Bailey – Ben Wegener had no idea what was happening when the “code white” announcement came over the loudspeaker and his teacher rushed to lock the classroom door and ordered the students on the floor.
Ben, the son of Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener, was in a unique position during Wednesday’s hostage crisis as he worried for both himself and his father.
“It was so chaotic,” the 16-year-old said. “I was in the dark about everything.”
Knowing that his father would be overwhelmed, he called his mother at work after being evacuated with his classmates to the high school gymnasium.
“I tried to act nonchalant with her. I didn’t want to freak her out. Of course, she already knew,” he recounted.
His mother, June Wegener, had been unable to get past the police roadblock on U.S. 285 but was relieved to know that Ben was safe.
Sheriff Wegener, however, knew at that point only that the gunman had taken six female students hostage, having no contact with his son before he and his classmates were bused to Deer Creek Elementary School.
“I saw his car, so I knew he was there,” Ben Wegener said.
Later that evening, hours after gunman Duane Morrison had killed Emily Keyes and himself, the Wegeners were reunited.
“He came home about 10:30 p.m.,” Ben Wegener said. “It was pretty late.”
At home, Fred Wegener rarely discusses his work, preferring to chat with his son about his football exploits or schoolwork, Ben Wegener said.
“I saw him and said: ‘I love you’ and just sorry for everything,” Ben Wegener said. “He was distraught. He was worried about his community because everyone is so close here. He gave me a big hug and said he was glad I was OK.”
