Shortly Before Massacre, Teen Got Rosy Report

Less than three months before the Columbine High School massacre, a juvenile probation officer predicted teen killer Eric Harris likely would succeed in life.

Harris and Dylan Klebold had been arrested in January 1998 after allegedly breaking into a van and stealing tools, roughly a year before they opened fire on their Littleton school. They were ordered into a juvenile-diversion program, which allows offenders to avoid jail time and a criminal record through public service or other options.

In a report released Monday, Harris was described as “a very bright young man who is likely to succeed in life. He is intelligent enough to achieve lofty goals as long as he stays on task and remains motivated.”