First Responders
First Responders at Columbine High School
Law Enforcement Officers who responded to CHS
Robert Byerly
- Unit #140, Badge #5090
- (11k, pp.8058-8062)
Handwritten statement:
At about 1121 hrs the dispatcher aired an explosion just occurred somewhere around S. Wadsworth between Ken Caryl Ave. and W. Coal Mine. Deputy Magor advised he was headed to that area to check it out. A short time later, the dispatcher aired a second explosion and a female down in the South parking lot of Columbine High School. A very short time later, deputy Gardner aired he has parties with weapons, then advised he was under heavy gunfire. I then responded lights and siren from about S. Pierce St. and Hwy 285 Frontage Road. I do not know my arrival time, but it was a short time later.
I responded to the Northeast side of Columbine High School, since it was the only unsecured perimetered area. Upon my arrival, I observed about 75 to 100 students running in a group about 100 yards Northeast of the school. I ordered them back North into the far parking lot of Clement Park. I then positioned myself behind cover on the Northeast side where I had visual of the Northeast entrance and East windows of the office and partial of the East wing. A short time later, investigator Erzen, CSP trooper Dominguez, and unknown Denver Police officer also assumed positions around me as well.
I could hear numerous amounts of gunfire and explosions from inside the school. I could hear deputies advise being fired at and returning fire.
It was aired there was a male on the roof wearing red, white, and blue shirt. It would later be determined he was a victim and was rescued off the roof by Denver SWAT. He was brought over to our location. He identified himself to me as (w) Clark. He said he was doing work inside the school when the gunfire began. He ran through the janitor closet to get to the roof. Once on the roof, he said he used vice grips to wedge the door shut so the suspects could not get on the roof. He said he stayed on the roof until rescued. He said he never saw the gunmen, according to (w) Clark. I then escorted (w) Clark back toward the Command Post. An unknown Denver police officer then took (w) Clark for me and I responded back to my original position.
After being back at my original position, we could hear[a] banging sound coming for [from] the Northeast door are. We could not see anyone initially, but a short time later, Denver SWAT rescued a male student who apparently [was] hiding. It appears he was the one kicking at the door or window trying to get out.
I remained at my position until I was relieved at about 2215 hrs.
At about 1615 hrs, I relieved an assigned deputy (do not know his name) on the West perimeter. I remained there until I was relieved by deputy Laurita at about 2330 hrs.
Kenneth Ester
- Unit #X20, Badge #3009
- (11k, pp.8063-8066)
Handwritten statement:
On 04/20/99 at about 1121 hours, I heard via JCSO dispatch about a person down in the South parking lot of Columbine High School. Additional information was given about shots being fired in the area.
I responded from S. Wadsworth Blvd. and Park Hill Ave., traveling NB Wadsworth to Bowles, West Bowles to So. Pierce St., and South on Pierce to the school. I was driving my unmarked county vehicle.
When I arrived in the area at about 1127 hours, I parked on So. Pierce Street about 300 yards North of Polk Street. (Directly on the Southeast corner of the South parking lot, next to deputy Mabon’s patrol vehicle).
I observed numerous students running away from the school, heading in all directions from the East side of the building.
Upon exiting my vehicle, I heard loud gunshots and explosions in what appeared to be coming from the South to Southwest side of the school.
I observed deputy Kevin Walker and his patrol vehicle positioned in the South parking lot, surrounded by dozens of students’ vehicles.
I coordinated with Deputy Mabon and moved with him North to the Southwest corner of Leawood Park.
Sgt. Mayns and deputy Pearson held positions about 100 yards South of our location on Pierce St. and at my request, deputy McLaughlin was positioned about 100 yards North of our location.
I continued to hear 2-3 more explosions and dozens of shots from the same general area as mentioned before.
Several groups of students exited one of the South doors from the science area. One of these groups were directed behind deputy Magor’s vehicle, and used the car as cover until they could be transported to a debriefing area.
I remained on perimeter with deputy Mabon until I responded to the Command Post/staging area awaiting other assignments. This was about 1500 hours.
Flowers
- Unit #, Badge #
Handwritten statement:
(missing)
Neil Gardner
- Unit #71, Badge #3010
- (11k, pp.8067-8076)
Statement coming soon
Paul Magor
- Unit #147, Badge #5079
- (11k, pp.8083-8087)
Handwritten statement:
1121 hours on 4-20-99, I was dispatched reference an explosion on the East side of S. Wadsworth Blvd. between W. Ken Caryl Avenue and W. Chatfield Avenue. I arrived in the area from W. Chatfield Avenue. Once in the area, dispatch advised me that there was a report of a party down in the South parking lot and possibly shots fired at Columbine High School. I responded with all emergency equipment at about 1123 ours as I did not see anything as I drove North on Wadsworth Blvd. from W. Chatfield Avenue. While en route, deputy Smoker had arrived on scene and deputy Gardner advised that shots were being fired and he had returned fire.
At about 1126 hours, I drove North on S. Pierce St. and arrived in the area. As I got close, I saw students and faculty members fleeing Eastbound across Pierce Street in large numbers.
I immediately stopped on S. Pierce St. at the Southeast corner of the South parking lot. This was the best location I could take in order to return fire if needed as students fled, observe the majority of the South parking lot, including the only parking lot exit, and by taking that position I did not delay students from fleeing the immediate area by trying to continue up S. Pierce Street.
Once on scene, my concern was to cover students and to ensure their safety and to prevent any further injuries in the portion of the parking lot I could see. Also, once on scene, I could hear loud gunfire and explosions. The gunfire sounded like automatic gunfire. I called for “mutual aid” from other law enforcement agencies.
Sometime after I arrived, deputies Searle, Taborsky, Byerly, Pearson, Schwieterman, Walker, and Ester arrived. The officers I saw arrive were Ester and Pearson. I observed deputy Walker in the South parking lot and he advised he had returned fire. When deputy Pearson arrived, he took up a position on S. Pierce St. with Sgt. Mayns, who had arrived. I knew the others were on the North or the West side of the school.
When Sgt. Ester was the first to show up with me, the flow of fleeing students had almost stopped. We then moved my patrol car North on S. Pierce St. into the Northbound lane. We positioned the car just South of the South parking lot exit and held our position.
While on scene, numerous other law enforcement agencies responded to assist.
I was relieved at my position at about 2215 hours.
John Maynes
- Unit #V-3, Badge #5028
- (11k, pp.8088-8089)
Handwritten statement:
On 042099 at about 1130 hours, I was advised of shots being fired at Columbine High School. I responded red lights & siren to Columbine H.S. from headquarters. I responded to S. Pierce St., South of Fair Avenue, in order to observe the South & Southeast side of the school. I could hear what sounded like explosions & gunfire. Deputies McLaughlin, Magor, Pearson, Flowers, & Turner were positioned along S. Pierce from Fair Ave. South to W. Polk Ave. and we were positioned in front of the only exit from the South student parking lot. After about 1 ½ hours, approximately 9 or 10 students and faculty exited the South side of the school and ran to our location. I directed deputy Turner to evacuate these people to the Command Post, making 2 trips this was accomplished. A representative from R-1 security was at our location for about 1 hour and information on the status of this incident was given to him to relay to R-1 administration, the representative was Ted Shalmoser (?). He was later sent to the Command Post.
At about 2215 hrs, I was relieved from my location.
McLaughlin
- Unit #, Badge #
Handwritten statement:
(missing)
Edward Pearson
- Unit #145, Badge #0111
- (11k, pp.8090-8091)
Handwritten statement:
On 042099 at about 1140 hours, I arrived on scene near Columbine High School to assist. I positioned my patrol unit on S. Pierce Street just South of W. Fair Avenue. My assignment was to assist in securing the perimeter on the South/Southeast side of the high school.
Visually, I could view the South student parking lot and the South/Southeast side of the high school. I could hear the explosions of the bombs and several rounds from various firearms, which appeared to be coming from the Southwest side of the high school.
I maintained my position until reserve units relieved me at about 2215 hours.
Rick Searle
- Unit #141, Badge #0308
- (11k, pp.8098-8100)
Handwritten statement:
On 042099 at about 1124 hours, J.C.S.D. dispatch advised of a possible explosion in the area of W. Chatfield Ave. and S. Wadsworth Blvd. Deputy Magor was dispatched to check the area. At about 1124 hrs, J.C.S.D. dispatch advised of a female down in the South parking lot of Columbine High School. Seconds later, I heard deputy Gardner advise via the radio of shots fired in the South parking lot and called a code 33. I immediately cleared from an alarm I was checking and advised I would be en route.
At about 1129 hrs, I arrived at the Northeast parking lot of Columbine High School and observed several teachers and students running in all directions from the school. I stopped and spoke to an unknown adult female who was running from the school who yelled to me, “the West entrance in the library.” I drove my patrol unit around the North side of the school and then around the Northwest side of the school through the field when I heard and observed several pops and loud explosions coming from the West side upper level doors.
I saw clouds of white smoke coming from the area of the doors and glass shattering on the West doors and windows. I immediately advised dispatch of shots fired and drove my vehicle due West of the West doors and took up a position behind a cement out building.
Upon my arrival at the out building, I met with deputy Taborsky and deputy Smoker, who had also arrived and took cover behind the building. Deputy Taborsky and deputy Smoker then took a single patrol unit and drove it approx.. 40 yards in front of the out building, positioning themselves between the school and the out building. I then drove my vehicle up between deputy Taborsky and the out building and started taking injured students in my patrol vehicle West through the field to W. Caley Ave. and S. Yukon St. to a safe location for medical attention.
I transported approx.. 8 to 10 students with injuries in three trips back to this location. I then returned and took a perimeter position between the out building and West school entrance doors with several Denver P.D. officers who had arrived to assist. I maintained this position for about 3 to 4 hours until Jefferson County and Denver P.D. SWAT teams had the West entrance secured. During this time on the perimeter I observed the SWAT teams evacuate approx.. 150 to 200 students and teachers from the school lower West window.
At approx. 1600 hrs, I responded to the East side school entrance and met with deputy Guerra for assignment with the bomb squad. I then assisted until about 0000 hrs with the location, identification, and removal of explosives from the building and surrounding area of the school, including vehicles in the parking lot.
At about 0015 hrs, I assisted the Boulder SWAT team assigned to a SWAT team for bomb recognition. We did an assigned clearing of the school cafeteria and auditorium. I located no explosive devices during this protective sweep.
Rick Schwieterman
- Unit #Z-1 (?), Badge #0074
- (11k, pp.8095-8197)
Handwritten statement:
On 04-20-99 a about 1136 hrs, I went en route to Columbine H.S. on an in progress shooting. Upon my arrival at an unknown time, I was requested to travel South of the school and go into the neighborhood. I went to a South access to Clement Park (W. Caley Dr. and S. Yukon Ct.) and entered the park. Upon arriving at the West entrance to the school grounds, I was directed to multiple wounded students West of the school and South of the main ball field. There about 10 students were West of an out building. After the shooting had slowed, I evacuated a critically injured male and an injured handicapped male to W. Caley Dr. and S. Yukon Ct. I believe I evacuated a 2nd carload of shooting victims – unknown (illegible) or sexes.
As students and teachers began to be evacuated from the Southwest area of the school, I made 10-15 trips evacuating seven at a time and transporting the injured victims to Caley & Yukon and the non-injured to investigators at the Command Post.
At about 1351 hrs, between one of these runs, students at Caley & Yukon saw 3 males walking Eastbound through the South side of Clement Park. The students yelled that the males were the suspects (in the shooting) or were friends of the suspects. The three males were dressed in dark clothes and or fatigues and tall lace up boots.
I approached the 3 males and via my P.A. ordered them to stop. Using felony arrest techniques, all three were taken into custody, searched for weapons, and transported directly to the Command Post and turned over the investigators.
Prior to that, ofc L. Padilla 94*46 DPD at 1315 hrs gave me a spent (possibly 9mm) round that he had obtained at W. Caley Dr. and S. Yukon Ct. Ofc Padilla said that he had transported a male gunshot victim from the same out building (SW side of the school) to the medical outpost at Caley and Yukon. As the male victim was carried from the patrol car and sat down on the grass, the round fell from his leg area onto the grass. Ofc Padilla recovered the round and kept it until giving it to me. The round was kept in ofc Padilla’s pocket and subsequently kept in my pocket until submitted as evidence after 2130 hrs this date.
At about 1845 hrs, dep. P. Pedigo gave me a bag of green leafy substance. Get his report for details of his chain of custody. The bag of suspected marijuana was also submitted into the evidence vault.
The remainder of the day was spent at or near the Command Post.
Paul Smoker
- Unit #T-1 (MC2), Badge #
- (11k, pp.8101-8118)
Interview:
On 042099 at 1300 hours, I received a call at my residence from Dispatcher RAINEY of the Wheat Ridge Police Department advising Lt. CHISM was requesting me to respond to Clement Park. RAINEY advised I was needed as part of the Jefferson County Critical Incident Team.
I responded to Clement Park and spoke to Lt. CHISM and Com. GRANDER. I was advised of the shooting at Columbine High School (6201 S. Pierce St.).
At 1630 hours, I was assigned to a team of investigators who would be responsible for the interviews of officers who discharged their weapons The team assembled in a classroom at Leawood Elementary (6555 W Leawood Dr).
I was assigned to interview Deputy Paul SMOKER. The interview was taped. SMOKER provided the following information:
- (Text obscured) s 022288
- Assigned to Motorcycle Patrol.
- Carrying a Glock Model 17 (9mm) semi-automatic
- Serial# LN453.
- Fired 3 to 5 shots.
- Is unsure if he hit the suspect.
See transcript of interview
The interruptions in the interview are from the intercom system in the school.
SMOKER's weapon was secured by Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Deputies.
On 042199, I gave the audio tape to Judy SULLIVAN (Chiefs secretary) to be transcribed.
On 042299, 1 reviewed the transcript. I delivered the transcript and original tape to Com. GRAINGER at Arvada PD
(Smoker's interview transcript coming soon)
Scott Taborsky
- Unit #144 Badge #5119
- (11k, pp.8119-8122 & 10025)
Handwritten statement:
At about 1121, dispatch reported a possible explosion that occurred on Wadsworth Blvd. between Ken Caryl and also Coal Mine NE. Deputy Paul Magor (147) advised that he would be responding to the area. It was shortly after that when dispatch advised of a party down in the South parking lot of Columbine High School. Dispatch requested that Dep. Magor [illegible] also respond to the school. Deputy Neil Gardner (Columbine H.S. Resource officer) then reported possible shots fired at the school and requested assistance, while D Route Deputy Paul Smoker (MC2) advised that he may have a possible suspect on the West side of the school by the ballfields.
I met with Dep. Smoker and contacted this individual, who turned out to be a teacher. He stated that several kids dressed in black had entered the school and began shooting people. At that moment, I heard numerous shots ring out from the school. A wounded student was observed waiting on the West side of a shed just to the south of the ball field. I drove to his location and Dep. Smoker rode with me. This individual was a w/m approx. 16 YOA and was wearing jeans that were soaked with blood. This unknown party was conscious, but appeared to be badly injured. I asked who had shot him–he said he thought the kid's name was Eric Harris, but he wasn’t sure. This individual was left in the care of Deputy Rick Searle (141), who arrived shortly thereafter.
I next drove approx. 100 yards East toward the school and parked my vehicle in front of another wounded student. I observed blood on his right side, about exactly where he was shot is unknown. He, too, was was conscious, but could not identify who had shot him, nor what they were wearing. While at this location numerous more shots rang out from the building. I also observed several more students that were down on the West/Southwest sides of the building. I advised dispatch that large caliber shots were being heard in the school and that numerous students that had been shot were laying about. I requested that an armored car respond to the school to assist in evacuating the injured.
Over the course of the next hour numerous students fled the building and took shelter behind my vehicle. Several of them had been shot. An unknown male student advised that there were several suspects inside and that he, too, believed one might be Eric Harris. He stated they were dressed in black trench coats and were armed with shotguns and semi-automatic pistols. This information was related to dispatch. The wounded that made it to my car were evacuated first with Jeffco Sheriff’s Dept. and Denver Police Dept. patrol vehicles. Those that were not injured were evacuated in the same manner shortly thereafter.
Dep. Smoker and I maintained the perimeter @ the Southwest/West doors. While there, numerous shots from within the school's library (S/W corner 2nd floor) broke out the windows. Denver Police SWAT officers that were on sight returned fire. Dep. Smoker left the cover of my patrol vehicle and responded to the Southwest wall of the school to assist Denver SWAT members and medical personnel to remove some of the injured students.
At about 1230, Jeffco/Denver SWAT members arrived on the West side of the school with a fire truck. Using their vehicles as cover, they recovered 2 students from by the West doors. One of these was a white male who was conscious and I was told had a chest wound. This wounded party was pulled in the back seat of my vehicle. The other party recovered was a white female–she appeared to be deceased.
I then transported the injured party to medical personnel that were standing by at the command post that had been set up and Pierce and Leawood.
Upon responding to the school, I took up a position on the Northwest doors, which face the tennis courts. This was at the request of a Denver lieutenant, who wanted to free up his SWAT team members from perimeter security. I maintained this position until being released at 2225.
From (11k, p.10025):
On 04 27 99 at about 0807, I was dispatched to the Littleton Fire Station at 6290 W. Coal Mine. Upon my arrival, I met with fire personnel, who advised they had a bag full of materials collected on the date of the shooting. I was told most of the items would be clothing removed from wounded students at their staging area at Pierce and Caley.
I contacted the Command Post and advised them of the possible evidence. I was told to pick up the bag and turn it over to the evidence custodian.
I picked the item up today at about 1500 and later delivered it to the evidence custodian, the item was listed as Number 002.
Turner
- Unit #, Badge #
Handwritten statement:
(missing)
Kevin Walker
- Unit #149 Badge #3115
- (11k, pp.8123-8118)
Statement:
On 04-20•99, at approximately 1116 hours, dispatch advised of a female party down in the South parking lot of Columbine High School. It started originally as a medical call, and several seconds later, Deputy Neal Gardner advised the party was down due to gunshot wounds. I responded from the area of West Chatfield and South Kipling Street, utilizing my lights and siren. While en route, Deputy Gardner advised that he had shots coming from inside the school on the Southwest comer. I arrived at approximately 1129 hours, and responded to the Southwest corner of the parking lot. Deputy Gardner advised he was under heavy fire from the suspects. I drove in the parking lot and went to the second or third row of cars on my right, and parked my patrol car, and exited my vehicle with the shotgun. I took a position of cover behind a black Toyota 4-Runner. From inside the school I heard approximately 40 to 50 rounds, rifle fire, and small arms fire, there were approximately six to eight smaller explosions, and two very large explosions, one by the South double door entry which blew out two windows and caused considerable damage. As I was maintaining a perimeter on the South end, shots were still coming from within the cafeteria area.
Several minutes later, I had six students exit the South cafeteria doors, running south towards me. As they exited the cafeteria when the doors were open, I observed a large fireball explosion within the confines of the cafeteria. I secured the six students next to me, ensuring that they were out of line of fire. They were unable to evacuate at that time.
Approximately 45 minutes later, the gunfire and explosions had been continuing sporadically throughout this time. An ambulance, possibly from West Metro, drove into the South lot. I directed them out of the line of fire to respond over to the far West corner to help remove wounded children. Another ambulance pulled into the parking lot, and drove over to assist the first ambulance. They parked directly in front of the cafeteria by the steps going up to the second story.
At this time, the four paramedics exited their ambulances, and immediately the second story windows, from what was later determined to be the library, were shot out from the inside by the suspects firing, I assumed at the paramedics and officers that were down below. I heard officers that were on the West side of the building facing the library, return fire. I advised dispatch we were taking fire and returning fire. At that time, I had a clear view of the windows that were being shot out. I utilized my shotgun, firing two rounds of slugs into the window directed at the muzzle flash that I had seen from inside. Several more shots were fired from inside, and then everything was quiet.
Fifteen minutes or so after exchanging gunfire with the suspects, two Denver PD Officers made their way to the six kids who were next to me. These kids were safely evacuated by these two officers.
I remained on my position until about 1530 or 1545 hours, at which time Lakewood's SWAT team arrived and gave me relief. The Lakewood SWAT team and the other SWAT teams, Denver and Jefferson County, were all inside clearing the building. After the Southwest comer was secured, I evacuated one more elderly woman, apparently a faculty member, from that location in my patrol car to the command center.
At that point, I was utilized as a bomb tech with the rest of the bomb squad, and we set up on the West side of the building to begin dealing with the devices that had been left behind. All of the devices that were located were safely dealt with. I had no part in this, other than assisting the other bomb squads, and getting those items disposed of properly.