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- On Monday, March27, Jefferson County Undersheriff John
Dunaway spoke at the Columbine Review Commission, a panel appointed by
Gov. Bill Owens. During his speech, he made reference to the apparent fact
that the "final report"on the Columbine incident will NOT contain
all of the facts of the case. According to The Denver Post, he said one
will be an "investigative report" that has been completed but
will not be released, and the other a "public report".
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- Later, Jeffco denied there will be "two reports".
Spokesman Steve Davis saidthere was "some confusion" between
the actual "investigativefiles", to remain sealed, and the final,
public report. Nevertheless,they confirmed some information will be withheld.
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- Parent RichPetrone complained, "I'm so sick of that
sheriff's department...They'reso incompetent that it's taken them a year
to make a report on an incidentwhere they have the only two killers supposedly
there, yet they say it'san 'ongoing investigation.' We're not very happy
about it. To me, it'sjust a cover-up."
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- Petrone voicedfurther displeasure, "We don't even
know yet how Danny [Rohrbough]died. The stories they've told us don't even
line up. We don't know whathappened with Danny, and nobody else knows what
happened to their children."
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- Sue Petroneasked, "What do they have to hide? It's
like having two sets of booksfor the IRS -- one to hide what you got, the
other whatever you make up.I think it's cruel. This is my only son. I should
know blow by blow, shotby shot, how he died."
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- However, anti-guncrusader and parent Tom Mauser noted,
"I want it to be withheld, butI don't want to comment more than that."
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- "I wantthe full version," said Angela Sanders,
daughter of slain teacher,Dave Sanders. "I don't want any edited crap."
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- "I've believedall along that they're hiding things,
and that's why this report has takenso long and has not come out publicly.
The sheriff's department will neverreturn my calls," said Judy Brown,
parent of Brooks Brown.
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- In an editorialtitled, "Edited report a crime",
The Denver Post said, "Severalsurvivors have expressed outrage at
the sheriff's department for offeringthem only the 'edited' report, and
we share their disappointment...Veryfew people will be motivated to pore
over 200 volumes of police work. Butfor those who do have a compelling
interest in this case, the investigationshould be an open book."
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- On March 29th,Jefferson County said that they will now
make efforts to answer any questionsparents of the slain or injured have
about the case.
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- Brian Rohrbough,whose son, Daniel, was slain outside
the school April 20th, responded,"It's just what I have to assume
is one more lie, trying to ease publicpressure, once again saying they're
going to do something that they won'tdo." Rohrbough said that he has
contacted Jeffco numerous times toarrange a meeting to no avail.
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- Regarding thedelay in the release of the report, Bob
Miller, a former U.S. attorneyfor Colorado, told Dunaway, "I have
never seen a report that's almosta year in the making." Miller said
such a delay would have made aprosecution in the case "impossible."
Dunaway has said that someinformation is being withheld in case other suspects
in the crime are tobe pursued in the future. (sources: <link
,<link,
<link,<link)
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- On the 30th,Sue Petrone said, "If they can show
the guns to Time magazine, theycan show me my son's clothing." The
Denver Post released an articlewhere the parents of Daniel Rohrbough complained
that their son's clothinghas yet to be returned to them by Jefferson County.
The sheriff's departmentrebuts that the case is not closed and if another
suspect is to surfacethey need the clothing as evidence. Others disagree,
citing that the departmentcontinues to claim only two people participated
in the crime and assailsany notion there were other gunmen involved. (<http://www.denverpost.com/news/shot0330b.htmsource)
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- Closure or 'damage control'?
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- In a smatteringof articles in The Denver Post on Sunday,
March 12th, the JeffersonCounty Sheriffs Department reveals further information
on the progressof the "final report" being produced concerning
the ColumbineHigh School shooting.
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- Five articlesattempt to dispel "rumors" and
explain the delay in the releaseof the final report. Mention is made of
"third-gunman" reports;the Sheriffs Department says witnesses
were simply confused, and due tothe sound of gunfire and bombs "mistakenly"
believed more thantwo were involved. As for the report's six month delay,
parent Rich Petronemuses, "Maybe they're trying to hide stuff."
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- "'Therewere conflicting descriptions of the subjects.
Reports of people on theroof. All kinds of unsubstantiated reports' about
as many as four gunmen',"said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Ron Knight,
who dismissed those reports.
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- One articledispels the so-called "myths" --
There was not a proverbial"third-gunman"; Harris and Klebold
did not use "walkie-talkies" orcommunication devices; they did
not have keys to the school; theyhad no help whatsoever in planning the
shooting; no one knewbeforehand the shooting would occur; bombs were not
brought intothe school days before the shooting; the shooters were not
membersof the "Trench coat mafia"; they did not target blacks,Christians
and jocks during the shooting; they did not plan on escapingthe school.
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- The above "officialline" on these various issues
will likely surface throughout the finalreport. Whether this information
is true or not remains to be seen.
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- Soon, with therelease of the final report, we will be
able to determine whether or notour law enforcement personnel have carried
out their civic duties properly-- their conclusions will either bring closure
or ignite further controversy. Below are the five individual articles.
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- No second-guessingSWAT during 'mayhem' <link
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- Facts clarifybut can't justify killers' acts <link
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- Author wantsreport to be 'absolutely correct' <link
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- Lessons a balmto personnel <link
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- Detailed reportnears completion <link
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- Students found dead
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- At approximately12:45 a.m. Monday night two Columbine
High School students -- NicholasKunselman, 15, and Stephanie Hart, 16 --
were found dead inside a Subwaysandwich store located less than a mile
from the school. Both sufferedfatal gunshot wounds. Hart, at the time,
was believed to have been visitingKunselman, a Subway employee. The suspect
is described as being "awhite male in his teens or early 20s who was
wearing a red jacket and flaredpants." He was seen near the shopping
center about the time the bodieswere discovered. Strangely enough, <link
Salon.comrepo rted that Nathan Grill, a friend of Kunselman and present
in the storethat night, "...was wearing both a red jacket and flared
pants Sundaynight, but [said] 'I know I'm innocent. I'm not worried.'"
A surveillancecamera was present inside the shop, though appears to have
been turnedoff. Click for <link
TheWashington Post and <link
TheDenver Post stories.
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- On Tuesday,<link
TheDenver Rocky Mountain News reports that cash was left in the registerinside
the store. The store was noted as an unlikely target for a robberysince
large currency is placed in a locked safe throughout the day. "It'snot
worth robbing, 50 bucks, maybe,"said employee J.J. Hodack. The shooting
appears to have taken place sometimebetween 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. A witness,
present in the store at 9:55 p.m.,reports that all was normal when the
store closed, though a customer waspresent when he left. An employee, driving
by the shop at around 1 a.m.,noticed the lights were unusually on inside.
The bodies were then foundbehind the counter inside the shop.
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- A source inDenver visited the Subway recently and confirmed
to us that the shop'sthree entrances appear to be fully intact and no damage
is visible. Theredoes not appear to be a forced entry. This suggests that
a late night customeris responsible for the crime, or a "friend"
of Kunselman, Hart,or both, possibly enticed them to open and unlock the
door later that night.A robbery seems most unlikely.
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- Investigatorswere seen searching trash bins behind the
shop, as well as searchingthe top of the roof of a building across the
street from the Subway(a Denver source told CRTF, "I don't believe
that the shooter or shootersever entered the store because I saw bullet
holes in the windows on thenews...we might be dealing with some type of
professional shooter here").No weapon has been found. No motive has
been determined, though a "murder-suicide" wasquickly ruled-out.
Both young students were a two-year couple and, accordingto a family friend,
Kunselman's father said, "...he's never seen twoyoung people as in
love as they were."
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- The Subway storelocated at 6768 W. Coal Mine Avenue is
just two blocks south of ColumbineHigh School. Slain student Rachel Scott
once worked at the Subway. Theshop is also near Blackjack Pizza, the former
employer of Harris and Klebold.
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- A seriesof tragedies have preceded Monday's shooting.
Two weeks ago, the body of11-year-old Antonio Davalos was found stuffed
in a trash bin within a mileof Columbine High School. There have been no
arrests. Antonio was a fifth-graderat Centennial Elementary School.
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- Composite drawingsbased on two eye witness sightings
show the current suspect. Hewas wearing a black baseball cap with the bill
turned forward, a blackcoat with a red lining on the inside, and black
or blue jeans with whiteshoes.
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- See the linksfor The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News
in the right sidebar for thelatest.
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- In other news,The Denver Post released an <http://www.denverpost.com/news/shot0214a.htmarticleon
the 14th detailing the bomb arsenal used by Harris and Klebold. It isnow
revealed that they used in upward of 95 bombs in their attack. Thearticle
quotes an official who claims Klebold and Harris brought the bombsinto
the school about fifteen minutes before they began shooting. Apparently,no
one noticed they were carrying four 20-lb propane bombs and no one noticedthem
place them in the kitchen and cafeteria. The article does not mentionthe
presence of the kitchen bombs. There appears to be a discontinuityin the
official story in that there are conflicting reports on whetheror not propane
bombs were found in the kitchen. It was first reported thatat least one
propane bomb was found in the kitchen.
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- Also, the <http://www.denverpost.com/news/shot0203.htmrecallof
Sheriff John Stone has picked up steam and a force of locals are preparingto
gather the 41,991 signatures needed to place the recall on the ballot.
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- CRTF on "Sightings"
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- On Monday, January 31st, the CRTF webmasterwas a guest
on the nationally broadcast radio show "Sightings with Jeff Rense."
His appearance lasts an hour and one half. Click <http://playlist.broadcast.com/makeram.asp?id=330188hereto
listen with Real Audio.
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- CNN tapes obtainedUpdate!
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- The following is our analysis of theCable News Network
television coverage of the Columbine High School shootingon April 20th,
1999.
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- CNN begins coverage of the shootingat 11:54 a.m. The
five hour set of tapes consist of approximately 60% KUSAcoverage, 20% KMGH
coverage, and 10% coverage by both KCNC and CNN, respectively.There remains
a great deal more coverage to be obtained and analyzed fromthe respective
affiliates.
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- The majority of the time during thecoverage reporters
are repeating the same information over and over, ina loop, until new information
comes in. The eye witness interviews, thoughsparse, proved to be the most
revealing and interesting. It is a shamethat the coverage did not reveal
the experiences of students in greaterdetail.
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- While the word "semi-automatic" wasmentioned
twice in describing the guns used, "automatic" or "automaticweapon(s)"
was spoken during the five hours of coverage by reportersand witnesses
approximately nine or ten times.
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- The word "hostage" or "hostages"
isspoken at least fifteen times throughout the day by various reporters.The
word "grenade" or "grenades" is mentioned at leasteight
times by various reporters and witnesses. The word, or phrase, "masks"and
"ski masks" is mentioned by witnesses and reporters at leasteighteen
times. These are conservative estimates.
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- While it appears there were news helicopterson the scene
within minutes, their coverage was only shown in length onCNN until after
1:30 p.m., approximately.
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- Early on, there is no indication thatSWAT teams were
ever inside the school. Only after approximately 2 p.m.is the impression
of a large SWAT presence near the school conveyed.By 3 p.m. there are authorities
walking calmly around the walls of theschool. By this time it was clear
the gunmen were probably dead or no longerposed a threat to the officers.
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- On the tapes, there are reports of"at least two
gunmen" throughout the day. There are also reportsby 1 p.m. that the
Trench Coat Mafia is involved. There are reports thattwo gunmen entered
the parking lot, proceeded to the cafeteria and thenmade their way to the
library -- reports which do validate the "official" story.
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- The information below -- 99.9% accurateas transcribed
from the tapes -- attempts to reveal the true nature ofthe events which
took place.
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- At 11:54 a.m. Jefferson County PublicInformation Officer
Steve Davis spoke over the phone with KUSA, enroute to the school, and
reported that there were shots fired and bombsdetonated.
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- Jonathan Ladd, a student, was on thephone moments later.
KUSA anchors questioned Ladd about a "bomb scare"at the school
earlier in the day, of which he knew nothing about. KUSAanchorwoman Kyle
Dyer then asked Ladd about grenades. "One of thereally disturbing
things with this, obviously, is that there may be a grenade,or grenades
involved..." Ladd could not tell what kind of device wasused in the
detonations. Ladd did not see the gunmen and ran off the campusalmost immediately
after the shooting began.
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- The coverage then switched to KCNCwhere a discussion
ensued about a possible gunman "on the loose"as well as two gunmen
in the school.
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- "Eventually we all ran outside...asI was laying
outside I heard rapid fire, like blackcats were going offand it was inside
the school," said Braden Pasusich on KUSA at 12:02.
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- At KCNC a student named Janine calledand indicated that
gunmen in trench coats stormed the school and she saidrepeatedly that they
were throwing grenades. She then said to the newsanchors, "How did
you get my phone number?" and the news anchorsreplied that they were
told she had contacted them. She did not respond.
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- At KUSA a few minutes later, GregMoss is on scene at
Bowles Ave. and Pierce St. Numerous agencies were convergingon the scene.
Moss said, "They've also had some reports of some peoplehanging out
on the roof top of the school..."
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- Kim Sander phoned KUSA at 12:10 andreported what her
daughter had told her. Her daughter was in the parkinglot next to her car
when she and a friend heard some "pops" that"got louder"
and she "saw a gunman, in a black trench coat,with a very huge gun
in front of him...she said he had dark brown hair,with thick, bushy eye
brows, was very, very ugly....this gunman was outof the school, he was
up on top of this ledge thing where the student smokingarea is and he was
shooting down at these students...She did not recognizehim as a student,
no, not as a student. " Kim then emphasized thatshe told her daughter
to remember what she had seen so to inform policeproperly, and she felt
her daughter's description of the gunman was veryaccurate.
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- At 12:12, back with Greg Moss, thecamera is zoomed in
on the staging area where Steve Davis is shown walkingnearby. He is wearing
a white bulletproof vest and holding a hand-heldradio.
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- At 12:16 student Bob Saban (sic) describesover the phone
to KUSA his dramatic experience. He ran out of the "backof the school"
after he heard shots, then turned around and "sawthe men...stalking
around looking for people to kill". He said hedid not recognize them
because "they were wearing black masks...theywere all in black with
some machine guns." Saban indicated that hesaw them through the back
entrance (where teacher Patti Nielson was shot).He also said there were
two explosions "minutes ago" inside theschool, which would have
been sometime after 12 noon.
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- Minutes later video from Bowles andPierce show students
running from Columbine to safety through the trees.In the foreground, Principal
Frank DeAngelis is shown wandering about agrassy knoll.
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- Moss reports that by 12:23 "fourSWAT team districts
are on scene". Video is fed from the staging areaduring most of the
hour, showing dozens of officials walking and meanderingaround in a casual
fashion, with some running or jogging by. The stagingarea is located a
few hundred yards north of the high school.
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- "It's been about twenty minutessince the last report
of an explosion," says KUSA anchor GaryShapiro at 12:28. Moss reports
at 12:30 that "at least two suspectsare inside. They may have found
where they are, or at least have a prettygood idea of where they are...again,
automatic weapons are involved."
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- KUSA's Kyle Dyer minutes later emphaticallystates, "It
seems we've heard so many eye witness accounts that somany students saw
these men...they must have been all over the school!"The camera man
focuses on a number of officials in the staging area, froma SWAT guy dredging
around a body shield that says "NATO-3" inwhite letters on its
front, to a man wearing sunglasses and a black suit-- possibly the FBI's
Dwayne Fuselier. Moss then reports, "At onepoint, police officers
thought they (the gunmen) were on the roof..."
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- Jeff Goodman with the Colorado StatePatrol at 12:33 phones
KUSA and says, "Since I got here, maybe a halfhour ago, I have heard
shots...and it sounded like heavy, heavy shots asin long rifle or some
kind of an automatic weapon."
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- Tony LaMonica in the KUSA helicopterreports in at 12:39.
Blurry, unclear and distant scenes of the school areshown for the first
time. The cameraman then directs the camera over tothe staging area. LaMonica
says, "At one point just a few minutesago they thought they might
have somebody up on the roof...apparently therewas some concern that someone
might be up on the roof." LaMonica saysfrom his vantage point he did
not see anyone on the roof at that time.KUSA decides to cut the helicopter
feed while LaMonica is describing whathe is seeing. Instead, a ground shot
of the staging area is shown. Theschool is not shown again until much later
on in the broadcast and LaMonicais not heard from for over an hour.
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- Moss continues reporting from thestaging area, and a
SWAT member is shown holding a battering ram, amongthe many law enforcement
officials.
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- Bob Saban returns by phone and reportsback at 12:46.
He says he was in Mr. Condon's math class, ran to the doorupon hearing
gun shots, and fled. Later he hid "in the bushes"and "saw
the men" and subsequently left the area in fear theymight see him.
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- At 12:52 a student calls the KUSAnewsroom and says he
knows the identity of the gunmen, yet hangs up beforehe is placed on the
air. A few minutes later a reporter says that the gunmenmay be students,
and that "they believe they have taken hostages insidethe school."
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- A student named Evan phones KUSA at1:00 and says he saw
"two kids" in all black clothing. "Theyboth had two shotguns
and one of them had a pistol type uzi, a small uzi."The description
fits both Klebold and Harris. He continued,"...theywere a part of
a trench coat mafia, homosexual group."
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- Minutes later Ed Gawkowski of theState Patrol was asked
by KUSA anchorwoman Dyer how many were involvedand said, "...it's
up to two to three, possibly, yes." The anchorwomanwas befuddled that
only two men could create that kind of havoc.
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- At 1:04 a student named James phonesKUSA. He is located
in a classroom by himself, apparently using cell phoneto call in.
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- GARY SHAPIRO: James, we understand you are inside the
school?
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- JAMES: Yes, I am.
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- SHAPIRO: You're in a secure area, I imagine.
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- JAMES: Yeah, I'm in a classroom with locked doors.
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- SHAPIRO: What's going on there now?
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- JAMES: It's just really noisy outside. I hear a lot of
screaming.
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- SHAPIRO: Now you say you hear screaming, is that recent?
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- JAMES: Just as it is right now.
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- KYLE DYER: Have you heard any gunshots?
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- JAMES: No gunshots, just threats. A bunch of threats;
the guys are yelling out there.
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- DYER: Do you recognize the voices?
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- JAMES: I don't recognize any of the voices.
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