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Parents of Columbine gunmen reach settlement with five families

LITTLETON - The parents of Columbine gunmen Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris have reached a settlement with the families of five victims killed in the school massacre.

PHOTO: Wayne and Kathy Harris leave federal court in July.

Gary Lozow, who represents Thomas and Susan Klebold, said a settlement with the families was reached on Friday and that paperwork was filed in federal court on Tuesday.

Wayne and Kathy Harris were sued by the families of Daniel Rohrbough, Kelly Fleming, Matthew Kechter, Lauren Townsend and Kyle Velasquez. The Klebolds were also named in the suit.

They alleged the parents should have known what their sons were up to before the April 20, 1999 shootings.

Barry Arrington, the lawyer for the five families, argued that the parents of the gunmen were liable for not being aware of or not doing anything about their son's gunplay and bombmaking.

While most of the families of those killed and injured at Columbine settled their lawsuits in 2001, the five families held out demanding more information from the Klebolds and Harrises. The $1.6 million settlement was reached between 30 families and the parents of the gunmen.

The money was paid by the Harrises and Klebolds' homeowners insurance. Families whose children survived with injuries were reportedly given more money than families whose children were killed.

Lozow said the terms of the latest settlement are similar.

In recent weeks, both parents took part in depositions, answering questions behind closed doors.

With Tuesday's settlement, only one lawsuit is still pending.

The family of Isaiah Shoels is contesting whether they agreed to be a part of the first settlement.

While lawyers for the gunmen's families did not release details on the new settlement, the Klebolds are expected to make a statement later this week.

Klebold and Harris killed 12 students and a teacher at Columbine High School before committing suicide.

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