Delayed Internet Warrant Hinders Colorado School Shooting Threat Identification: Sheriff’s Revelation

In Jefferson County, Colorado, a call for reform is echoing from the office of the Sheriff following a tragic incident at Evergreen High School. Sheriff Reggie Marinelli is advocating for more rapid cooperation from social media companies when it comes to providing essential information that could thwart potential threats.

Sheriff Marinelli contends that these platforms currently allow too much time to pass before handing over crucial data to law enforcement agencies, which could be critical in preventing violent acts. She highlighted an incident this summer where the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued several warrants in an effort to track down a mysterious social media user. This individual had been making alarming statements about orchestrating a mass shooting, yet investigators were unable to pinpoint the suspect in time to prevent the tragedy at Evergreen High School.

According to a report by the Anti-Defamation League, the shooter at Evergreen High had been frequenting a violent online community several months before the attack. On September 10, he injured two fellow students before taking his own life on the school grounds, a chilling act that authorities might have averted with earlier access to his digital footprint.

The ADL’s findings, which Sheriff Marinelli has corroborated, paint a disturbing picture. The gunman harbored a fascination with past school shootings and had shared content on platforms like TikTok and X, including a video featuring tactical gear and an image of a revolver. Despite these warning signs, law enforcement was left in the dark about his identity and location until it was too late.

A report from the Anti-Defamation League revealed the Evergreen shooter had been active on a violent online forum months before he opened fire at Evergreen High School on Sept. 10, injuring two classmates before taking his own life.

Marinelli confirmed the ADL’s report, which showed the gunman had an obsession with previous school shooters. He also posted a TikTok video showing tactical gear and a photo of a revolver on X. At the time, authorities had no idea who he was or where he was located.

“The complaint we had in reference to the shooting at Evergreen came in through New York, so it wasn’t anywhere near Colorado,” Marinelli said.

After an online threat is reported, Marinelli says the process to get a user’s information often starts with a warrant for an IP address. Colorado allows social media companies 35 days to respond to those warrants.

Once that IP address is received, Marinelli says police will then submit a second warrant for more detailed information, triggering another 35-day response window.

Marinelli said the process often takes two or three warrants before authorities can obtain an email address.

“At that point in time, you just hope that email address is connected to a true name and a true address, and it gives you that information,” she said.

Marinelli is now advocating for both state and federal legislative changes that would require social media companies to respond to warrants within 24 hours when a threat is involved.

“Part of me wonders if we could have saved the shooter on Sept. 10 from himself, but we will never have that opportunity to find out,” she said. “But we can certainly save a lot of lives and a lot of injuries in the future if we were to speed this process up.”

The sheriff said she is working with members of Colorado’s congressional delegation to push for the change and hopes the effort will lead to nationwide reform.