend's house (Cory Friesen) when he saw reports of the shooting on television and immediately called JCSO with information about Klebold and Harris. (11k, p.9732)

Story #2: According to another summary of Morris' interview with Acierno - the same interview mentioned in the previous paragraph, just a different summary - Morris was at Friesen's home when Friesen received a call from his mother telling him there had been a shooting at Columbine High School. He and Friesen tried to drive to the school, couldn't get through, drove to IHOP to look for friends, then drove back to Friesen's house, then went back to IHOP to locate Morris' girlfriend, she wasn't there, so they drove to her house, where she told Morris "Dylan" was one of the shooters. Morris and Friesen then drove back to Friesen's house where he, Friesen, and Chuck Philips watched the story unfold on television and finally realized Harris and Klebold were the perpetrators.

THEN Morris tried to call 911 and was disconnected, so he called his mother, who had him speak to a Cherry Hills Police Detective, who would pass on his information to the JCSO. He tried calling the JCSO again and was connected to Acierno (this is not the 911 call).

Where did Morris go after bowling?

Morris told three different stories regarding his whereabouts after bowling class. Note that bowling ends around 7:20 a.m.

Version #1: After bowling, he drove directly to Clement Park just before 8 a.m., and his car overheated. (11k, p.10803)

Version #2: After bowling, he went to McDonald's and then ate his breakfast at the smoker's pit. Then, he drove to Clement park and his car overheated. After it cooled down, he drove closer to the school so he didn't have to walk so far. (11k, p.10803, 10837)

Version #3: He went to McDonald's, drove to Clement Park, spoke with an unknown person next to him, then gave this person a ride to the Columbine parking lot. (11k, p.10837)

Was Morris at bowling? Did he bowl?

Morris was marked absent during bowling class the morning of 4-20-99.
The bowling teacher, Kristine McCauley, said she doesn't remember Chris being in bowling. She seems to have a good memory, considering she remembers seeing Harris and Klebold in the parking lot, which is corroborated by other people. Also, note that the teacher didn't tell the detective Morris was absent simply because he was marked absent on the attendance sheet. As noted in her interview, at that time, the attendance sheet was inaccessible to her inside the school. She was aware of Morris' team and remembered that only Nate was there and bowled that day. (11k, p.5301)
An average score was entered for Morris for both games that day (103), indicating he was absent and did not bowl. (11k, p.5311, 10131)
Several witnesses recalled seeing Morris in bowling class. (Kristi Held 11k, p.1922; Carrie Sabey 11k, p.2150; Eddie Olsen 11k, 2086; Mike Paavilainen 10k, p.16418)
Four witnesses stated Morris bowled that day. All four were the people on the team scheduled to bowl against the Morris/Dykeman/Klebold/Harris team. Note that Dykeman's interview doesn't specifically state whether or not Morris bowled. (Kristi Held 11k, p.1922; Carrie Sabey 11k, p.2150; Eddie Olsen 11k, 2086; Mike Paavilainen 10k, p.16418)

Was Morris into Hitler?

Chris Morris told investigators he was put-off by Harris' interest in Adolf Hitler, Nazis, and concentration camps. (11k, p.9823, 10039, 10827, 10835) However, Morris was seen giving the "Heil Hitler" salute when he got a strike, just like Harris.

1. Jeffrey Marquadt: "He stated that when Eric got a strike that he would give a Heil Hitler salute every time. Jeff also saw Chris Morris do the Heil Hitler salute a couple of times." (11k, p.988)

When did Harris tell Morris he thought it would be fun/funny to kill all the jocks?

Story #1: Morris says one morning in bowling class, Harris asked him, "wouldn't it be fun to kill all the jocks?" Then, Eric suggested they should blow up the school's generators. He does not give a time frame. (11k, p.10841)

Story #2: In another interview, Morris says this incident happened the day before the shooting, on 4-19-99, while he, Harris, and Klebold were bowling. (11k, p.10038)

Story #3: In yet another interview, Morris says this incident happened two weeks before the shooting at Klebold's house. In this interview, he gives more details and states that "on the day that Eric Harris had made the statements about killing all the jocks, Dylan Klebold had been reading a book about "Nazi's" or "Nazi" war camps. He indicated that "Reb," Eric Harris, after having made the comment, was laughing. He stated that Dylan Klebold said something to the effect of, "If we're going to do something like that, we're going to have to cut the power to the school and put bombs on the doors." (11k, p.9823)

Were there multiple incidents where Harris asked Morris if he thought it would be fun to kill all the jocks?

Knowledge of Harris and Klebold's activities

General knowledge

Knew Harris and Klebold had been in the Diversion Program. (11k, p.10807)

Knowledge of pipe bombs

Knew Harris and Klebold had been making bombs for some time, and were reading the Anarchist's Cookbook. (11k, p.10841)
Saw Harris and Klebold in possession of a pipe bomb and saw them blow things up at work. (11k, p.10804, 10805, 10836)
Bragged about and participated in making and detonating pipe bombs and other explosives. (11k, p.18505, 10188, 10202)
Stated that a month before the shooting, Harris showed him the CO2 trip bomb he wanted to use behind Blackjack Pizza, but wasn't sure if he ever set it up. (11k, pp.10805-6, 10835)
In a different interview, Morris said Harris had, indeed set up the trip bomb and he told him to take it down. In this version of events, the incident in question happened 6 months before the shooting, not one month. (11k, p.10841)
In yet another interview, Morris says Harris, Klebold, and Robert Perry made explosives with trip wires for fun. (Source: 11k, p.9823)
Told investigator Annette Walker that Harris and Klebold were very skilled in constructing bombs and they had been making powerful pipe bombs with delayed timer mechanisms. (Source: 11k, p.10040)
In one interview, Morris stated that he was merely "told" that the pipe bomb Klebold brought to work contained screws. (Source needed)
In another interview, Morris stated he watched Harris and Klebold build a PVC pipe bomb filled with screws. (Source: 11k, p.9823)

Knowledge of firearms

Knew Harris and Klebold went shooting at Rampart Range with bowling pins as targets. (11k, p.10804)
Knew Harris was trying to get someone to buy him a gun from a gun show. (11k, p.10806)
Knew Philip Duran furnished one of the guns used in the shooting. (11k, p.10806)
Angel Pytlinski, a Blackjack delivery driver who knew Morris, Klebold, and Harris well, said Harris asked to borrow her video recorder in March or April 1999. They showed her the tape and it was Harris, Klebold, Morris, Manes, and Manes' girlfriend shooting trees and bowling pins in Sedalia, Colorado. (11k, p.10193).

Did Morris appear in a target practice video?

It's been speculated that Harris, Klebold, Manes, Miklich, and Morris filmed themselves shooting in Sedalia on a separate occasion in addition to the March 6, 1999 Rampart Range video, which did not feature Morris. This speculation is based on Miklich stating that the video recorder Harris used at Rampart Range came from Columbine High School, but there's are two more likely scenarios:

Possibility #1: Based on Miklich's interview, we know Harris brought and fired his Hi-Point carbine at Rampart Range on March 6, 1999. They may have edited Morris out of the video, and he happened to appear in the segments where they shot the Hi-Point.

Possibility #2: Pytlinski thought she saw Morris in the Rampart Range video because they're all usually together, but her memory was mistaken. Why would she say it was filmed in Sedalia? To get to Rampart Range, you have to head South on Santa Fe toward Sedalia. It's possible she just assumed it was filmed in Sedalia.

Foreknowledge of the attack / condoning the attack

Did Chris Morris have foreknowledge about what Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were going to do on 4/20/99?

He admitted to a reporter that two weeks before the shooting, he joked with Harris and Klebold about how they should blow up the school by detonating pipe bombs in the hallway. (video citation needed)
He says one morning in bowling class, Harris asked him, "wouldn't it be fun to kill all the jocks?" Then, Eric suggested they should blow up the school's generators. (11k, p.10841)
In another interview, Morris says the aforementioned incident where Harris said, "wouldn't it be fun to kill all the jocks?" happened on 4-19-99 while he, Harris, and Klebold were bowling. (11k, p.10038)
In yet another interview, Morris says the aforementioned incident where Harris said, "wouldn't it be fun to kill all the jocks?" happened two weeks before the shooting. In this interview, he gives more details and states that "on the day that Eric Harris had made the statements about killing all the jocks, Dylan Klebold had been reading a book about "Nazi's" or "Nazi" war camps. He indicated that "Reb," Eric Harris, after having made the comment, was laughing. He stated that Dylan Klebold said something to the effect of, "If we're going to do something like that, we're going to have to cut the power to the school and put bombs on the doors." (11k, p.9823)
Two weeks before the shooting, he was seen with Harris and Klebold at the bank. While Harris and Klebold cashed their paychecks, Morris withdrew nearly all the money from his bank account. According to the teller, over the course of a couple weeks, Morris made a series of withdrawals that brought is balance from around $500-$60 down to $7. The last withdrawal occurred four days prior to the attack when he withdrew all but $7 from his account.
Dylan joked about standing on the soccer field and shooting all the jocks.

Did Eric try to recruit Chris Morris, or was he 'leaking'?

Some people have speculated that Harris was attempting to recruit Morris to participate in the shooting by joking about blowing up the school and killing the jocks. Others have speculated that Harris was simply 'leaking'. Both phenomena are present in many mass shooting cases. However, Harris wasn't joking to Morris - he was joking with Morris. They were participating in the conversation as equals on the same page about how fun it would be to blow up the school.

Morris joked about blowing up the school

In a video interview, Morris admitted that he, Harris, and Klebold joked together about detonating pipe bombs in the school's hallways just two weeks before the massacre. (Citation). Laughing about blowing up the school and killing jocks was something many of the TCM associated did on a regular basis.

It's hard to believe that Morris wasn't also initiating these 'jokes' and laughing with the same desire to follow through. Morris was far more violent and threatening than Harris or Klebold had ever been. (Info here, swinging chains at people, putting Perry in a headlock threatening with a knife). He even told a driver's ed classmate that he wanted to run over his parents. (Tips, p.13082).

Morris had a reputation for being violent, threatening, angry, and scary. People knew he was making bombs, too, including his boss and coworkers at Blackjack Pizza. Although, that's not how Morris was portrayed by the media, including in the book Columbine by Dave Cullen. According to the media, he was an innocent, naive kid who felt uncomfortable about Harris and Klebold making pipe bombs, and was just as shocked and upset about the massacre as everyone else.

Chris Morris, according to Dave Cullen

Cullen's main assertion is that Harris was attempting to recruit Morris.

According to Cullen, a month before the shooting, Eric decided he needed more manpower to expand his plans to include land mines and trip wire bombs to make his attack "bolder."

Cullen's claim that Eric was trying to expand his plans or include land mines and trip wires in the attack against Columbine is unsubstantiated and is pure speculation.

From Cullen's book, Columbine:

"Expansion would require additional manpower. Eric began recruitment plans. Around the end of March, Eric approached Chris Morris. What if they strung up a trip bomb right there behind Blackjack? That hole in the fence would be perfect-- kids crawled through there all the time.

Chris was unenthusiastic. A bomb for pesky kids? Sounds a little extreme, he said.

Eric backpedaled. The bomb would not actually hit the kids, just scare the shit out of them.

No, Chris said. Definitely not."

Cullen's account of the trip wire bomb incident is problematic for three reasons:

Problem #1: There is no evidence that Harris and Klebold suddenly decided they wanted to use land mines in the attack a month before the shooting and needed more manpower to accomplish this goal.

Problem #2: In his timeline of events, Cullen lists March 20, 1999 as the date Harris tried to 'recruit' Morris into the attack. How did he get this specific date? Morris doesn't mention any dates. This date has been fabricated.

Problem #3: Cullen's presentation of the trip wire scenario is contextually twisted. Morris never said Harris approached him to see if he wanted to set up a trip wire bomb to stop kids from climbing through a hole in the fence behind Blackjack Pizza. Morris also never said Harris 'backpedaled' and said the bomb wouldn't hit anyone and would only scare them. This account is pure fiction.

Morris tells two versions of this event, and neither match Cullen's account.

Story #1: In his first story, Morris said Harris alone showed him the trip bomb and he told him not to put it up. Morris said this happened one month before the attack. (11k, p.10806)

Story #2: In his second story, Morris said Klebold and Harris had already set up the trip bomb and Morris told them to take it down. Morris said this happened six months before the attack. (11k, p.10841)

Additionally, Morris told investigators that Harris, Klebold, and Robert Perry made trip wire bombs for fun. (11k, p.9823)

Although contradictory in details and timing, neither of these statements support the idea that Harris tried to recruit Morris for the attack. In fact, the discrepancies in his story suggest Morris was involved in putting up the trip bomb with Harris and Klebold.

Which version of Morris' trip bomb story is true?

Although it can't be proven, based on the vast discrepancies in Morris' two accounts, the most likely scenario is that Morris was involved in setting up the trip wire bomb with Harris and Klebold and told two different stories to investigators because he was hiding the fact that he participated. This is a common theme with members of the TCM; deny, deny, deny. In fact, Morris' boss, Jason Secore, along with two coworkers, told investigators that Morris not only knew how to make bombs and bragged about making several specific types of explosives, but Morris said he was in possession of pipe bombs 2-3 weeks before the massacre.

"Recruitment" is real, but unlikely for Morris

According to Cullen, "Eric made at least three attempts to recruit Chris Morris, though Chris did not grasp that at the time. Some of the overtures came in the form of 'jokes.'"

“This is a standard recruitment technique for aspiring mass murderers, Fuselier explained. They toss out the idea, and if it’s shunned it’s a ‘joke’; if the person lights up, the recruiter proceeds to the next step.”

Although recruiting does happen, the problem with this assessment is that it paints Morris as an innocent bystander who was against violence and explosives, when he was actually an instigator and was the most violent of all the TCM members. You don't have to look too deeply to see that Morris was not being honest about his involvement in making and detonating bombs with Harris and Klebold.

Why does Dave Cullen insist on painting Chris Morris to be an innocent, naive kid who was swindled by people he thought were his friends? Why doesn't he mention any of the violence or behavioral issues regarding Morris?

There are numerous problems with Cullen's account of the shooting that are outlined on the Dave Cullen page.

Unanswered questions and oddities

What was Morris wearing on 4-20-1999?

According to witnesses, Morris showed up to bowling class wearing a white t-shirt and flannel. People thought it was odd because he usually wore all black.

By the time he was arrested, he was wearing a black South Park t-shirt.

Witnesses who saw Morris in bowling class wearing a white t-shirt and flannel:

Kristi Held, scheduled to play against Morris' team (11k, p.1922)
Carrie Sabey, scheduled to play against Morris' team (11k, p.2150)

If these witness statements are accurate, that means he changed his clothes (at least his shirt and flannel) from a white t-shirt and flannel to a black South Park t-shirt without going home.

Morris emptied his bank account before the shooting

Two weeks before the shooting, he was seen with Harris and Klebold at the bank. While Harris and Klebold cashed their paychecks, Morris withdrew nearly all the money from his bank account. Over the course of two weeks, Morris made a series of withdrawals that brought is balance from around $500-$600 down to $7. The last withdrawal occurred four days prior to the attack when he withdrew all but $7 from his account.

General oddities

The Cub Foods receipt he claimed to have at Friesen's house to support his story was never recovered. (11k, p.10807)
It's been said that Morris was adopted at age 5, but the police reports list Gary Morris as his natural father. When did he get a name change?
Morris told law enforcement Klebold may have gotten his shotgun from his father because his father had numerous guns and was a hunter. This contradicts what Sue Klebold says about their family being anti-gun with no guns in the house.

Interesting tidbits about how the police obtained evidence from the Morris residence:

Chris' mother already had his computer unplugged and waiting by the door for police when they arrived at their home to perform a search.(11k, p.10808)
Morris' brother provided the police with the clothing Chris was wearing that day and told police that every bit of Chris Morris' clothing he was wearing this date was in the paper sack. (11k, p.10808)

Witnesses who mention Chris Morris

Witnesses who identified Chris Morris as a suspect

Witnesses who identified a [redacted] suspect who fits Morris

Witnesses who mention Morris in other contexts

Morris made and possessed pipe bombs

1. Jason Secore, manager at Blackjack: "Morris seemed violent to him said he knew how to make pipe bombs and said he had some about 2-3 weeks prior to 4/20/99." (10k, p.018505)

2. Roison McEwen: "McEwen heard Chris Morris to be bragging about his criminal record... Chris Morris' favorite subject to talk about at work was building bombs. He claimed to know about "C-4," "sticky bombs," and match stick bombs." (11k, p.10188)

3. Joshua Uncapher: "Uncapher stated Dylan, Eric, Chuck, and Chris all talked about making, detonating, and getting recipes for pipe bombs while working at Blackjack Pizza" (11k, p.10202)

Morris still wore a trench coat in 1999

Chris Morris claims he stopped wearing his trench coat long before the 1998-1999 school year. However, multiple people remember him wearing a trench coat that year. One witness saw him wearing a trench coat driving away from the school just minutes into the attack.

1. Craig Place, Teacher: "He does remember Morris dressing in a black trench coat and wearing a green beret." (11k, p.1091)

2. Angel Pytllnski, Blackjack delivery driver: Said Harris, Klebold, and Morris all wore trench coats to work. (11k, p.10193)

3. Chris Morris, 2002: In a 2002 interview, he claims he stopped wearing his trench coat at the beginning of his senior year (98-99). (El Paso, Case Core p.410)

Morris was violent, aggressive, and threatening

1. Jean Christie: "...a party identified as Jean Christie, telephone [redacted], has a daughter who takes driver's education training from Master Drive. The daughter sits next to a male subject named "Chris" who apparently is a member of the "Trench Coat Mafia" and whose picture was in the Denver Post paper on this date, 04/22/99. The lead information further indicates that Chris has mentioned that he was going to run over his parents." (Tips, p.13082)

2. Joshua Uncapher: "Uncapher also stated he remembers a time when Chris Morris had a knife pulled on him, and that he pulled a knife on that same individual." (11k, p.10202)

3. Redacted, on the "Shit List": "Morris had started taunting (redacted) about his haircut (redacted had shaved sides at the time) and they started yelling at each other until Morris drew a knife." (11k, p.10284)

4. Chris Cowles: "He advised hat during his junior year of high school he and two other friends were driving away from the school and observed several of the persons known as Trench Coat Mafia to include Chris Morris and Joe Stair standing in the middle of the street... He advised that as the car driven by one of his friends approached the subjects they would not move from the road and blocked the vehicle's path. Cowles was advise the driver of the vehicle yelled at the subject to get out of the way and was eventually able to drive around the subjects. Cowles advised as he and his friends drove around the subjects he was seated in the back seat and looked out the back window and observed Chris Morris pull out a long chain from underneath his clothing. He advised that Morris then swung the chain around as if he meant to hit the vehicle. (11k, p.763)

5. Louis Scileppi: "He said that last year he was riding in a car with Bobby Strobel (driver) and Chris Cowles, when Sargent [Brian] and Chris Morris (and perhaps others) were blocking the street. Scileppi hollered at them out the window of the car, "get out of the way, fag," and Strobel started forward forcing them to get out of the way. He recalled that Morris came after the car for a short distance, swinging some kind of chain which he had under his trench coat." (11k, p.4355)

6. Craig Place (teacher): "On one occasion Morris pulled a knife on Dutro [Eric] after a school theater event. This incident went before a "manifestation hearing," and no action was taken because Morris may have been classified as Special Education."

7. Megan Morrison: "Megan said that she knew Chris Morris from the school and said that Chris Morris had always scared her. Megan said that Chris Morris was known to pick on other people, and therefore she said everyone else also picked on Morris." (11k, p.5052)

8. Robert Perry: "Perry stopped associating with the TCM during the first day of school, circa August 1998, after Morris threatened him with physical violence. Morris was angry that Lydie Perry had insulted him over a girl and Perry had made a point to pass the message directly onto Morris. Afterwards, Morris had threatened to beat up and kill Perry." (11k, p.10854)

"Morris was considered to be more aggressive and violent than the other TCM members. He constantly picked fights with other students. Perry stopped associating with the TCM when they became increasingly violent. They would constantly get into violent confrontations with other students using baseball bats and knives as weapons." (11k, p.10854)

Additional tidbits

Although it has been reported that Chris Morris has a long rap sheet full of arrests beginning at age 7, it's not true. This belief came from misreading someone else's arrest records that were included in Morris' testimony.

The Chris Morris from Columbine has the middle name of "Richard," while the subject of the arrests dated 3/31/89, 8/28/89, 4/16/92, 10/23/93, and 2/22/94 has the middle name of "Andrew."