BAILEY, Colo.-
Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener, who won praise for his handling of a fatal standoff at Platte Canyon High School last year, has been invited by the students to speak at graduation ceremonies next month.
A gunman took seven girls hostage in a classroom on Sept. 27 and sexually assaulted them before killing one and taking his own life as a SWAT team stormed in.
Wegener, 44, has said he decided to order officers to move in because the gunman had issued a vague warning that something was about to happen and because the girls had been assaulted.
The gunman was identified as Duane Roger Morrison, a 53-year-old drifter. Authorities said he shot and killed Emily Keyes, 16.
Emily’s parents and twin brother have said they approved of the way authorities handled the crisis.
Platte Canyon’s graduation will be June 2.
