Weise may not have acted alone (RedLake Shooting Update)

KSTP 5 Eyewitness News ^ | 3/28/05 | KSTP 5 Eyewitness News

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

RED LAKE, Minn. - Federal authorities no longer believe that Red Lake school shooter Jeff Weise acted alone.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has confirmed that authorities have arrested a juvenile today in connection with the the Red Lake school shooting, which occurred a week ago. The shooter, Jeff Weise, took his own life after killing nine people, including his grandfather, several students, a security guard, and a teacher.

A federal search warrant was executed on the Red Lake Reservation today, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has also learned.

Up to this point, authorities have continually said that the Weise acted alone.

The arrest takes place on a day when funerals are being held Weise and three of his victims.

The FBI had no immediate comment in relation to the arrest, citing an ongoing investigation.

Further details were not immediately available because the arrest was made under a sealed federal warrant.

Federal authorities and witnesses say Weise killed his grandfather, a tribal police officer, and his grandfather's companion last Monday at a home on the reservation. Weise then took his grandfather's weapons to the high school, where he killed five students, a security guard and a teacher before killing himself. It was the nation's deadliest school shooting since the killings at Columbine High School near Littleton, Colo., in 1999, which ended with the deaths of 12 students, a teacher and the two teen gunmen.

[ladylib]

Oh, stop it!/LOL

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

From KSTP....

"RED LAKE, Minn. - Federal authorities no longer believe that Red Lake school shooter Jeff Weise acted alone."

My Bemidji contacts were telling me this the day it happened.

[Valin]

Shameless plug
RED LAKE YOUTH ARRESTED
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1372653/posts
/Shameless plug

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Nothing shameless about it. This story has all the makings of being HUGH!

[Valin]

"Authorities arrested Louis Jourdain, the 16-year-old son of Red Lake Tribal Chairman Floyd Jourdain, in connection with the school shootings at Red Lake High School

Oh boy! This got real interesting.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Tip of the iceberg sort of thing happening......

[TexKat]

I thought that it was funny on the day that this actually happened because the first reports were that LE had the suspect in custody, later it was reported that the suspect had killed himself.

[maggief]

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/special_packages/red_lake/11252484.htm

EXCERPT

Louis Jordain, 15, a student at Red Lake Senior High School where Jeff Weise fatally shot six students and a teacher before killing himself March 21, was taken into custody Sunday evening, according to sources with knowledge of the arrest.

The youth reportedly was arraigned on the unspecified charge during a closed 15-minute hearing Monday in federal court in Duluth. The hearing was closed because the defendant is a juvenile. Juvenile prosecutions are rare in federal court.

(snip)


Floyd Jourdain poses for a photo with his son Louis in this undated photo from Floyd Jourdain's personal Web site.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

News was flakey, at best on the day it happened. True, first reports stated that the shooter was in custody. Soon after, it was reported that the shooter was "no longer a threat".

[TexKat]

School Shootings - CBS Video

The tribal leader in Red Lake, Minn., called it the "darkest day" in tribal history. A poor, rural community is in shock after 10 deaths from a troubled youth, Bob McNamara reports.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Nice catch on the photo.

I've spent enough time in the Bemidji/Red Lake areas of this great state to know that something like this could happen. Not that it couldn't happen elsewhere, but the res has been a hotbed of dispair fueled by poverty, drugs, alcohol and violence.

I don't know yet where to place the blame, so, I will not.

[TexKat]

Statement of Floyd ´Buck´ Jourdain, Red Lake Tribal Chairman on Behalf of the Red Lake Tribal Council

RED LAKE, Minn., Mar. 22 /PRNewswire/ --

RED LAKE, Minn., March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of the Red Lake Nation, I would like to express our condolences to the families of those affected by yesterday's tragic events. This is a dark time in the history of our tribe and we are all shocked and deeply saddened by the loss of our family, friends and teachers.

Red Lake is a close-knit community. While there is no logic to what happened yesterday, this closeness will provide strength and support to our community through this difficult time. We are grateful for all the prayers and support that we have received from our neighbors, our friends in Indian Country and local and national leaders.

The tribe asks that members of the press respect the privacy of our tribal members and our community. All questions regarding yesterday's events and the investigation should be directed to the FBI. All other press inquiries should be directed through the Red Lake Tribal Council headquarters. Thank you.

[maggief]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/28/national/main683592.shtml

(EXCERPT)

A state survey conducted last year found that of 56 Red Lake ninth-graders, nearly half the girls said they had tried to kill themselves. Twenty percent of boys said the same — about triple the rate statewide. The survey also said Red Lake students assaulted other classmates and used more alcohol and drugs than other students across Minnesota.

[maggief]

http://www.rlnn.com/ArtMar05/BucksStatement.html

Attention Red Lake Nation members.

I am sorry to announce that the events that took place today involving the
shootings at the Red Lake High School make this one of the darkest and most
painful occurrences in the history of our tribe.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims.

I can assure the Red Lake tribal members that the situation is under control and secure.
Several organizations and agencies have offered assistance in our time of need and the Red Lake Nation has graciously accepted.

The FBI, ATF, BCA, along with the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Department, the Minnesota State Highway Patrol and the Red Cross will be providing assistance to our public safety department through out the next several days. These agencies are all here with our permission.

An information line has been set up to handle your calls and to answer any questions you may have. The number is 679-4284.This is a 24 hour emergency line.

Because of the tragic nature of this unfortunate occurrence, I am calling on all tribal entities and programs to stand alert in order to provide assistance to those in need.

I am ordering all Red Lake and United States flags to be flown at half staff until further notice.

Finally, I encourage all Red Lake Nation members to embrace and support one another in these tragic times.

Miigwetch

Floyd Jourdain Jr.,
Chairman
Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

It's not a place that I would raise my children.

But it is a place were some have to raise their children.

When this story first broke, some with limited experience with the Red Lake world went on about what a wonderful place it was. Some even spent as much as a week or two on the res during their contract time.

Too short a time to see what "life" is like for people that have nothing to look forward to other than life on the res in Red Lake.

[jdege]

I remember a Strib story on some standardized test that every high school in the state had taken.

Red Lake was last. But it wasn't just that they were last, it was that they scored 19% and the second-to-last school scored 42%.

Red Lake Schools show every sign, from what I can see from out here, of being an absolute hell-hole. And for a bright kid who'd spent is first couple of years in fairly decent schools to be warehoused up there, well...

[maggief]

http://startribune.com/stories/156/5318401.html

Last update: March 29, 2005 at 11:08 AM
Tribal chairman defends son's innocence in wake of arrest
Howie Padilla, David Chanen and Terry Collins, Star Tribune
March 29, 2005 R

http://www.startribune.com/stories/156/5318415.html


Last update: March 29, 2005 at 11:00 AM
Text of Jourdain's statement
Star Tribune
March 29, 2005 STATEMENT0330



''Last week I spoke on behalf of the Red Lake Nation as its leader and a saddened member of this community. Today, I speak as a father.

As many of you are aware, my son, Louis, has been charged in association with the shootings that occurred here last week.

My heart is heavy as a result of the tragic events that unfolded here at our nation. But it is with optimism that I state my son, Louis', innocence.

He is a good boy with a good heart who never harmed anyone in his entire life. I know my son, and he is incapable of committing such an act.

As events unfold, it will be proven that the individual who committed this horrible crime did so of his own choice and that he acted alone.

I strongly believe that my son will be cleared of these charges.

I have been notified by the federal government that there is a juvenile court proceeding pending, which will not allow me to comment further.

Thank you.

[JLO]

I have been notified by the federal government that there is a juvenile court proceeding pending, which will not allow me to comment further.

[JLO]

Just my personal opinion. Quiet.

As events unfold, it will be proven that the individual who committed this horrible crime did so of his own choice and that he acted alone that they want quiet.
===



I strongly believe that my son will be cleared of these charges.

I have been notified by the federal government that there is a juvenile court proceeding pending, which will not allow me to comment further.

Thank you.