Case Basics

Controversies

Masks worn during the attack

According to the official story, there was only one mask recovered as evidence during the investigation. No documentation was released regarding the specific location it was found. However, a crime scene photo released in the El Paso report show a green knit ski mask and thick, black knit gloves laying next to Eric Harris' trench coat by the chain link fence.

Eric Harris' trench coat with gloves and a mask
Source: El Paso Report

It can't be assumed that the mask and gloves were dropped where they're pictured because crime scene investigators may have taken the items out of a pocket to photograph.

It's hard to believe Eric was wearing this mask because while he was at the top of the stairs shooting, people identified him by name and saw his face.

It makes more sense that it was Dylan Klebold who wore this mask, since he was seen by many people wearing a mask both outside and while in the cafeteria. However, if that's the case, how did the mask end up outside by Eric's coat? There was only one mask recovered, and Dylan didn't go back outside after being seen in the cafeteria wearing a mask.

There were also witnesses who saw multiple shooters wearing masks entering and standing in the cafeteria at the same time.

Some people believe these thick, knit gloves were worn by Eric because it's "cold" in Colorado, but that just shows an ignorance of firearms and criminal activity. The gloves in the crime scene photo are the type of gloves someone would wear to avoid getting fingerprints on a weapon. Those gloves would also make it difficult to operate the pump-action shotgun that Eric had. It doesn't make sense for Eric to have worn those gloves because they would have gotten in his way. He knew he was going to die in the shooting and had no reason to avoid getting his fingerprints on the weapons. He also wasn't stupid enough to risk fumbling around with his shotgun while wearing thick gloves.

LIBRARY INJURED

Patrick Ireland [pp.35-47]

"Inside the ambulance, the reporting officer asked Mr. Ireland to describe what had occurred. He stated that he was shot by a man who was wearing black clothes and a mask. The man was carrying a long gun. He could not describe the size of the man, nor did he recognize the man. He stated there was also a second man who was shooting. This man also wore a mask.” (11k, p.35)

LIBRARY WITNESSES

Rebecca Parker [pp.509-518]

“One of the suspects then came to Parker’s table and looked under the table at Parker and that the person was wearing a dark ski mask, and this person put his gun to her head and just looked at her and did not say a word. And she just looked him in the eye and for thirty seconds they just stared at each other and the suspect then just walked away.” (11k, p.510)

“The next thing Parker remembers was one of the gunmen standing near her table dressed in black jeans and wearing a mask. The gunman was standing at the Southeast corner of her table and was pointing a gun a Parker’s head. The gun was not a shotgun and appeared to be a dark silver/black or grayish gun.” (11k, p.514)

OUTSIDE WITNESSES

Jake Apodaca [pp.652-657]

“The other person was dressed all in black, black trousers, black shirt,  black trench coat, a black beret, and was wearing what appeared to be a black mask.” (11k, p.656)

Josh Chavez [pp.734-737]

“He stated one was pretty tall, he stated it was Dylan, as he was in gym class last semester with him. Josh stated the suspect was wearing black clothing, black trench coat that was real long to the ankles, the suspect had a mask on his face. Josh stated he knew this because the guy’s face was black and he couldn’t see his face because of this. For clarification, Josh was asked how he knew this was Dylan if he couldn’t see his face. Josh stated he knew Dylan was tall and after reading and seeing who the suspects were, he knew it was Dylan of the two suspects.”

“Josh stated the second suspect was a lot shorter, also dressed in black with a black trench coat down to his feet. Josh stated he thinks this suspect also had a mask on, as his face was black.” (11k, p.736)

Jonathan Cole [pp.748-753]

“He met up with JAKE APODACA and CHRIS WISHER when he noticed two males in trench coats. One was wearing a ski mask with one large hole in it. Both were tall and believed that they had just come through the same doors that he had exited from.” (11k, p.750)

Mark Opfer [pp.1061-1066]

“Saw a male, Cau, black trench coat, 5’7”, black Levis, unknown shoes. Was wearing mask! Suspect #2-Cau, male, black trench coat, black hat, red bitl with a large “B” on the front, wearing black pants, 2nd party 6’3”-6’4”. (11k, p.1062)

MATH WITNESSES

Brenton Hooker [pp.1464-1467]

“B Hooker said he observed a tall kid with black trench coat and a baseball cap (on backwards) with curly hair and a half-mask on exit the same East doors. He stated the person shot in the direction of him (Hooker) and the ambulances. He said he didn’t hear the shots, but noticed the dirt blog up in front of him.” (11k, p.1465)

SCIENCE WITNESSES

Sarah Olejniczak [pp.2077-2081]

“They looked towards the main hall and saw a shooter. He ran past the hall, then back towards the stairs. Sarah described the person as:

Wearing dark or black jeans, had a black shirt and full-length black trench coat. He was possibly wearing a mask. When asked why she thought he had a mask, she indicated she only remembers seeing him from the chin down.” (11k, p.2078)

Jessica Rusch [pp.2142-2145]

“I asked Jessica to give me the details about the subject she observed near the science room who was carrying the weapon. She stated the individual was about 6'00" tall, skinny, and she described his manner of dress being in all black. Telling me that the party had a black baseball cap on that was on backwards. She said he had a black face mask, black jeans and a black trench coat. Jessica said under the baseball cap she could see the individual's hair and described it as being brown in color, curly, and about collar length. She stated she did not know the age of the individual. I asked Jessica if she could identify that person and tell me the individual's name. She told me she could not, but she had a conversation with her boyfriend, Patrick McDuffee, after the incident. She described the individual that she saw at the science room door and they came to the conclusion that it was [REDACTED] [Robert Perry].” (11k, p.2144)

Ashley Steele [pp.2200-2202]

“Initially, all they saw was a guy with a black mask. They thought it was possibly one of the shooters.” (11k, p.2202)

Amy Terry [pp.2205-2209]

“Encinias told Terry that she had been in the commons area when people with trench coats and masks on came into the cafeteria shooting.” (11k, p.2207)

CAFETERIA WITNESSES

Justin Alber [pp.2289-2303]

“I turned and looked and I saw Danny Rohrbough fall down. He then stood up, he was holding his leg. One of the gunmen who had long hair, wearing a black trench coat, black mask, he was around 6’ tall, 150#, w male, holding a sawed-off shotgun, who I recognized as Dylan Klebold, was walking down the stairs.” (11k, p.2293)

Jay Gallentine [pp.3085-3091]

“As he was communicating with Lara (phonetic spelling) [Theresa Miller/Lara] he said that she was looking past him with terror in her eyes and he turned around and ‘saw the tall gunman dressed in black, some white, ski mask, handgun, and a large gun or grenade launcher strapped to his shoulder like a sling.’ (11k, p.3088-3089)

Kyle Hayes [pp.3272-3285]

“Kyle Hayes specifically described the suspect as ‘skinny,’ pointing out the aforementioned was ‘hunched over’ as he proceeded to move into the cafeteria. In respect to the suspect’s clothing, Kyle Hayes stated the suspect was wearing a dark colored ski style mask, with holes cut out for the eyes, nose, and mouth. In addition, the suspect was wearing a black ‘trench coat’ with a black hat, which was worn backwards.” (11k, p.3278)

“Kyle Hayes pointed out when he saw that suspect for the second time, the aforementioned was not wearing a mask and had long, dark brown hair. When asked how he knew it as the same suspect, Kyle Hayes explained the individual was wearing the same clothes and had on the same hat (backwards). Kyle Hayes went on to state he was positive that suspect was ‘Dylan.’ Pursuant to questioning, Kyle Hayes confirmed his identification of ‘Dylan’ came from photographs he had seen of that individual on television after this incident.” (11k, p.3279)

Sean Hooker [pp.3355-3356]

“Hooker also states that he observed a white male with a mask on his head with a black coat in the area of the West entrance door to the kitchen area and cafeteria.” (11k, p.3356)

Matt Katzenmeier [pp.3423-3425]

“Matt observed 1 suspect by the West entrance to the library and this suspect as described as 6-3, w/m, long brown hair and a black ski mask, and black pants and with an unknown weapon.” (11k, p.3424)

Brandi Malonson [pp.3633-3639]

“Brandi stated she saw a guy wearing a long black trench coat and a black ski mask inside the cafeteria. He was with another guy who was wearing a long black trench coat. The first guy had a gun inside his coat. She then saw him take something out of the coat and she then heard gunfire. She indicated where the gunmen were in the cafeteria and then where one of them moved toward table “RR.” (11k, p.3635)

Christopher Markham [pp.3656-3659]

“That Christopher recalled hearing a “boom” and looked out the window and saw a tall, gangly white male wearing a black ski mask and trench coat and a shorter male (back side only) wearing a black trench coat standing by some cars, laughing, and also stated that he saw smoke and fire.” (11k, p.8761)

Chris Masias [pp.3678-3682]

“Eating lunch and noticed a black BMW pull into lot and park Southwest of cafeteria. Saw party in black clothes & ski mask come toward the building. I saw a female student fall in lot between building and man in black. I saw a puff of smoke near where the BMW was parked.” (11k, p.3680)

Elizabeth Nolan [pp.3919-3922]

“I asked Elizabeth if she knew who the tall skinny male was and she said she believed him to be Dylan Klebold. She said that Dylan had a mask on, but had hair sticking out of the mask and that she does know Dylan and that appeared to be him. I asked how this person was dressed and she said ‘Dylan had on a black trench coat, army boots, black pants, and a black ski mask.’ I asked Elizabeth if this person was carrying anything and she said that he did have a duffel bag on his left arm and had a gun in his right hand.” (11k, p.3920)

Daniel Palmeter [pp.4012-4015]

“He looked out and saw an individual dressed in a black trench coat, black ski mask, approximately 6’0”-6’2” point a shotgun at a student near the outside stairs and subsequently shoot the student.” (11k, p.4013)

Brock Rembold [pp.4176-4182]

“Brock then describes seeing two individuals enter the North/West doors of the cafeteria. […] The second party he described seeing enter the door was about 5’10”-5’11” telling me the individual was wearing a black trench coat and had a face mask on. He stated this individual was carrying a weapon. He described the weapon as a double barrel shotgun and that the party had a dark colored backpack on.” (p.4177)

“Brock stated as they started to walk up the stairs from the cafeteria, they passed a second gunmen who he stated was Dylan Klebold. He stated he passed within six feet of Dylan on the stairs as he continued upstairs en route to the tech lab. Brock described Dylan Klebold as 6’4” to 6’5”, stating Dylan was wearing a black trench coat. He had a face mask on, which covered the top of his head and down just below his nose. Dylan was wearing his favorite hat, a Boston Red Sox hat, which was turned around backwards and that the “B” which is normally on the front of the cap was on the back side of the baseball cap, near the adjustment band. [note: Klebold’s hat was fitted] Brock stated that Dylan was carrying a large military type of gun and was moving real slowly, describing it as a ‘casual walk.’ Brock stated that Dylan also had a black or navy blue backpack on.” (11k, p.4177-4178)

“Brock stated that he passed Dylan Klebold on the stairway as he was coming up from the cafeteria. He described Klebold as having a military type weapon and wearing a ski mask. He stated Klebold was coming down the stairs towards the cafeteria. I questioned him about his observations. He described that the mask was similar to a paintball mask with spray paint over it. He stated the mask covered the  top of the head and the back of the head as well as the front.” (11k, p.4181)

Lori Reynolds [pp.4188-4194]

“She walked to the West windows of the cafeteria where she observed an individual dressed in black with a ski mask shooting a gun. She observed the shooter shoot one person outside and continue walking towards the cafeteria. As the shooter walked, the shooter fired randomly towards the cafeteria.” (11k, p.4189)

“Ms. Reynolds described the clothing as all black, with a black mask, like a ski mask with the eyes cut out, a black coat, black combat boots, black pants. Ms. Reynolds said he was alone, but she could hear automatic weapon fire coming from upstairs. She said that she could hear single shot firing coming from the guy dressed in black. She said it looked like he had come from the direction of the baseball field and that it appeared that he as randomly shooting.” (11k, p.4192)

Sarah Scott [pp.4369-4371]

“Scott then heard shots and ran into the kitchen area and sat down and while peering over the counter, she observed a person with a black ski mask come into the cafeteria area using the West cafeteria door, and that she could only see him from the shoulder area up.” (11k, p.4370)

Johnny Strobel [pp.4564-4567]

“After arriving in the cafeteria, he exited the cafeteria through the South exit doors. This was at approximately 11:15 a.m. […] He then sat down at a table outside of the cafeteria and noticed two males standing in the parking lot approximately 150 yards away. He could not identify who they were at this distance, but could see that one had a long gun and a mask and the other had just a long gun. They were both dressed in black.” (11k, p.4565)

Erik Sunde [pp.4572-4578]

“Erik stated that as he was near the stairs, he looked back over his shoulder quickly and saw two guys in black trench coats near the West cafeteria window. He stated one looked very close, almost possibly inside the cafeteria. He stated they both had sawed off shotguns and had on the long, black coats. He stated they were randomly shooting the area. Erik stated that one of the two had a black ski mask on.”

Tanya Worlock [pp.4768-4774]

“WORLOCK stated she stayed on the ground for a short period of time and then looked out the window and saw KLEBOLD on the hill by the senior parking lot. KLEBOLD was wearing a black trench coat, camouflage pants, and a ski mask.” (11k, p.4769)

Heather Wrabetz [pp.4778-4783]

“Heather stated she could see a suspect outside. She described him as a Cauc. Male, 17-18 YOA, 6’, lanky, blondish/brown hair over the ears. She stated his face was dark, like he had a mask on. He was wearing a black trench coat, ankle length, open. She saw a black shirt and black boots tall enough to reach the bottom of the trench coat. Heather stated the weapon was in his left hand and he held it with both hands. It was a long gun like a shotgun and he was pumping it with his right hand and holding it with his left.” (11k, p.4781)

CLASS AREA WITNESSES

Jacob Schreck [pp.5399-5402]

“He remembered seeing a guy outside throw something into the Senior parking lot. He described him as being tall, having some sort of mask, and wearing a black trench coat. He was carrying a shotgun.” (11k, p.5401)

HALLWAY/OFFICE WITNESSES

Daniel Burge [pp.5837-5845]

“There is an exit door directly to the west of his locker, which exits near the outside steps by the library. Dan stated while standing at his locker, which is on the South side of the hallway he heard an explosion and looked out the doors with glass windows towards the West and saw smoke near the building. He then heard gunfire from inside the building in the opposite direction of where he saw the smoke. He looked around a concrete corner post next to his locker and saw a tall (6'1") thin white male, 60-70 feet away from him wearing a two-eye hole ski mask and shooting a saw-off shotgun. The man had light (possibly blonde) curly hair coming out the back of the ski mask. The man was wearing a waist length black "sports type" coat partially zipped up, with a round emblem on the back of the jacket, black pants with big pockets on the leg.” (11k, p.5840)

“Dan believed the gunman he encountered in the hallway was Dylan Klebold. He was sure because the body shape and the hair of this man was identical to Dylan Klebold. Dan said he doesn't know Dylan Klebold, but had seen him around school before as a former CHS student.” (11k, p.5841)

“Burge could see Klebold's shoulder length blonde hair through the back of the mask. Burge said that Klebold's coat stopped at the waist. He said it looked puffy and had a silver zipper. Klebold was wearing a mask that holes for the eyes (two), a hole for the mouth and a hole for the nose. He said that Klebold had on a pair of regular glasses under the mask. Burge said it was the ones he normally wore.” (11k, p.5843)

“In the original report, Burge stated that he saw Dylan Klebold wearing a ski mask and a waist length sporty type coat at the west end of the north main hallway. I asked Burge what the color of the mask was. He replied that it was black, a knit material which he could see Klebold's hair showing underneath it in the back. I asked Burge who was with him when he made the observation. He stated no one was with him. Burge then stated that he exited the West doors of the school from the North hallway, went North to the smoker's pit. I asked him if he saw any persons when he exited the school. He stated he did not see anyone. Burge stated that he was to meet his father at Clement Park at 1110 hours. He stated he saw Klebold at 1107 or 1108.” (11k, p.5844)

NOT ON LOCATION

Nicole Dickey [pp.6316-6323

"When she looked North towards Clement park, she saw two people dressed in black trench coats and black pants. She said both were wearing black ski masks when she first noticed them.  As she watched them from a distance of about thirty yards. they removed the ski masks and placed them on the table. She recognized them as Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Both of them were standing under the blue gazebo Northeast of the school. Next to one of them was a large three-foot long green duffel bag. She said she started to walk over and talk to them. Nicole said when they noticed her they raised pistols and fired two shots at her. One of the shots hit the grass next to her on her right. Nicole said she turned and ran towards Pierce street and never looked back.” (11k, p.6321)

STATEMENTS MADE TO THE MEDIA

David Mesch [pp.3743-3747]

Channel 7 News 12:00 p.m. 4-20-99

“Said he saw two gunmen wearing black trench coats and black masks.” (11k, p.9827)

From Mesch’s interview:

“MESCH stated that he never saw the gunmen, or any duffel bags, or other unusual objects in the cafeteria.” (11k, p.3744)

Bob Sapin

Channel 9 News 12:00 p.m. 4-20-99

“Called on cell phone said that he was hiding in bushes and saw the two gunmen walking down the hall wearing trench coats and black masks carrying machine guns.”

“On cell phone said he had been in a math class when shooting started he said that he and classmates ran out of the school and he waited to see if he could help others. He said he hid in the bushes and saw through the window two gunmen dressed in black trench coats and black masks walking down the hall, he said he got scared and ran.” (11k, p.9030-9831)

Note: Nobody with the last name Sapin was interviewed. This person is likely fake.

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