U.S. Attorney Won't Call Columbine Grand Jury
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}U.S. Attorney John Suthers on Thursday rejected a request from the families of slain Columbine victims to convene a grand jury to investigate claims that a student was killed by police.
"There is not a scintilla of evidence to suggest that any such action was willful or intentional, which is the standard for a federal criminal prosecution," Suthers said in a written statement.
The parents of slain student Daniel Rohrbough claim a Denver police officer killed the 15-year-old as he ran from the school on April 20, 1999. Police say student gunmen Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris killed Rohrbough and 12 others before killing themselves.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Suthers said that even if there was evidence linking the officer to Rohrbough's death, he still would not call a grand jury.
He also said there is no evidence of a criminal conspiracy. Some of the victims' families have claimed the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department lied about their investigation.
Suther's announcement comes a week after a federal judge refused to reconsider lawsuits brought by the Rohrboughs and other families in light of the new allegations. County prosecutors also have refused to look into the allegations, and a county coroner rejected a request for an inquest into Rohrbough's death.