Columbine High School Massacre
School Shooting Massacre
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Columbine, Colorado, U.S.
TIME PERIOD
April 20, 1999
VICTIMS
16 confirmed
On April 20, 1999, a mass shooting and attempted bombing occurred at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, where twelfth-grade students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 13 students and one teacher, injuring an additional 23 individuals, 20 of whom were shot. The attack began at approximately 11:19 a.m. and concluded with the perpetrators committing suicide in the school library at 12:08 p.m. The duo had planned the assault for over a year, intending to detonate homemade bombs, which ultimately failed, leading to their shooting spree. As of 2025, the incident remains the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, prompting ongoing litigation against the perpetrators' families and their weapons suppliers, who were convicted for supplying firearms to minors.
Investigators and the public theorize that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were influenced by a combination of bullying, mental health issues, and a desire for notoriety, leading to their violent actions. Some speculate that they may have been part of a larger plan that included a more extensive bombing scheme, as evidenced by the explosives they constructed. Additionally, there are theories suggesting that their motives were not solely revenge against peers but also a desire to make a statement against society at large.
The Columbine High School Massacre: A Chilling Tale of Tragedy and Intent
A Day that Shook America
On the morning of April 20, 1999, the tranquility of Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, was shattered by a brutal and meticulously planned attack. Over the course of 49 devastating minutes, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, both seniors at the school, unleashed a reign of terror that left 13 students and one teacher dead. Ten of these victims were killed in the school library, which also became the final scene for Harris and Klebold, who ended their rampage by taking their own lives. Twenty other individuals sustained gunshot wounds, and three additional injuries occurred during desperate attempts to escape.
This assault was the deadliest mass shooting at a K-12 school in the United States until the tragic events of December 2012. Even today, the word "Columbine" evokes memories of this horrific day and has become synonymous with school shootings worldwide.
The Grim Timeline
The attack unfolded between 11:19 a.m. and 12:08 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. The duo's intentions were far more sinister than a shooting spree; they had initially planned to bomb the school, hoping to inflict even greater casualties. Their arsenal included a chilling array of weapons: Harris wielded a 9mm Hi-Point 995 carbine and a 12-gauge Savage 67H pump-action shotgun, while Klebold carried a 9mm Intratec TEC-9 Mini pistol and a 12-gauge Stevens 311D double-barreled shotgun. Both also possessed knives, though these went unused.
In addition to firearms, their cache included 48 CO2 cartridge bombs, 27 pipe bombs, and several propane bombs, some of which were intended as car bombs. They had even crafted seven gas or napalm bombs. Despite their elaborate planning, a series of technical failures with their homemade bombs forced them to rely primarily on guns.
The Perpetrators: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Eric Harris was born on April 9, 1981, in Wichita, Kansas. His family moved frequently due to his father's career as a U.S. Air Force transport pilot. In 1993, after his father retired, they settled in Littleton, Colorado. Harris met Klebold at Ken Caryl Middle School, and they became fast friends.
Dylan Klebold, born on September 11, 1981, in Lakewood, Colorado, was raised in a family of pacifists. He attended Governor's Ranch Elementary and excelled in the CHIPS program for gifted students. Both boys were regular attendees at a Lutheran church, and Klebold's name was inspired by the poet Dylan Thomas.
The Path to Violence
Harris's troubling journey began in 1996 when he created a website initially intended for sharing his video game modifications. However, it soon became a platform for his growing anger towards society, including detailed fantasies about violence and murder. A particular blog post targeting a classmate, Brooks Brown, led to an investigation by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. However, despite a draft affidavit for a search warrant of Harris's home, no further action was taken.
In January 1998, Harris and Klebold were arrested for breaking into a van and stealing equipment. This resulted in a guilty plea for felony theft and enrollment in a juvenile diversion program. Both completed the program early due to positive reports, but the experience did little to curb their violent ambitions.
The Unfolding Plan
Both Harris and Klebold documented their descent into violence through journals and video tapes, often referred to as the "Basement Tapes." These recordings revealed their deep-seated rage and laid out their plans for the massacre. They also included chilling goodbyes to their families, recorded just thirty minutes before the attack.
Their writings were equally disturbing. Harris fantasized about hijacking a plane and crashing it into New York City, while Klebold expressed desires for a killing spree. Their academic work also hinted at their violent tendencies, with Harris writing about school shootings and Klebold penning a story about a student killer.
The Weapons Arsenal
In the lead-up to the attack, the pair amassed an arsenal of firearms and explosives with the help of friends. Robyn Anderson, unaware of their true intentions, purchased two shotguns and a carbine rifle for them at a gun show. Another acquaintance, Philip Duran, facilitated the purchase of a TEC-9 handgun from Mark Manes. Both Manes and Duran later faced legal consequences for their roles in supplying the weapons.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The response to the massacre was swift and widespread. Criticism of the police's delayed response led to the development of new tactical approaches, such as Immediate Action Rapid Deployment (IARD) for active shooter situations. The tragedy sparked nationwide debates on gun control, bullying, and the influence of violent media.
In the years following the massacre, makeshift memorials appeared, and efforts began to create a permanent memorial, which opened in September 2007. The attack also inspired numerous copycat incidents, known as the "Columbine effect," further cementing its place in the annals of American history.
Sources
For more detailed information, visit the original Wikipedia article here.
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Columbine High School Shooting
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold carry out a mass shooting, killing 12 students and one teacher, and injuring 23 others.
Suicides of Perpetrators
After the shooting, Harris and Klebold commit suicide in the school library.
Initial Death Toll Released
Authorities confirm the death toll of 15, including the shooters, and 20 injured.
Lawsuits Filed
Families of victims begin filing lawsuits against the shooters' families and suppliers of the weapons.
Settlement Reached
Families of more than 30 victims receive a $2.538 million settlement against the families of Harris and Klebold.
Columbine Memorial Opens
A permanent memorial dedicated to the victims of the Columbine shooting is opened to the public.
Anne Marie Hochhalter Dies
Survivor Anne Marie Hochhalter, injured in the shooting, dies from complications related to her injuries.
Hochhalter's Death Ruled Homicide
The Jefferson County Coroner's Office rules the death of Anne Marie Hochhalter as homicide due to her injuries from the shooting.
On April 20, 1999, a mass shooting and attempted bombing occurred at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, where twelfth-grade students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 13 students and one teacher, injuring an additional 23 individuals, 20 of whom were shot. The attack began at approximately 11:19 a.m. and concluded with the perpetrators committing suicide in the school library at 12:08 p.m. The duo had planned the assault for over a year, intending to detonate homemade bombs, which ultimately failed, leading to their shooting spree. As of 2025, the incident remains the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, prompting ongoing litigation against the perpetrators' families and their weapons suppliers, who were convicted for supplying firearms to minors.
Investigators and the public theorize that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were influenced by a combination of bullying, mental health issues, and a desire for notoriety, leading to their violent actions. Some speculate that they may have been part of a larger plan that included a more extensive bombing scheme, as evidenced by the explosives they constructed. Additionally, there are theories suggesting that their motives were not solely revenge against peers but also a desire to make a statement against society at large.
The Columbine High School Massacre: A Chilling Tale of Tragedy and Intent
A Day that Shook America
On the morning of April 20, 1999, the tranquility of Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, was shattered by a brutal and meticulously planned attack. Over the course of 49 devastating minutes, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, both seniors at the school, unleashed a reign of terror that left 13 students and one teacher dead. Ten of these victims were killed in the school library, which also became the final scene for Harris and Klebold, who ended their rampage by taking their own lives. Twenty other individuals sustained gunshot wounds, and three additional injuries occurred during desperate attempts to escape.
This assault was the deadliest mass shooting at a K-12 school in the United States until the tragic events of December 2012. Even today, the word "Columbine" evokes memories of this horrific day and has become synonymous with school shootings worldwide.
The Grim Timeline
The attack unfolded between 11:19 a.m. and 12:08 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. The duo's intentions were far more sinister than a shooting spree; they had initially planned to bomb the school, hoping to inflict even greater casualties. Their arsenal included a chilling array of weapons: Harris wielded a 9mm Hi-Point 995 carbine and a 12-gauge Savage 67H pump-action shotgun, while Klebold carried a 9mm Intratec TEC-9 Mini pistol and a 12-gauge Stevens 311D double-barreled shotgun. Both also possessed knives, though these went unused.
In addition to firearms, their cache included 48 CO2 cartridge bombs, 27 pipe bombs, and several propane bombs, some of which were intended as car bombs. They had even crafted seven gas or napalm bombs. Despite their elaborate planning, a series of technical failures with their homemade bombs forced them to rely primarily on guns.
The Perpetrators: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Eric Harris was born on April 9, 1981, in Wichita, Kansas. His family moved frequently due to his father's career as a U.S. Air Force transport pilot. In 1993, after his father retired, they settled in Littleton, Colorado. Harris met Klebold at Ken Caryl Middle School, and they became fast friends.
Dylan Klebold, born on September 11, 1981, in Lakewood, Colorado, was raised in a family of pacifists. He attended Governor's Ranch Elementary and excelled in the CHIPS program for gifted students. Both boys were regular attendees at a Lutheran church, and Klebold's name was inspired by the poet Dylan Thomas.
The Path to Violence
Harris's troubling journey began in 1996 when he created a website initially intended for sharing his video game modifications. However, it soon became a platform for his growing anger towards society, including detailed fantasies about violence and murder. A particular blog post targeting a classmate, Brooks Brown, led to an investigation by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. However, despite a draft affidavit for a search warrant of Harris's home, no further action was taken.
In January 1998, Harris and Klebold were arrested for breaking into a van and stealing equipment. This resulted in a guilty plea for felony theft and enrollment in a juvenile diversion program. Both completed the program early due to positive reports, but the experience did little to curb their violent ambitions.
The Unfolding Plan
Both Harris and Klebold documented their descent into violence through journals and video tapes, often referred to as the "Basement Tapes." These recordings revealed their deep-seated rage and laid out their plans for the massacre. They also included chilling goodbyes to their families, recorded just thirty minutes before the attack.
Their writings were equally disturbing. Harris fantasized about hijacking a plane and crashing it into New York City, while Klebold expressed desires for a killing spree. Their academic work also hinted at their violent tendencies, with Harris writing about school shootings and Klebold penning a story about a student killer.
The Weapons Arsenal
In the lead-up to the attack, the pair amassed an arsenal of firearms and explosives with the help of friends. Robyn Anderson, unaware of their true intentions, purchased two shotguns and a carbine rifle for them at a gun show. Another acquaintance, Philip Duran, facilitated the purchase of a TEC-9 handgun from Mark Manes. Both Manes and Duran later faced legal consequences for their roles in supplying the weapons.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The response to the massacre was swift and widespread. Criticism of the police's delayed response led to the development of new tactical approaches, such as Immediate Action Rapid Deployment (IARD) for active shooter situations. The tragedy sparked nationwide debates on gun control, bullying, and the influence of violent media.
In the years following the massacre, makeshift memorials appeared, and efforts began to create a permanent memorial, which opened in September 2007. The attack also inspired numerous copycat incidents, known as the "Columbine effect," further cementing its place in the annals of American history.
Sources
For more detailed information, visit the original Wikipedia article here.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Columbine High School Shooting
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold carry out a mass shooting, killing 12 students and one teacher, and injuring 23 others.
Suicides of Perpetrators
After the shooting, Harris and Klebold commit suicide in the school library.
Initial Death Toll Released
Authorities confirm the death toll of 15, including the shooters, and 20 injured.
Lawsuits Filed
Families of victims begin filing lawsuits against the shooters' families and suppliers of the weapons.
Settlement Reached
Families of more than 30 victims receive a $2.538 million settlement against the families of Harris and Klebold.
Columbine Memorial Opens
A permanent memorial dedicated to the victims of the Columbine shooting is opened to the public.
Anne Marie Hochhalter Dies
Survivor Anne Marie Hochhalter, injured in the shooting, dies from complications related to her injuries.
Hochhalter's Death Ruled Homicide
The Jefferson County Coroner's Office rules the death of Anne Marie Hochhalter as homicide due to her injuries from the shooting.