Bush Offers Prayers in Shootings

President Bush extended condolences Friday to residents of the Red Lake 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 Jr., council chairman of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa, 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 grandfather’s female 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 Native American leaders. Clyde Bellecourt, co-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 Native Americans.

“All over the world, people are calling, offering their sympathy, condolences and support,” Bellecourt said. “The only person we hadn’t heard from was the president of the United States. “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.

Bush placed the five-minute call to Jourdain at 7:34 a.m. from his Texas ranch, Perino said. He had tried to call Jourdain at least twice on Thursday but had reached his voice mailbox instead, she said.

“Chairman Jourdain said he was very appreciative of the call and for the federal assistance so far,” Perino said. “The president ended the call by saying he is praying for the victims and the families.”