Columbine families claim cover-up

The families of five US high school students killed in a 1999 massacre have asked that a federal grand jury investigate their claims of a cover-up by authorities.

The families claim a police officer accidentally killed 15-year-old student Daniel Rohrbough as he fled Columbine High School in Colorado and that authorities tried to cover it up.

‘‘Lies have been told beyond any doubt,’’ said lawyer Barry Arrington, representing the families, yesterday after he submitted the request to the US attorney’s office in Denver. ‘‘The only issue is, why are they lying?’’

Investigators have maintained since the April 20, 1999, shooting that students Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris killed all 13 victims before committing suicide.

US Attorney John Suthers yesterday said he would meet with the US Department of Justice’s civil rights office and the FBI to decide if a federal crime had been committed.

Prosecutors last week said there was no new evidence for a grand jury to review.

US District Judge Lewis Babcock in November dismissed eight lawsuits against Jefferson County sheriff’s officers and school officials, including those filed by the five families seeking the grand jury probe.

The judge said school officials responded reasonably to the shootings.