Bush offers condolences to Minnesota tribe

Published 9:00 pm Friday, March 25, 2005

CRAWFORD, Texas – President Bush on Friday extended condolences to residents of the Red Lake Indian reservation in Minnesota, four days after a teenage tribal member went on a shooting rampage, killing nine people before committing suicide.

Bush called Floyd Jourdain, chairman of the Red Lake Chippewa Tribe, to express his sympathy to the victims, their families and the “entire Red Lake community,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

On Monday, Jeff Weise, 16, killed his grandfather and his companion, then went to Red Lake High School, where he fatally shot five students, a school security guard and a teacher. Seven other students were wounded in what authorities consider the second-worst school shooting in U.S. history.

Bush made no mention of the Red Lake shooting in public appearances Monday and Tuesday to promote his Social Security initiative. White House press secretary Scott McClellan expressed condolences for the Red Lake victims on Tuesday.

The president’s delayed reaction angered some American Indian leaders.

Clyde Bellecourt, founder and national director of the American Indian Movement, said the president’s expression of concern had come too late to assuage the grief and anger of American Indians.

“All over the world, people are calling, offering their sympathy, condolences and support. The only person we hadn’t heard from was the president of the United States,” Bellecourt said. “If this had taken place at the University of Texas, he would have been there the next day.”

In 1999, then-President Clinton responded publicly within hours to the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, where 15 people were killed.

Perino said the president asked Jourdain about students at the school, pledged continuing federal support and offered his prayers for the victims.