(Golden, CO – March 20, 2018) A Jefferson County District Court judge has denied the state hospital’s request for off-grounds unsupervised privileges for Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood, DOB: 1-21-78. In 2011 Mr. Eastwood was found not guilty by reason of insanity for shooting two children at Deer Creek Middle School in unincorporated Jefferson County.
During a day-long hearing on March 14, Judge Laura Tighe listened to testimony from two doctors who work with Mr. Eastwood at the Colorado Mental Health Institute (CMHI) in Pueblo, Colorado. The CMHI had filed notice with the court that they intended to expand his treatment and rehabilitation activities to include unsupervised off-grounds privileges. In response to the CMHI’s notice, the District Attorney’s Office filed an objection. The District Attorney’s Office also notified victims of the shooting, many of whom also filed a written objection with the court. As a result of the objections, the hearing was scheduled.
In February, 2010 Bruco Eastwood left the house he shared with his father in Hudson, CO. His eventual destination was Deer Creek Middle School. He was armed with a loaded hunting rifle he took from his father’s closet. When Eastwood arrived at Deer Creek Middle School he went in and out of the school before the bell rang at 3:05, dismissing the kids for the day. When the bell rang, kids poured out of the school, gathering in groups with their friends. Eastwood approached a group of kids and fired at two eight-graders. A 15-year-old boy was severely injured. The second child, a 14-year-old girl, was injured less seriously, but was severely traumatized as were others at the school and in the community.
In October, 2011 a Jefferson County jury found Mr. Eastwood Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity for shooting the two children at the school. They found him guilty of Possessing a Weapon on School Grounds. He was committed to the CMHI. He was also sentenced to the maximum of 18 months in prison for the weapons charge. He was given credit for time served.
In 2015, the CMHI filed a similar notice that they intended to provide off-grounds supervised privileges for Mr. Eastwood as part of his treatment and rehabilitation. The District Attorney and victim families objected. Following a hearing, the judge allowed supervised off-grounds privileges for Mr. Eastwood with certain conditions.
