A lawyer for the parents of two Columbine High School victims filed formal notice Thursday that they will appeal a federal judge’s decision to keep statements by the gunmen’s parents secret for 20 years.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock ruled April 2 that depositions by the parents of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold would remain sealed for 20 years. The depositions were made for a civil lawsuit that was settled out of court.
Several Columbine parents, scholars and law-enforcement officials had argued the depositions should be opened at least to researchers in hopes they could help prevent future school shootings.
Attorney Barry Arrington filed the notice of appeal in U.S. District Court on behalf of parents Brian Rohrbough, Susan Petrone and Dawn Anna Beck. The notice does not discuss the grounds for appeal and Arrington did not immediately return a call.
Rohrbough and Petrone are the parents of Daniel Rohrbough and Beck is the mother of Lauren Townsend. Their children were among 12 students who were killed at Columbine on April 20, 1999.
Harris and Klebold also shot and killed teacher Dave Sanders before taking their own lives.
DENVER
Pedestrian killed while crossing I-25
An unidentified man died Thursday when he was hit by a car while trying to cross Interstate 25 at West Alameda Avenue.
Several cars tried to avoid hitting the pedestrian, resulting in a four-car collision, said Sonny Jackson, spokesman for the Denver Police Department. The accident happened about 8:30 p.m.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The motorists suffered minor injuries.
The accident caused massive backups on northbound I-25.
DENVER
Plague found in dead City Park squirrel
State health officials announced Thursday that plague was found in a dead squirrel near City Park.
Rodent populations have outbreaks of plague every year, said John Pape, epidemiologist with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
While it’s unusual for cases to happen in urban areas, the likelihood of infection for humans is very low, said Chris Urbina, Denver public health director.
To avoid infection, people should not directly handle any dead rodents, and they should not let pets come into contact with the rodents.
Experts also recommend making sure that pets have appropriate flea control because the infection is spread by fleas.
WHEAT RIDGE
State investigators raid poker tour office
Colorado gambling investigators raided the Wheat Ridge offices of an organized poker tour this week, confiscating records, membership lists and other documents.
No arrests have been made in what investigators say is an ongoing investigation of an illegal poker operation.
The search warrant targeted the offices of the Amateur Poker Tour in Wheat Ridge. Calls Thursday to the group and its officers were not returned.
BOULDER
41 arrests related to underage drinking
Officers from the Boulder and University of Colorado police departments arrested 41 people on 46 alcohol-related warrants this week.
An Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws grant from the Colorado Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement Division funded the two-week warrant sweep.
Officers searched for a total of 130 people with outstanding warrants related to underage drinking and the sale of alcohol to minors.
In most of the cases, the warrants were issued after the suspects failed to appear in court following alcohol citations, said Boulder police spokeswoman Julie Brooks.
COLORADO SPRINGS
Immigration offices coming to 2 cities
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is expected to open offices in Colorado Springs and Greeley in the coming months.
In July, Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., attached an amendment to the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Bill asking ICE to submit a report to Congress on the costs and need for establishing the offices.
After a study, ICE agreed the offices are needed. Agents are expected to be transferred from offices in Denver and Pueblo, said Steve Wymer, spokesman for Allard.
DENVER
Attack spurs police to warn women
The Denver Police Department cautioned women to take safety precautions when walking alone after the attack of a woman downtown.
The unidentified woman was grabbed and fondled while she walked westbound in the 600 block of East 10th Avenue on Monday morning.
Authorities did not release the name of the victim, and no arrests were made.
AURORA
Man ejected from car during accident dies
An Aurora man was killed Thursday after losing control of his vehicle when trying to pass another motorist.
Stanford Brown, 24, was ejected from his 2003 Chevy Trailblazer when it rolled 2 1/2 times after crossing Sable Boulevard on East Smith Road.
Brown died from severe trauma from the accident. He was the only person in the vehicle.
The accident remains under investigation.
ARVADA
Deputy fire chief promoted to top spot
Jon Greer has been promoted from deputy chief to chief of the Arvada Fire Protection District. Greer was interim chief after Paul Dextras resigned in mid-February.
An Arvada High School graduate, Greer has been with the fire district since 1979 as purchasing agent, assistant district manager and volunteer firefighter with ranks from lieutenant to assistant chief. He has been deputy chief since 1999.
WHEAT RIDGE
Nobody injured when shots fired into home
Shots were fired about 12:30 a.m. Thursday into a home in the 6300 block of West 47th Place.
Police believe a handgun was used in the incident. Some rounds entered the home but the two adults and two children sleeping inside were not injured, police said.
No further details were available.
