Kacey Ruegsegger

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Ruegsegger, Kacey

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PIRNARR
04-26-1999
Arvada Police/Court System
Arvada Police Department

NARRATIVE

Ref #99-12067
Reported Date 04-20-1999
Time 12:39:32
Type ASSTOA
Status RTF
Location 6201 S Pierce St

DET1  04-21-1999
GAETANO/SJG8401
JEFFERSON COUNTY CASE 99-7625

Kacey Ruegsegger, DOB: 03-29-82
St. Anthony Hospital Central

On 040299, IO Gaetano spoke with Sgt. Gary Hutchcraft who requested assistance with a multi-agency investigation regarding multiple shootings at Columbine High School in unincorporated Jefferson County.

IO and Det. James Nelson went to St. Anthony Central Hospital where two victims, Kacey Lynne Ruegsegger (DOB: 03-29-82), and Michael Johnson (DOB: unk.) were being treated for gunshot wounds. Two additional victims, Makai Hall and a male with the surname Ireland were later transported to the hospital.

After arriving, IO gathered information regarding victim Kacey Ruegsegger while Det. Nelson worked with Makai Hall and Lakewood Detective Quinn Wilhelm was with Michael Johnson. Denver Detective Joel Humphries accompanied the fourth victim, a male with the last name of Ireland, to the hospital. He remained with him at St. Anthony Central.

According to staff physician Dr. Drury, Ruegsegger suffered what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the right shoulder, entering through the front just above the collar bone, traveling through the shoulder joint and exiting through the back of the shoulder. She had an additional “through and through” injury to her right hand, entering near the base of her thumb and exiting through the back. In this wound was an object, later identified as a metal washer. She also had bruising or a gunshot graze on her neck.

At the time of IO’s arrival, she had been taken far an angiogram. Denver Officer D. A. Awe #92-74 was present in the emergency room and had been given, by Dr. Drury, what appears to be a shotgun wad. Dr. Drury had removed it from the entrance wound in the girl’s shoulder. The wad was wrapped in a plastic bag, and IO took control of it at approximately 1322 hours. IO placed it into another, labeled, bag and locked it in the trunk of C-155, which was parked in the emergency vehicle parking area outside the emergency room door.

ER nurse Jane Cole gave IO and Det. Nelson clothing and personal belongings taken from victim Michael Johnson. Those items were already in two bags, and they were labeled and locked in the vehicle trunk by IO Gaetano. Since Lakewood Det. Wilhelm interviewed Michael Johnson, he was subsequently given the bags containing his property. After each time that IO Gaetano accessed the trunk of C-155, the keys were obtained from and returned to Det. Nelson.

When Ruegsegger had been returned to the emergency room at approximately 1445 hours, she was conscious. IO was able to complete a very basic interview with her, although she was uncomfortable talking and had numerous friends and relatives in attendance. Ruegsegger had been given at least two doses of morphine and seemed to be in a great deal of pain. She advised that she had been in the school library reading a book when she heard what she now believes were gunshots, but at the time she did

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not know the cause of the noise but thought it came from the cafeteria. Ruegsegger estimated that there were 30-50 people in the library, but she was not accompanied by anyone known to her. About five minutes after the noise, the librarian yelled at everyone, telling them to get down, under the tables and that someone had a gun.

Ruegsegger hid under a small table, pulling a chair in front of herself. She heard the voices of two gunmen, both male, talking. She recalls hearing one gunman talk to someone, saying something like “Oh, a nigger, you’re a dead black boy.” A male student, who was next to Ruegsegger under a table, was shot. Ruegsegger screamed, and the gunmen told her to stop her “bitching.” She could only see the gunman’s legs and thought he may have been wearing black pants. She was unable to recall his footwear.

The gunman leaned down and shot her from an estimated five or six feet. She still was only able to see the legs of the shooter. She never saw the second gunman and could not distinguish and accents or identifiable features, including race, from the voices. Ruegsegger used her hands to cover her ears, and the injury to her right hand was believed to be sustained after she had been shot in the shoulder. She was unclear as to whether she’d been shot a second time, in the hand.

Ruegsegger remained hidden under the table, continuing to hear “bangs,” at least some of which she believes were bombs exploding. She does not know what made the gunmen leave the library. After the gunmen left the room, the students who were able to do so ran from the room. Two people, including one possibly named Sarah tried to help her get out. She was unable to move quickly and was trampled by other victims in the rush to leave the area. She remembers being outside the school and in or near a police car before she was given medical treatment.

IO spoke with parents Darcey and Greg Ruegsegger at the hospital. Darcey advised that an unidentified man had phoned her, at her daughter’s request, to advise her of the situation. It appears as though this man was a neighbor or bystander who was with the girl in a nearby yard. Shortly after the first phone call, she was contacted by medical personnel who advised that she was being transported to the hospital. Darcey and Greg Ruegsegger remained with their daughter until she was taken to surgery. Greg advised IO that his daughter told him she recalled the gun used to shoot her as having two barrels.

IO obtained a medical records release signed by Darcey Ruegsegger.

IO Gaetano was allowed to accompany the surgical team, including Drs. Wolf, Wong, and Desai, into the operating room during the surgery. When the backboard was removed from under Ruegsegger, her clothing was accessible. IO packaged and labeled it during the operation, at approximately 1725 hours.

Among the items were a pair of Blues Express jeans, size 3/4 L, with a brown belt still in the loops; a white pair of Victoria’s Secret panties, size small; and what appeared to be one section of a white sleeveless t-shirt. The other section of the shirt had been retrieved by IO while the girl was in the emergency room at approximately 1620. The

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front section, retrieved first, had a “Hard Rock Café” logo and the word Maui printed on the front. IO showed Darcey Ruegsegger the portion of the shirt with the word “Maui,” and she did not recognize it as belonging to her daughter. No shoes, socks or bra were among the items under the girl. It is unknown whether the t-shirt was actually from another victim and could have been used for padding or bandaging.

During the surgery, Dr. Wong took two Polaroid photos of the shoulder wound, one entrance and one exit, for IO Gaetano. Dr. Wolf retrieved what appears to be a small metal washer from the injury to the girl’s right hand. It was placed into a plastic bag held by IO at approximately 1745 hours. After surgery, IO spoke with Dr. Wolf and learned that the wound to Ruegsegger’s right hand may have been due to shrapnel rather than a gunshot. The wound was curved, in somewhat of a “C” shape and jagged. Some of Ruegsegger’s hair was enmeshed in the wound to her right hand.

The extent of the surgery was to stabilize and clean the girl’s injuries. Dr. Desai’s plan for surgery was to clean the shoulder area and place pins inside with an external plate. Future surgery would be needed to repair the shoulder. IO did not remain in the operating room for the entire operation. IO left the hospital at approximately 2023 hrs.

All items related to Ruegsegger were placed in the APD lab for drying and for security. The items were left inside the locked drying room which is contained within the locked lab.   On 042199, the items were photographed by IO Gaetano and packaged by IO and from Tech. John Graham. The two Polaroid photos were logged on the evidence sheets but were made part of the case file to be given to the Jefferson County authorities. In looking at the photos, it appears that the gunshot may have grazed her neck before going through her shoulder.

On 042199, at approximately 1405 hours, IO Gaetano attempted to re-interview Ruegsegger in the Progressive Care Unit of St. Anthony Hospital Central. She was able to answer only a few questions and frequently dozed off while speaking with IO. She advised that she was sitting in a chair in the school library reading a magazine at about 11:15. She heard some “bangs” that sounded like they were coming from the top of the stairs by the library door.

The people in the library (she estimates that there were 30 or more) were talking about the noises and asking one another what it was.   The bangs stopped for a time, and she heard more noises that seemed to be coming from downstairs. The librarian yelled at everyone to get down, saying that a kid had a gun. The doors to the library remained open. Ruegsegger got off the chair she was using and hid under a computer booth/table, pulling a chair in front of her. She estimates that she was hiding for five or ten minutes before the gunmen came into the library and fired a shot.

She was unable to see what was happening but thinks that someone had been shot at this time. One of the gunmen stood in front of Ruegsegger and said something that Ruegsegger could not make sense of. She thought he commanded everyone with a white hat to get up so he could shoot them. The gunman shot an acquaintance

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of hers, Dan Steepleton (uncertain spelling), apparently striking him in the leg. Steepleton was across the room from Ruegsegger, and within her field of vision. She recalls that she heard the voices of the two gunmen and is not certain whether she saw both or only one. She recalls them speaking to each other, making comments like, “This is so much fun,” and “Isn’t this the best time of your life?” One gunman mentioned something like, “Here we have a nigger, let’s kill him.” That statement was followed by a gunshot, but she could not see the person to whom the comment was directed.

One gunman bent down and shot a girl in the stomach across the room from Ruegsegger. One gunman shot the male student next to Ruegsegger. She put her head down and covered her ears just before she was shot in the shoulder. After she moaned, the gunman told her to stop her “bitchin’”, so she fell and pretended to be dead. The unidentified girl to her left was not shot by the gunmen.

Bombs began going off, but Ruegsegger was unable to see them or know how they were being detonated. She is not able to estimate the amount of time that the gunmen where inside the library. People in the room said that the gunmen left, so those who were able to do so fled. One of the two people trying to help her was a student named Sara Houy (uncertain spelling).

Ruegsegger said that she remembered seeing several guns on the person of one of the gunmen. She said she thought he took his trench coat off, but she was unable to say whether this was the person who shot her. He may have been wearing black pants, she cannot recall any information regarding his other clothing. She believes she was shot by either a shotgun or rifle as opposed to a handgun.

At the request of Lakewood Sgt. Don Grishan, IO asked Ruegsegger whether she knows someone named [REDACTED] a white male with curly hair. She advised that the name sounds familiar, but she did not recall knowing him.

IO ended the interview when it became apparent that the victim was too tired to continue. Dr. Desai was present and completed a physician’s statement (SBI) form.

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Kacey L Ruegsegger, DOB: 032982

INFORMATION CONTAINED:

Two Polaroid photos of gunshot wound to shoulder
Computer-generated copies of the same
Quick Start form (Copy)
Medical Records Release signed by mother
Physician’s Statement of SBI
Lab contact sheet of photos of clothing, shotgun wad and shrapnel (from hand wound)

Ofc. S, Gaetano, Arvada PD
303-421-2550 x 3235

(handwritten)
Photos returned to family 12-14-99

K. Battan

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FD-302 (Rev 10-6-95)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Date of transcription 5-12-99

Kacey Ruegsegger, date of birth March 29, 1982, [REDACTED] was interviewed at her home in the presence of her parents, Greg and Darcey Ruegsegger. After being advised of the identity of the interviewing Agent and Diane Obemma, Investigator, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Ruegsegger furnished the following information:

Ruegsegger has been on pain medication for the injuries she sustained in the Columbine High School Shootings. Ruegsegger had taken pain medication prior to the interview but felt fine and clear headed.

Ruegsegger is a Junior at Columbine High School. Her first class of the day is European History with Mrs. Hering. This is during first period which runs from 7:30 AM to 8:20 AM.  Her second period class is Algebra II with Mrs. Moore. This class runs from 8:25 AM to 9:20 AM. During the first five minutes of second period, the Rebel News Network announcements are broadcast over televisions located within the classrooms. The students in her class usually don’t pay attention to the announcements.

On April 20, 1999, Ruegsegger did not see the announcements for the day. She was told by another student in class that the quote for the day stated something to the effect of “today’s a bad day to be here.” This student mentioned it to Ruegsegger during that class period. Third period runs from 9:25 AM to 10:15 AM. Ruegsegger has Accounting with Mr. Stoeklen during this period. Her fourth period class is Literature with Mr. Webb. This class runs from 10:20 AM to 11:10 AM. Fifth period, or “A” lunch, begins at 11:15 AM. This is Ruegsegger’s lunch period.

During her lunch period, Ruegsegger will typically go to her locker and then come home to eat lunch. She shares a locker with Lindsay Kasch, and they often eat lunch together. On April 20, 1999, Ruegsegger went to her locker during the beginning of “A” lunch hour and waited for Kasch. When Kasch did not arrive, Ruegsegger began to walk toward the library. She walked down the center hall looking for Kasch and then walked down to the Math/Science Hall, passing the stairs to the cafeteria on

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her way to the library. Ruegsegger later learned that Kasch had been sick that day and was not in school.

Ruegsegger was sitting in the chair on the North side of the small table reading a magazine. Not long after starting to read the magazine, she heard sounds coming from outside the library and school building. She didn’t recall specifically what the sounds were or how many sounds she heard. She remembers looking around at other students and nobody else seemed to react, so she went back to reading. A couple of minutes later, she saw a female teacher come into the library and state something to the effect of “get down, he has a gun.”

Ruegsegger got up and moved to hide under the computer table. She got under the second cubby area of the computer table. There are two computer tables in the library, and she was on the South side of the table further to the South. She was sitting upright facing the front door area of the library. She pulled one of the chairs in towards her to help conceal herself. Ruegsegger indicated on the library diagram her position under the computer table.

A couple of minutes later, two gunmen came into the library and immediately moved to the west side. She does not recall what the gunmen looked like or what they were wearing. One of the gunmen moved to the area between Ruegsegger and table #18. Ruegsegger does not recall what direction this gunman moved from to get to table #18. He removed his trench coat and dropped it on the floor North of table #18. When he took off his trench coat, he laid his weapon on top of table #18. Ruegsegger remembers the weapon to be a long gun, possibly a rifle or shotgun.

After that she heard that gunman state something to the effect of “everyone with a white cap or baseball cap stand up.” He was standing near the West side of table #18 when he made the comment. Ruegsegger did not hear or see anybody stand up. The

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gunman then stated, “Fine. I’ll just start shooting.” Ruegsegger did not know the location of the second gunman, when the first gunman was removing his trench coat and making these white hat comments.

The gunmen then began shooting within the West part of the library. After hearing gunfire, she heard one of the gunmen near the West side of table #19 stat, “Hey man, I have a nigger over here.” After that last statement she heard more gunshots. About this time, she could feel big explosions within the West part of the library. She then saw one of the gunmen beds sown and shoot towards a boy in the first cubby hole (behind her).

She quickly looked away and heard the gunshot. The gunman was approximately eight to ten feet away when she saw him. Ruegsegger does not specifically remember what the gunman looked like or how he was dressed. She does believe the gun may have had two barrels.

Immediately after the gunshot behind her, Ruegsegger was shot in her right shoulder. Ruegsegger thought she got shot from behind, but her doctors told her the wound came from the front side, exiting the back of her shoulder. She remembers after being shot, her right arm floating up in the air and then coming back down.

Ruegsegger had her hands covering her ears at the time she was shot. Ruegsegger thought that her right arm had been shot off. She made a comment like “oh” and the gunman told her to “stop her bitching.” She then put her head down and pretended to play dead. She does remember seeing a girl in the next cubby hole to the West of her looking at her at the time.

After being shot everything that occurred in the library became fuzzy. Ruegsegger was holding her arm and pretending to be dead. She does remember hearing a comment by one of the gunmen that they were “going to blow up this whole fucking Library.” That statement was followed by more gunshots and the sounds of bombs exploding. Ruegsegger could recall no other specific comments by the gunman or their movement within the library. She estimated it was approximately ten minutes after she was shot that the library got quiet. Ruegsegger does not remember hearing a fire alarm going off in the library.

A few minutes after it appeared the gunmen had left the library, students stated getting up and leaving. Ruegsegger asked if one of the students walking near her, Craig Scott, to help

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her. Scott and the girl that was in the cubby hole next to her, helped her get up to her feet. Scott then held on to her and they moved to the back door exit of the library. As they moved to the back door, she remembers seeing kids in the offices that adjoined the hall to the back door. She was not aware of how those students got into the offices. As they continued to move to the back door, she and Scott were getting run into by other students trying to exit the library.

Ruegsegger remembers exiting the back door and running up a small hill to a police car. Ruegsegger ran to the police car on her own and doesn’t know what happened to Scott. Hiding behind the police car were approximately 20 students. She remembers seeing Dan Steepleton, Val Schnurr and Sara Houy behind the police car. Schnurr was sitting next to her and Houy was holding a shirt to Ruegsegger’s shoulder. She also remembers a heavyset body lying on the ground in bad shape with other students trying to keep that person awake.

She remembers seeing one police officer behind the car pointing his gun at the school, hiding behind and open door of the vehicle. That officer kept saying to the students to stay relaxed. She does remember hearing somebody say that there was somebody on the roof.

Another police car drove down to the police car they were hiding behind. Ruegsegger was loaded into that police car and shuttled behind a shed further up the hill. From there she was again loaded into a police car to be shuttled to a neighborhood, where a triage area had been set up.  Ruegsegger got into the police car behind the shed, but it could not start, and they were moved to another police car. She was driven to the triage area and was taken out of the police car.

She laid down on the grass and was “pretty calm.” A lady gave her water from a hose and then a nurse came to look at her injuries. A man gave her a phone and she was able to call her mom. She was placed into an ambulance and during the drive to the hospital again was able to call her mom. Ruegsegger was calm and not crying until she was at the hospital and saw her mom.

Ruegsegger’s wounds were to her right shoulder. Ruegsegger had a cadaver bone placed in her arm to connect it to the shoulder socket. Her shoulder socket is intact though she does still have some metal pieces lodged in her shoulder. The doctors also removed a washer from her right thumb.

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Ruegsegger has never seen Eric Harris or Dylan Klebold before. Ruegsegger did not recognize the pictures of Harris and Klebold she has seen in the media as the gunmen in the library.

Ruegsegger has a green Jansport backpack which should be on the floor in front of the chair that she was sitting in. There is a WWJD cross on the zipper of the backpack. The backpack contained schoolbooks and notebooks. Her locker number is #1180 and is located next to the fire hydrant by the tech lab. Her locker contains schoolbooks, a sweatshirt and a thin jacket. Ruegsegger’s car was parked in spot #222 in the senior parking lot.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
Receipt for the Return of Property/Evidence

Name of owner (L-F-M): Ruegsegger, Greg
JCSD Case Number: 99-7625

ITM# [none] QUAN: 2
                 
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY/EVIDENCE RETURNED:
Polaroid photos of Kacey at the hospital. 2 originals and 5 copies

I, Greg Ruegsegger, the Undersigned hereby acknowledge, as affirmed by my signature affixed below and appropriately witnessed, that:

                     [X]   I am the owner to:

                     [O] I am lawfully authorized and entitled to:

                     [O] I am authorized by the owner to:

TAKE POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY ABOVE LISTED AND DESCRIBED

Now wherefore, in consideration for the release to me by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department of the above said and described property, I hereby promise to indemnify, save, hole harmless and to protect the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado, The Sheriff of Jefferson County, State of Colorado, and any of their employees and agents from and against any and all suits, actions, and claims for damages, and from and against any costs or obligations of any type or manner whatsoever arising or resulting from the release of the above said and described property and items.

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