Glendale police release letters from teen shooter in campus murder-suicide
The 15-year-old girl who fatally shot herself and a classmate two weeks ago at Independence High School in Glendale left behind notes of apology, explanation and even guidance for the emergency personnel she foresaw arriving at the chaotic scene she would soon create.
Glendale police released copies of the letters Friday afternoon while also announcing that they would be submitting a charge against another teen who provided the girl the gun.
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Family members have confirmed that the pair who died were May Kieu and Dorothy Dutiel, both 15. Police identified Dutiel as the shooter. They were both sophomores and had been in a romantic relationship.
The handwritten letters, which were edited by police to remove identities and other privileged information, provide a window into a teenage psyche, portraying a girl who said she was “of sane mind” struggling with excruciating heartbreak.
In a letter titled “+ biased explanations,” Dutiel wrote about the unraveling relationship between her and her girlfriend — presumably Kieu.
“Last Saturday, I was informed she didn’t love me romantically anymore,” the letter said. “I was not okay. But we did not separate, because she told me there was a chance.”
“This week,” she continued, “has been the worst in my life.”
The author took pains to absolve everyone in her life of responsibility for her actions — including Kieu. She apologized to her parents for “what I have done,” as well as for comparatively inconsequential details.
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“I’m sorry that you just bought me new clothes,” she says in a letter addressed to “Momma.”
A separate letter addressed to “First responders” was matter-of-fact. It said the gun was a Beretta, provided by a classmate. The victim was her girlfriend (name redacted), and the “holder” of this note was “me” (name redacted).
The day of the shooting, a firefighter was the first to notice a piece of paper hanging out of her right front pocket.
The note ended with phone numbers for three “emergency contacts” — her mother, father and grandmother.
In a paragraph near the top of the letter, Dutiel attempted to relieve the classmate who provided the gun of any blame.
“I would like to clarify that him and his family are in no way affiliated with my actions,” she writes. “(Redacted) was under the absolute impression I needed it for self defense. I lied to receive this gun.”
On Friday, Glendale police announced that investigators planned to submit a charge of sale or gift of firearm to a minor, a low-level felony, against the student. The law states that a person who sells or gives a firearm to a minor, without consent of the minor's parent or guardian, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.
The police statement stressed that both of the girls’ families do not wish to prosecute the 15-year-old boy.
It will be up to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office whether to file charges. A spokesman for the office did not respond to requests for comment Friday evening.
