St. Paul, Minnesota (AP)
Families of the Red Lake school shootings victims and other members of the Red Lake Nation say they are afraid they may never learn the details of the shootings.
A day after a federal judge ruled that the trial of a teen accused in connection with the March 21 shootings will remain closed to the public, the father of one victim said he and other families have hired an attorney to seek access. A victims’ rights group says getting answers is an important step in the healing process.
“We have never had access to any evidence gathered,” said Francis Brun, a retired tribal administrator and father of Derrick Brun, a security guard killed at the high school shootings. “I would like to know what exactly happened and whether people could have done something to prevent what happened.”
The father said he and other victims’ relatives have asked a lawyer to file a motion seeking permission for them to attend the trial.
The trial of Louis Jourdain, 17, the son of Red Lake Tribal Chairman Floyd Jourdain Jr., is expected to begin in mid-December in federal juvenile court.
He was charged after the shootings at Red Lake High School. He was a friend of 16-year-old Jeff Weise, who shot and killed nine people before killing himself.
Prosecutors have not confirmed whether Jourdain is a defendant or said what charges have been filed, and the Nov. 11th ruling did not name him.
The Star Tribune of Minneapolis and The Associated Press asked to be able to see the trial and related documents, and offered to agree to conditions on reporting that the judge might impose.
But U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank denied the requests, saying although he “finds the need for public information and understanding a very compelling interest, the Court believes that the interest in rehabilitation and avoiding stigma for the Juvenile Defendant outweighs the interest of the public in full access to the proceedings.”
Barring victims’ families from trial is unusual in lower courts, said Margaret McAbee, executive director of Victim Intervention Program Inc., a private Twin Cities nonprofit group.
“For most people, getting their questions answered is very important,” McAbee said. “As long as you are left with questions, your mind doesn’t allow you to rest, doesn’t give you any peace. And the grieving process is pretty much about making peace within yourself.”
Brun said even if he is not allowed to attend the trial, he will be outside the courtroom.
“If this were sealed forever, it would be very frustrating,” he said.
Federal courts in the Twin Cities are about 250 miles away from the Red Lake Reservation, which would make it difficult for tribal members to attend the trial. Many in the community also distrust the federal court system.
“If he (Louis Jourdain) is innocent, we don’t want to send an innocent person to trial. But if he did do it, the facts should be shown as to whether he’s getting a fair deal or not,” said Jane Stillday, a Red Lake tribal member. “I do have my concerns as to whether he will be tried fairly or not, and we are just going to be in the dark.”
The March shootings closed the school for weeks and devastated the Red Lake Nation.
Said Stillday: “It happened to the whole community, the nation up here.”
Information: St. Paul Pioneer Press
www.twincities.com
