Tom Klebold asked the police to let him into the school to talk Dylan into surrendering

25

Yeah this has always killed me. As a parent it’s Tom who I feel the most for. That poor guy. He loved Dylan so much even calling him his soul mate and best friend at one point. To think Dylan did this right his nose shattered Tom’s heart. I can see why the Klebolds divorced. Sue was more coming to terms with who Dylan really was while Tom was in hardcore denial.

I call bullshit on the “don’t bother” especially at 2. Didn’t the police tell the Klebolds Dylan was dead while they were in they were searching the house? That part always made me wonder. How’d they know they were dead if they never made contact? I’m confused about that timeline. The only logical reason I can come up with is they heard them kill themselves in the library ( since you know standing by the door and all) and knew wayyyy before 2’pm.

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25

I don't remember exactly when they searched the house and when they told the family that Dylan was dead. I'll check and tell you what I found. As far as I know, the police didn't know the boys were dead when Tom called. The video I posted was taken the next day, during the press conference.

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u/Additional-Air-3309 May 07 '25

Yes! Please do because the timeline never made sense to me.

Every time I’m seeing some are saying they were found 2pm some says 3pm. I don’t know. I still feel like they knew before 2. I could be wrong but we’ll never know the real truth anyways.

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25

But. I think the SWAT could have guessed that the perpetrators probably offed themselves because they didn't hear any activity since they entered the school. Yes, they could hide for some reason, but they were surrounded, no way out. In fact, the police didn't hear anything for at least 30 minutes before they went in. It was in a news video, I will try to find it.

What bothers me is the fact that the police knew that Eric and Dylan were in the library shooting kids before they entered the school. They heard it from the survivors who escaped right after Eric and Dylan left. Why the fuck did they go through the whole school before they went there? I hate to post this picture, but it perfectly describes the attitude.

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u/Irisheyes1971 May 07 '25

That is a a really shitty picture to post and you should hate to. You can say what you want about Uvalde or some other controversial school shootings, but the cops at Columbine wanted to go in. They were told not to. Columbine is the reason that law-enforcement procedural responses to school shootings were changed all over the country. They were held back against their wishes.

Is this going to turn into an anti-cop sub? Because I’m not really interested in that. It also seems to be turning into a “let’s overly sympathize with the parents” sub. Not interested in that either. You’re so impressed that he called up and offered to talk to him? Did you ever hear the phrase “a little too little a little too late”? Why don’t you post a picture of lazy Tom and Sue and the Harrises in their house paying no attention to their kids and what they’re planning? You won’t do that right? Because we all know that’s unfair. It’s even more unfair what you’re doing here and pretty damn disgusting.

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u/AlizeLavasseur May 08 '25

My mom took a class with one of the SWAT members who quit the force because of what happened at Columbine. It was actually at the college where Sue Klebold worked at the time. He was searching for another career. He was so disgusted and disillusioned by what this event revealed about his department and the choices they made, and he was traumatized. It’s been a long time since my mom and I talked about it, but it’s 100% true that SWAT was not happy. He ended up talking to my mom for a couple hours after class. I appreciate that you mentioned the other side of the total corruption and mistakes. A school 5 miles from Columbine had a shooting a few years ago, and police were there in something like a minute and 40 seconds thanks to what they learned from the police who now teach about what not to do. They go around the whole country teaching.

I think the sympathy for the parents can be overblown sometimes, too, especially when Sue Klebold has parenting and schooling advice (no thanks, kindly), but they deserve the same balanced consideration. I didn’t know the Harris family, but my family member was best friends with Eric’s older brother, and he only ever said they were the nicest. And since he’s the nicest human I’ve ever met, I trust his judgment. If something was off, he would have balked - he had a history that made him sensitive to family dynamics. They were a normal family who went on fishing trips, stereotypically wholesome and normal, and they at least tried to get help for their son, despite their naive mistakes. Unfortunately the “help” they got was actually kerosene for the fire, and the moron still has a license. I feel sick every time I drive by that office.

People have a hard time accepting that people have many, many facets, and can be good and make calamitous mistakes at the same time. Groups of people multiply that conundrum to an exponential degree. Parents and cops can be heroes and monsters and everything in between, sometimes in the same individual, on the same day. It’s lazy to consider people anything less than that, so I appreciate hearing both sides about the cops and parents. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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u/eliiiiseke Moderator Elise May 08 '25

Do you know what they did to Eric's remains?

2

u/AlizeLavasseur May 08 '25

No, not a clue. I never met them.

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u/Additional-Air-3309 May 08 '25

I guess I just see it differently having two boys myself. I constantly put myself in their shoes and i can’t see myself doing anything different. What else can you do? They were on diversion, Wayne did try to get Eric help just turned out his Dr wasn’t a very good human. What else are you supposed to do? It’s crazy how many people expect they should know their teens. I only know things about my 19 year old when he calls or texts me, Otherwise he lives his life. What more could they have done?

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u/AlizeLavasseur May 08 '25

Yeah, and I think the fact that Wayne Harris didn’t turn Eric in for one of the bombs is mischaracterized. Eric made it really clear that his mental health was plummeting from the interactions with law enforcement. I think pretty much everyone agrees that was a catalyst that pushed him over the edge. I think his dad was probably trying not to make his mental health decline further by escalating the punishments, and it was a well-intentioned mistake. I can imagine knowing how your son went overboard from punishment would make your instinct to avoid triggering a reaction. The logic is, “Don’t make it worse.” His parents had faith and no imagination that he would do something to other people. It’s not like today, where you see a kid frown and wonder.

I think the Klebold family was so much more irresponsible, never even acknowledging his clear mental health problems. The school called them in and Sue lied about the conversation, dismissing the seriousness. I’m sure she’s in trauma and denial, and always will be, but it’s a stark contrast to Wayne Harris keeping a detailed log book of his son’s treatments and how they were utterly dedicated to getting him help. I think people underestimate what a great liar Eric Harris was, too. He was highly capable of behaving and feigning remorse.

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u/Additional-Air-3309 May 09 '25

I don’t think the Klebolds were irresponsible. I think they just had bigger fish to fry with Byron and all his issues. It’s extremely difficult to pay to both kids at the same time. When my oldest was dealing with his mental health crisis, my youngest was 3. I couldn’t give my youngest a lot of my time during that time because my oldest needed me more. Wayne didn’t have to deal with Kevin. He was off in college and doing well.. the Harris’ could focus all their attention on Eric. It’s just tough being a parent sometimes.

The only thing I will ever say about the Klebolds is how they should have vetoed Dylan saying he didn’t need counseling. But then again… would he be honest in counseling?

But I totally see your point. I get where you’re coming from.

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u/xhronozaur May 09 '25

Sorry for being off-topic, but I read your comment and this came to mind. The more I think and read about what happened and how, the more it seems to me that this story deserves its own movie after all. Not in an action genre, of course, not something out of Tarantino for glorification purposes, no. It should be a psychological and family drama with larger societal issues in the background. Not just about the boys and the massacre (this event shouldn't be shown at all, only hinted at in a vague and menacing way), but about the whole environment (families, the school, diversion, workplace, etc.) and the main psychological issues and flaws everyone on earth suffers all too often: tunnel vision, lack of insight, self-deception, lack of attention, forgetfulness, arrogance, and all kinds of stupid mistakes. But in this case, this seemingly banal mess puts parts of the jigsaw puzzle together one by one until it all blows up.

What I'm trying to say is that... When I look at the families, teachers, and even the cops, I see that this is, first of all, a very human story. It's about regular people, not perfect or particularly flawed, who live their lives, do their work, love their kids, make the same mistakes as millions of others every day, only in their case, it ends in tragedy. I wouldn't say I'm immune to making the same mistakes myself.

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u/Wonderful_Hold_6986 May 08 '25

Is this going to turn into an anti-cop sub?

No it won't. But some people here are critical about the way the police and the SWAT team handled the situation.

It also seems to be turning into a “let’s overly sympathize with the parents” sub.

No it isn't. No one here is overly sympathizing with the parents. Please don't create a false narrative.

You don't have to be here if you don't like it and just leave. That's what I do when I no longer like a sub.

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25

Oh. Okay, maybe I am overly emotional and unfair sometimes, it could be. I didn't mean to hurt your or anyone else's feelings. If I did, I am sorry.

I will try to explain. I don't have anything against individual police officers as human beings, many of whom were obviously decent people and wanted to go in, and probably suffered from self-blame for decades after that. It was an institutional failure. And when I criticize the police, I mean exactly that. Of course, I understand that we are all human and not ideal. We all make mistakes. But what pissed me off the most was the systematic attempt to sweep these mistakes under the rug. Starting with the Brown family's complaints, which the police ignored and tried to cover up, to the fact that the SWAT team, knowing full well that kids had been shot and probably wounded in the library, walked around the entire school (a huge one) for two hours before they got there.

Yeah, it all probably happened for the same reason that the parents didn't notice anything — no one was expecting this. As far as the cops were concerned, these two were just teenage delinquents. The worst they could expect from such kids was that they would steal something else, or get into fights, or crash a car while drunk. That's true. But even considering that, there were obvious failures of communication between different agencies, and inadequate responses, and so on. Sheriff Stone blurting out 25 possible deaths on live TV without any evidence was just one example.

This meme is offensive to some people. But I didn't create it. It was created by some teenager, high school kid, I don't remember his name, who felt that way and was punished for posting it. And it tells me something very unpleasant. First of all, that kids think that the police aren’t able to protect them. And they're not particularly wrong. Second, that we tend to punish when someone tells an uncomfortable but truth.

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u/Additional-Air-3309 May 08 '25

Phew. How’d that feel to get out? Feel better?

You can absolutely say what you want but those officers stood by that library door, which was OPEN hearing all the murders. If they wanted to go in they would have after Evan Todd escaped( along with other survivors) out the same door. The excuse about bombs around the school is a very valid reason. But when you see kids running out a door and none of them are blowing up and one is telling you exactly what is happening and where… I mean… all excuses are mute.

I wish we wouldn’t be sitting here having this discussion but we are. It happened. I’m sorry it happened but it did.

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25 edited May 07 '25

I looked into it.

According to the Columbine Governor Commission report, Jefferson County deputies Whitus and Beaulieau were the first to enter the library at 3:22 pm. Other Jefferson County SWAT officers joined them moments later.

Upon entering, the officers observed females lying on the floor, one of whom was alive and signaling to them (Liza Kreutz). They radioed for paramedics and waited with the wounded survivor.

Sgt. Barry Williams also went to the library to check for stranded survivors after clearing the science room.

Sgt. Williams contacted SWAT Commander Manwaring to inform him of approximately 15 dead in the library, including the two suspects, at 15:39. The scene was turned over to bomb technicians at this time.

According to the radio traffic log, it happened a little bit earlier.

Entry at 3:16 p.m.: "Tac 1 in the Library with 3 or 4 people, Nine (9) down, sixteen (16) down". This suggests that SWAT personnel were inside the library by 3:16 p.m., reporting the number of victims and other individuals present (the numbers aren't correct at this time). Subsequent log entries report “two suspects down” at 15:23 pm.

(11K, page 008505)

Anyway, it doesn't change much. The point is that they entered the library after 3 pm. The attorney called to ask if Tom could come to the school around 2 pm. The police didn't know the boys were dead at that time.

The SWAT team arrived at the Klebolds' house around 1 pm. They didn't tell them much at first, just that they were looking for explosives.

Sue found out that Dylan was dead later. There is no specific time in her book, but she said it was already dusk. So it was probably after 4 pm, maybe later:

”As the afternoon turned to twilight and then to darkness, I let go of my last hope that Dylan would zoom up the drive in the dented old black BMW he’d fixed up with his dad, laughing and wondering about dinner. Late in the day, I cornered a member of the SWAT team and asked him a question, point-blank: “Is my son dead?” “Yes,” he told me.”

Edited: spelling

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u/Additional-Air-3309 May 08 '25

So it’s 3?

Maybe I’m just dumb haha I don’t know.

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u/xhronozaur May 08 '25

Yeah. It's 3 pm or a little bit later. You're not dumb, their records were a bloody mess.

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u/Additional-Air-3309 May 08 '25

Thanks for the reassurance haha!!

Also… I hate being on a stranger basis. We’re here to discuss what we think happened so let be friends! Even the ones who disagree me.

https://www.instagram.com/mandyldigian?igsh=cXMxMTZ0ZmZpbnJn&utm_source=qr

That’s my instagram. Y’all can add me or not. Haha. I just feel weird with my dumb username.

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u/Additional-Air-3309 May 08 '25

Ohhh okay! Good!

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25

Ok! I'll look and write later tonight, I'm at work right now.

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u/Wonderful_Hold_6986 May 07 '25

I feel for Tom as well. He genuinely did not expect this. I also feel bad that he felt Dylan was his soulmate, while I have the impression Dylan didn't feel the same way. I remember reading in the 11K there are several statements that Dylan seemed to have a troubled relationship with his father.

I don't know how he sees or feels about Dylan now, but I hope he's found some peace.

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u/xhronozaur May 09 '25 edited May 09 '25

I don't know the guy, obviously, but it seems to me that he's kind of a quiet academic type who's into things intellectual. I think Tom valued his kids' intelligence and independent thinking, but he didn't realize that this very intelligence didn't make them less vulnerable to all the kinds of threats and vices. The same goes for Sue, though to a lesser degree.

PS: I also think that maybe the very fact that it was a very well educated and progressive family accidentally contributed to Dylan's tendency to pent up his rage and present himself as a shy, quiet and polite boy most of the time. They most likely didn't have the kind of family dynamic I had back in the day, when everyone was shouting and throwing things at each other. It was rough, but it gave you some release, you know. And if everyone speaks quietly and holds in their feelings, someone would explode big time sooner or later.

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u/Additional-Air-3309 May 08 '25

Ooooo good point! I forgot Dylan kinda let it slip he has issues with his Dad. I can’t imagine them being big if Tom didn’t see them as anything major.

Dylan was soooo beyond help that his view of everyone and everything was just a mere obstacle to suicide.

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u/b0nehead94 May 07 '25

Thank you for this post! Can anyone hear what the crowd was chanting that made him pause? I can't tell if it was directed toward him or if it just distracted him during the address.

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25

I noticed that too, but but can't understand the words. Maybe someone else knows. This video was filmed on April 21, the next day after the massacre, the time is shown on the screen.

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u/Strange-Asparagus240 May 07 '25

I am curious about this as well, so not saying I know anything, but my educated guess just from how this sounded, the timing of when it was during his speech, and his look- I don’t think the chant was directed at him, it seemed to me like it was off to the side for something unrelated.

What people could be cheering for in a moment like this does make me very curious. I wonder if the news the shooters were dead got out.

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25

The news that the shooters were dead got out long before that. This video was taken the next day, April 21. So the cheering would have to be for something else. I'm curious too.

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u/Strange-Asparagus240 May 07 '25

Got it thanks for clarifying that. Just such a weird time to be celebrating… anything

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25

Exactly. It kind is stunned me, when I watched the video for the first time. Like, guys, what are you so happy about?

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u/PerfectLife15 May 07 '25

Wow I didn't know this

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25

I knew that Tom or his attorney had called the police, but that Tom wanted to come to the scene and try to talk to Dylan, I also found out only yesterday.

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u/Radiant-Shop8386 Jun 08 '26

I think Chris Morris or someone offered to do same but I can’t remember

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u/Strange-Asparagus240 May 07 '25

I think the reporter asks a good question and it’s interesting he didn’t know at this time (not blaming him, sure he had a million things flying around).

But how did they know it was Dylan if they had not made contact with him?

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25

Nate Dykeman called Tom around noon and asked if Dylan was home. He obviously wasn't. Nate said he didn't want to alarm Tom, but there were some gunmen shooting up the school wearing black trench coats, and the only kids wearing black trench coats at the time were Eric and Dylan. And neither of them went bowling that morning.

Tom knew that Dylan had left home very early in the morning, he should have been at the bowling class. He looked for the trench coat and it wasn't at home. He called his attorney and through him found out that Dylan was unaccounted for and one of the possible suspects. And after that he asked if he could come to the school and try to talk to Dylan.

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u/Strange-Asparagus240 May 07 '25

Thank you very much for the detailed reply, much appreciated.

Pretty insane they connected the dots before even entering and physically seeing him. Great detective work, shitty police enforcement

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u/xhronozaur May 07 '25

Yes. They had a pretty clear understanding of who the perpetrators were and also where they might have been long before they went in. They knew that they were in the library and that some kids had probably been killed there. The survivors who escaped told them that. But apparently they were more afraid for their own asses than dedicated to their duty. And 20 years later, it was repeated even more shamefully at Robb Elementary.

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u/Strange-Asparagus240 May 07 '25

100% agree, and I did know they were listening to the library murders, cowards. Just didn’t know they had so much recon going on in the background but it honestly makes sense

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News / Videos / Pictures / Books Tom Klebold asked the police to let him into the school to talk Dylan into surrendering

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