Autopsy: Klebold shot self
By Kieran Nicholson Feb. 24, 2001 - Dylan Klebold, one of the Columbine High School gunmen, took his own life with a single gunshot to the head, an autopsy summary released Friday confirmed. Either entire autopsy reports or summaries have now been made public for all who died in the April 20, 1999, shootings - 13 victims and the two gunmen, Klebold and Eric Harris. "This gunshot wound is consistent with self-infliction," Ben Galloway, a forensic pathologist, wrote in the summary. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office report on the Columbine shootings, released last year, had concluded that both Klebold and Harris had committed suicide after the rampage. The summary stated that Klebold was shot in the left temple. Frank Patterson, an attorney for the Klebold family, confirmed Friday that Klebold was left-handed. "The (Klebold) parents have seen the autopsy report and understand that Dylan committed suicide," said Patterson. Autopsy reports of victim Isaiah Shoels and Harris were both released in 1999 as public documents without objection from their families. Last month, Jefferson District Judge Brooke Jackson ordered the autopsy released on victim Daniel Rohrbough, along with autopsy summaries of 11 victims and Klebold. Jackson released Rohrbough's full autopsy report because of "public interest" regarding a federal suit, filed by the Rohrbough family against the sheriff's office, claiming Daniel was killed by "friendly fire." Release of Klebold's autopsy summary was delayed until Friday because of an appeal of Jackson's ruling, filed on behalf of the Rocky Mountain News. The News, through attorney Marc Flink, sought to amend Jackson's ruling, asking the court to release portions of the autopsy beyond the summary. "The court, to my knowledge, has not yet ruled on the motion to provide a more complete disclosure of information contained in the full autopsy report," Flink said. Jackson did, however, rule to release Klebold's autopsy summary while he considers the motion that seeks the rest of the autopsy. Motions filed by attorneys on behalf of The Denver Post to unseal the autopsies, citing the documents as public record, had been fought by victims' families. Copyright 2001 The Denver Post. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |