On this day, twelve years ago, thirty-seven people woke up in Columbine, Colorado, thinking it would be any normal Tuesday. Little did they know, their lives would be changed forever. In fact, thirteen of them would die that day, long before their time. The students of Columbine High School were unaware that they would be witness to the most brutal high school shooting in American history.
Dylan Klebold (left) and Eric Harris (right) were eighteen years old. At this young age, they were also responsible for the deaths of twelve students, and one faculty member. Twenty-one others were injured by their assault. These two young men were deeply troubled individuals with access to 9mm assault rifles, and the properties required to make bombs.
On April 20th, 1999, Harris and Klebold arrived in seperate cars on campus. They set off bombs in their high school’s cafeteria at 11:17 AM. As people escaped at approximately 11:19 AM, the pair opened fire on the unsuspecting victims.
At 11:29 AM, after fleeing from a sheriff, Harris and Klebold moved to the school’s library where they shot at and injured/killed 34 people. They left at 11:42, marking the end of the massacre.
At 12:08 AM, the pair returned to the library, where they committed suicide. Dylan Klebold, 17 years old, killed himself with a single shot in the head. Eric Harris, 18 years old, swiftly followed, shooting himself once in the mouth.
In the span of 49 minutes, countless lives were changed forever. Two young men, that suffered from depression, disturbances, aggression, violent urges, and above all, bullying, lashed out. Lashing out even seems like too understated.
Cassie Bernall, Steve Curnow, Corey DePooter, Daniel Mauser, Daniel Rohrbough, Rachel Scott, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Velasquez, Kelly Fleming, Matt Kechter, Isaiah Shoels, John Tomlin, Coach David Sanders, Dylan Klebold, and Eric Harris all died on April 20, 1999. These people had lives, loved ones, and futures. None of them will ever get to grow old and die of natural causes, and have many life experiences that we take for granted.
Please never forget, and please remember, your actions towards others have repercussions. So treat everyone around you with respect
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