{{Short description|1999 mass shooting in Colorado, U.S.}} {{Redirect2|Columbine massacre|Columbine shooting|the 1927 labor violence|Columbine Mine massacre}} {{protection padlock|small=yes}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Use American English|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox civilian attack | title = Columbine High School massacre | image = Columbine Shooting Security Camera.jpg | caption = Harris (left) and Klebold (right) in the cafeteria at 11:57 a.m. | coordinates = {{coord|39|36|12|N|105|04|29|W|display=inline,title}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 15 | location = {{nowrap|Columbine, Colorado, U.S.}} | target = Students and staff at Columbine High School, first responders | date = {{start date and age|1999|04|20}} | time-begin = {{nowrap|11:19{{nbsp}}a.m.}} | time-end = {{nowrap|12:08{{nbsp}}p.m.}} | timezone = MDT; UTC−06:00 | type = School shooting, mass shooting, mass murder, arson, attempted bombing, shootout, murder–suicide | fatalities = 16 (total, including both perpetrators){{Efn|Excluding suicides in the later years and the perpetrators, the 14th victim, Anne Marie Hochhalter, died in February 2025 due to sepsis; her death is officially ruled a homicide. She had been left permanently paralyzed because of her shooting injuries and subject to health problems.}} *'''Harris:''' 9 *'''Klebold:''' 5 | injuries = 23 (3 indirectly; combined total) *'''Harris:''' 13 *'''Klebold:''' 10 | perps = Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold | weapons = '''Harris:''' * 9mm Hi-Point 995 carbine * 12-gauge Savage 67H pump-action shotgun (sawed-off) * 2 knives (unused) '''Klebold:''' * 9mm Intratec TEC-9 Mini pistol * 12-gauge Stevens 311D double-barreled shotgun (sawed-off) * 2 knives (unused) '''Both:''' * 48 {{chem|CO|2}} cartridge bombs * 27 pipe bombs * 11 1.5-gallon propane bombs * 7 gas or napalm bombs * 4 20-pound propane bombs (including 2 car bombs) * 1 25-pound propane bomb<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brooke |first=James |date=1999-05-11 |title=Teacher of Colorado Gunmen Alerted Parents |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/11/us/teacher-of-colorado-gunmen-alerted-parents.html |access-date=2025-06-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 19, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619205939/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/11/us/teacher-of-colorado-gunmen-alerted-parents.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | motive = See ''{{Section link||Motive}}'' | convicted = Mark Manes and Philip Duran (weapons suppliers)
{{Infobox event | title = | child = yes | sentence = '''Manes:'''<br />6 years imprisonment<br />'''Duran:'''<br />{{frac|4|1|2}} years imprisonment<ref name="hist" /><ref name="auto1">{{cite news |first=Sue |last=Lindsay |url=http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/shooting/0624dura1.shtml |title=Duran gets Prison Term |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |date=June 24, 2000 |access-date=April 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417022631/http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/shooting/0624dura1.shtml |archive-date=April 17, 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | litigation = Multiple lawsuits against the perpetrators' families and suppliers of the weapons{{efn|{{bulleted list|Lawsuit by over 30 families of victims settled for $2.538{{nbsp}}million in April 2001<ref>{{cite news |date=April 20, 2001 |first=Michael |last=Janofsky |title=$2.53 Million Deal Ends Some Columbine Lawsuits |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/20/us/2.53-million-deal-ends-some-columbine-lawsuits.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124105414/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/20/us/2.53-million-deal-ends-some-columbine-lawsuits.html |archive-date=January 24, 2014 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}</ref>|Lawsuit by another family settled for $366,000 in June 2003<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/us/columbine-high-school-shootings-fast-facts/ |date=September 19, 2013 |work=CNN |access-date=January 13, 2014 |title=Columbine High School Shootings Fast Facts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013230548/http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/us/columbine-high-school-shootings-fast-facts |archive-date=October 13, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9905/27/columbine.lawsuit.02/ |date=May 27, 1999 |title=$250 million Columbine lawsuit filed |work=CNN |access-date=January 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113142645/http://www.cnn.com/US/9905/27/columbine.lawsuit.02/ |archive-date=January 13, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}}}
| convictions = '''Manes and Duran:'''<br />Supplying a handgun to a minor, possession of an illegally sawed-off shotgun }} }} {{Columbine High School massacre}}
On April 20, 1999, high school senior students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 13 students{{efn|One of the wounded students, Anne Marie Hochhalter, died of her injuries in 2025}} and one teacher in a school shooting and attempted bombing at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, United States.{{efn|The school's location is on Pierce Street, which runs north-south through Columbine, roughly {{convert|1|mi|km}} west of the Littleton city limit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/chs-homepage/ |title=Columbine High School |access-date=April 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510115758/https://sites.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/chs-homepage/ |archive-date=May 10, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>"[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st08_co/place/p0816110_columbine/DC10BLK_P0816110_001.pdf 2010 Census – Census Block Map: Columbine CDP, CO] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071354/http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st08_co/place/p0816110_columbine/DC10BLK_P0816110_001.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}" U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 25, 2015. 1990 U.S. census maps: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st08_Colorado/08059_Jefferson/90B08059_000.pdf index] and pages [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st08_Colorado/08059_Jefferson/90B08059_030.pdf 30] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716054514/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st08_Colorado/08059_Jefferson/90B08059_030.pdf |date=July 16, 2024 }} and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st08_Colorado/08059_Jefferson/90B08059_035.pdf 35].</ref> The United States Postal Service designates "Littleton" as the default place name for addresses in the school's ZIP code;<ref name="Larkin2007">{{cite book |author=Ralph W. Larkin |title=Comprehending Columbine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0t_mo8UQox8C&pg=PA37 |date=January 1, 2007 |publisher=Temple University Press |isbn=978-1-59213-492-2 |page=37}}</ref> thus, the massacre was widely reported as having happened in the adjacent city of Littleton.<ref name=Leitch>{{cite magazine|last=Leitch|first=Will|url=https://nymag.com/arts/books/reviews/56139/|title=Everybody's Columbine|magazine=New York Magazine|date=2009-04-16|access-date=2025-12-06|archive-date=December 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220201915/https://nymag.com/arts/books/reviews/56139/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} Twenty people were injured by the gunfire, and three others were injured while trying to escape. The attack ended when Harris and Klebold died by suicide.
The Columbine massacre was the deadliest mass shooting at a K–12 school in U.S. history until the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012.{{efn|Many early reports said the Columbine massacre was the worst school-related massacre in US history.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0424w.htm |title=The Denver Post Online - Columbine - Tragedy and Recovery |website=extras.denverpost.com |access-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502080616/https://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0424w.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The 1927 Bath School disaster (a bombing) had left 44 dead. The 1966 University of Texas tower shooting was the deadliest school shooting at the time.}} Columbine is considered among the most infamous massacres in the United States, which as of June 2025, it had inspired more than 70 copycat attacks, a phenomenon dubbed the Columbine effect,{{efn|The Virginia Tech shooting,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2007/04/18/cho-killers-at-columbine-martyrs/ |title=Cho: Killers at Columbine "Martyrs" |date=April 18, 2007 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516174307/https://www.denverpost.com/2007/04/18/cho-killers-at-columbine-martyrs/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/sandy-hook-report-reveals-gunman-obsessed-with-columbine-shootings |title=Sandy Hook report reveals gunman obsessed with Columbine shootings |website=PBS |date=November 25, 2013 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-date=May 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516174307/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/sandy-hook-report-reveals-gunman-obsessed-with-columbine-shootings |url-status=live }}</ref> the Kerch Polytechnic College massacre,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/crimea-school-shootings-chilling-similarities-13432932 |title=Crimea school shooting's chilling similarities to Columbine massacre |newspaper=Mirror |date=October 17, 2018 |last1=Taylor |first1=Joshua}}</ref> the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-shooting-suspect-nikolas-cruz-researched-columbine-massacre-panel-is-told |title=Florida shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz researched Columbine massacre, panel is told |work=Fox News}}</ref> and the Erfurt school massacre{{sfn|Zettl|Bock|Buderus|Pereira|2019|p=71}} are deadlier attacks linked to Columbine in the United States and internationally.}} and ''Columbine'' has become a byword for modern school shootings.
Harris and Klebold, who planned for roughly a year, intended the attack to be primarily a bombing and only secondarily a shooting. The pair launched a shooting attack after the homemade bombs they planted in the school failed to detonate. Their motive remains uncertain. The police were slow to enter the school and were strongly criticized for not intervening during the shooting. The incident resulted in the introduction of the immediate action rapid deployment (IARD) tactic, which is used in active-shooter situations, and an increased emphasis on school security with zero-tolerance policies. The violence sparked debates over American gun culture and gun control laws, high school cliques, subcultures (e.g. goths), outcasts, and school bullying, as well as teenage use of pharmaceutical antidepressants, the Internet, and violence in video games and film.
Many makeshift memorials were created after the massacre, including ones using victim Rachel Scott's car and John Tomlin's truck. Fifteen crosses for the victims and the shooters were erected on top of a hill in Clement Park. Many people objected to the inclusion of crosses for the perpetrators and these were later removed from the site. Planning for a permanent memorial began in June 1999. The resulting Columbine Memorial opened to the public in September 2007.
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==Perpetrators== {{Main|Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold}}
===Eric Harris=== Eric David Harris (April 9, 1981{{nbsp}}– April 20, 1999) was born in Wichita, Kansas. The Harris family relocated often, as Harris's father was a US Air Force transport pilot. The family moved from Plattsburgh, New York, to Littleton, Colorado, in July 1993, when his father retired from military service.<ref name=suspdk />
Harris attended Ken Caryl Middle School, where he met Klebold.<ref name=Fatal/> In 1996, the Harris family purchased a house south of Columbine High School (CHS). Harris's older brother attended college at the University of Colorado Boulder.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=sides>{{cite news |author1=Briggs, Bill |author2=Blevins, Jason |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0502b.htm |title=A Boy With Many Sides |date=May 2, 1999 |newspaper=Denver Post |archive-date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=October 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027201910/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0502b.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Dylan Klebold=== Dylan Bennet Klebold ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|l|iː|b|oʊ|l|d}} {{respell|KLEE|bohld}}; September 11, 1981{{nbsp}}– April 20, 1999) was born in Lakewood, Colorado.<ref name=suspdk>{{Cite web |title=SUSPECTS_TEXT |url=http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/SUSPECTS_TEXT.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010525032232/http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/SUSPECTS_TEXT.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 25, 2001 |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=CNN}}</ref> His parents were pacifists and attended a Lutheran church with their children. Both Dylan and his older brother attended confirmation classes in accordance with the Lutheran tradition.<ref name=mult1>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Leppek |title=Dylan Klebold led life of religious contradictions |url=http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/11140/edition_id/213/format/html/displaystory.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329233932/http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/11140/edition_id/213/format/html/displaystory.html |date=April 30, 1999 |archive-date=March 29, 2007 |access-date=October 19, 2018}}</ref> Klebold was named after poet Dylan Thomas.<ref name="auto"/>
Klebold attended Normandy Elementary<!--Not in the Littleton city limits. From https://web.archive.org/web/20010424131422/http://204.98.1.2/elem/normandy/ : "6750 S. Kendall Blvd Littleton, CO 80128" which matches Columbine CDP https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st08_Colorado/08059_Jefferson/90B08059_030.pdf --> for first and second grade before transferring to Governor's Ranch Elementary, and became part of the CHIPS ("Challenging High Intellectual Potential Students") program.<ref>{{cite web |first=C |last=Shepard |url=http://acolumbinesite.com/chips.html |title=CHIPS – Challenging High Intellectual Potential Students |website=Acolumbinesite.com |date=April 20, 1999 |access-date=October 31, 2016 |archive-date=November 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123114416/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/chips.html}}</ref>
==Background==
===Criminal history=== In 1996, 15-year-old Harris created a private website on America Online (AOL),{{efn|Once the website was made public after the massacre, AOL permanently deleted it from its servers.<ref name=harris/>}} initially to host video game levels (known as WADs) that he created for the first-person shooter games ''Doom'', ''Doom II'', and ''Quake''.<ref name="harris">{{cite web |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/ericpage.html |title=Columbine shooter Eric Harris's webpages |access-date=August 24, 2008 |publisher=Acolumbinesite.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125023328/http://acolumbinesite.com/ericpage.html |archive-date=November 25, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=salon.comt>{{cite news |url=https://www.salon.com/1999/04/23/gamers/ |title=Doom, Quake and mass murder |first=Janelle |last=Brown |date=April 23, 1999 |work=Salon |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919092143/http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/1999/04/23/gamers/index.html |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Some of the ''Doom'' levels he created can still be found online, known as the Harris levels.<ref name=levels>{{cite web |url=http://www.snopes.com/horrors/madmen/doom.asp |title=The Harris Levels |author=Mikkelson, Barbara |date=January 1, 2005 |website=Snopes.com |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-date=July 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731185036/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-harris-levels/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} On the site, Harris began a blog, which included details of mischief and vandalism, such as lighting fireworks with Klebold and others.{{sfn|Larkin|2007|p=161}} Harris referred to these acts as "rebel missions" and the blog posts as "mission logs".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/eric/writing/mission4.php |title=Columbine shooter Eric Harris' Journals and Writing |website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 15, 2026 |archive-date=July 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727193451/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/eric/writing/mission4.php}}</ref> In early 1997, the blog posts showed signs of Harris's anger against society.<ref name="jcso97">{{cite web |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/jcso-1997.pdf |title=Jefferson County Sheriff's Office |year=1997 |access-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-date=May 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529184841/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/jcso-1997.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> By the end of the year, the site contained instructions on how to make explosives (specifically pipe bombs).<ref name="guard">{{cite web |last1=Wright |first1=Gerard |last2=Millar |first2=Stuart |date=April 22, 1999 |title=A clique within a clique, obsessed with guns, death and Hitler |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/apr/22/usgunviolence.usa4 |work=The Guardian |access-date=January 31, 2019 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022030950/https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/apr/22/usgunviolence.usa4 |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 1997, Harris wrote on the blog "All I want to do is kill and injure as many of you as I can, especially a few people. Like Brooks Brown." Brown was a friend and classmate of his.<ref name=brooks72>{{Harvnb|Brown|2002|pp=72–73}}</ref>{{efn|Brown had told Harris's parents where he hid alcohol, after Harris had thrown a chunk of ice at his car windshield.<ref name=Fatal/><ref>{{Harvnb|Brown|2002|pp=65–71}}</ref>}} After Brown's parents viewed the site, they contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office on August 7, 1997. An investigator drafted an affidavit requesting a search warrant for the Harris household, but it was never submitted to a judge.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.westword.com/news/chronology-of-a-big-fat-lie-5066671 |title=Chronology of a Big Fat Lie |date=April 19, 2001 |first=Alan |last=Prendergast |access-date=October 26, 2018 |archive-date=July 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713191544/https://www.westword.com/news/chronology-of-a-big-fat-lie-5066671 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/12/05/columbine.diary/ |title=Columbine killer envisioned crashing plane in NYC |date=December 6, 2001 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006163130/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/12/05/columbine.diary/ |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |url-status=live |work=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2005/04/25/jeffco-attorneys-post-columbine-conduct-upheld/ |title=Jeffco attorneys' post-Columbine conduct upheld |work=The Denver Post |last=Nicholson |first=Kieran |date=April 25, 2005 |access-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-date=June 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627220600/https://www.denverpost.com/2005/04/25/jeffco-attorneys-post-columbine-conduct-upheld/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 30, 1998, Harris and Klebold were arrested for breaking into a white van parked near Littleton and stealing tools and computer equipment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-eric-harris-big-lie |title=Eric Harris' Big Lie |website=columbine-guide |access-date=July 4, 2019 |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003075703/https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-eric-harris-big-lie |url-status=live }}</ref> The judge sentenced them to a 12-month juvenile diversion program.<ref name=juvey>{{cite web |url=http://www.rcfp.org/news/2002/1106inreha.html |title=District attorney releases Columbine gunman's juvenile records |publisher=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |date=November 6, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021208205724/http://www.rcfp.org/news/2002/1106inreha.html |archive-date=December 8, 2002}}</ref><ref name=event1/> As a result, they both attended mandatory classes such as anger management and met with diversion officers.{{efn|Klebold had a history of drinking and failed a dilute urine test, but neither he nor Harris attended any substance abuse classes.<ref name=Block>{{cite journal |first=Jerald |last=Block |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282507774 |title=Lessons From Columbine: Virtual and Real Rage |journal=American Journal of Forensic Psychiatry |date=July 2007 |volume=28 |issue=2}}</ref>}} They were both released from the program a month early.<ref name="juvey"/>
===Writings=== Shortly after the court hearing for the van break-in, Harris reverted his website back to just hosting user-created levels of ''Doom'' and began keeping a journal. Klebold had already been keeping a personal journal since March 1997. In both their journals, Harris and Klebold later plotted the attack. Harris's plan for an attack included possibly escaping to a foreign country or hijacking an aircraft at Denver International Airport and crashing it into a building in New York City.<ref name=":4"/><ref>{{Cite news |date=1999-04-27 |title=Police: 2 Hoped To Kill 500, Crash Plane In NYC |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/04/27/police-2-hoped-to-kill-500-crash-plane-in-nyc/ |access-date=2026-04-21 |work=Chicago Tribune |archive-date=June 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626234616/https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/04/27/police-2-hoped-to-kill-500-crash-plane-in-nyc/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Klebold and Harris both made entries in their journals on topics related to sexuality. Klebold expressed shame for his sexual interests, which included bondage and foot fetishism, stating that, "My humanity has a foot fetish, & bondage exteme{{Sic}} liking. I try to thwart it..."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dylan Klebold journal entry, 1st January 1999|url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/klebold_journal_1.2.pdf |website=schoolshooters.info |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530054121/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/klebold_journal_1.2.pdf |archive-date=30 May 2019|url-status=live|access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref> Harris described his desire for raping and torturing women in his bedroom.{{sfn|Larkin|2007|p=136}} Harris also expressed interest in cannibalism, stating that he would like to dismember a woman with whom he could have "animalistic sex" and eat her flesh.{{sfn|Larkin|2007|pp=135-136}}
Harris and Klebold's schoolwork displayed themes of violence. In December 1997, Harris wrote a paper on school shootings titled "Guns in School",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-harris-school-shooters |title=Eric Harris Essay on School Shooters |website=The Columbine Guide |access-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016165139/https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-harris-school-shooters |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|p=138}}</ref> and a poem from the perspective of a bullet.<ref name="bullet" />{{sfn|Kass|2009|p=138}} Klebold wrote a short story about a man killing students which worried his teacher so much that she alerted his parents; when Klebold was confronted about it, he said it was "just a story".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/klebold_short_story.pdf|title=A Short Story by Dylan Klebold|access-date=October 16, 2018|archive-date=October 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026194254/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/klebold_short_story.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Klebold|2016|p=224}}</ref> For one project, Harris wrote a paper on Nazi Germany and Klebold wrote a paper on Charles Manson.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-eric-harris-nazi-essay |title=Eric Harris Nazis essay |website=The Columbine Guide |access-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016203255/https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-eric-harris-nazi-essay |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/dylan/manson.php|title=Dylan's Manson Essay |website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 15, 2026 |archive-date=July 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706084750/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/dylan/manson.php}}</ref><ref name="ideo">{{cite web |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_influences_ideology_1.3.pdf |title=Influences on the Ideology of Eric Harris |last=Langman |first=Peter |access-date=January 23, 2019 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107234133/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_influences_ideology_1.3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In a psychology class, Harris wrote that he dreamed of going on a shooting spree with Klebold.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/25/to-killers-model-school-was-cruel/46cf1fd6-74e2-478e-a387-f967cd7594e6/ |title=To Killers, Model School Was Cruel |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 25, 1999 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |access-date=November 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021160936/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/04/25/to-killers-model-school-was-cruel/46cf1fd6-74e2-478e-a387-f967cd7594e6/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Harris's journals described several experimental bomb detonations.<ref name="Block" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|pp=33–34, 183–185, 275–277, 371–380}}</ref>
Nearly a year before the massacre, Klebold wrote a message in Harris's 1998 yearbook: "killing enemies, blowing up stuff, killing cops!! My wrath for January's incident will be godlike. Not to mention our revenge in the commons"; "the commons" was slang for the school cafeteria.<ref name=suspdk/>
===Tapes=== ====Basement tapes==== Harris and Klebold were both enrolled in video-production classes and kept five video tapes that were recorded with school video equipment.<ref name="dive">{{cite web |url=http://www.schoolshooters.info/eric-harris-diversion.pdf |title=Eric Harris diversion files |publisher=Office of the District Attorney, First Judicial District, Jefferson and Gilpin Counties |page=49 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014005724/http://www.schoolshooters.info/eric-harris-diversion.pdf |archive-date=October 14, 2014 |access-date=October 15, 2014}}</ref> Only two of these, "Hitmen for Hire" and "Rampart Range", and part of a third known as "Radioactive Clothing", have been released.{{efn|''Radioactive Clothing'' depicts them with fake guns and rigging fake explosives to stop radioactive clothes from taking over the world.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|pp=129–130}}</ref>}} The remaining three tapes detailed their plans and reasons for the massacre, including the ways they hid their weapons and deceived their parents.<ref name="slatecol">{{cite magazine |last=Cullen |first=Dave |date=April 20, 2004 |title=The Depressive and the Psychopath |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/assessment/2004/04/the_depressive_and_the_psychopath.html |magazine=Slate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018141017/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/assessment/2004/04/the_depressive_and_the_psychopath.html |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Most were filmed in the Harris family basement, and are thus known as the basement tapes. Thirty minutes before the attack, they made a final video saying goodbye and apologizing to their friends and families.<ref name=tape333/>
In December 1999, before anyone besides investigators had seen them, ''Time'' magazine published an article on these tapes.<ref name=tape>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.state.co.us:80/columbine/Appendix_E.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207005715/http://www.state.co.us/columbine/Appendix_E.pdf |archive-date=December 7, 2012 |title=The Columbine Tapes |first1=Nancy |last1=Gibbs |first2=Timothy |last2=Roche |date=December 12, 1999 |magazine=Time |via=State of Colorado |access-date=June 30, 2019}}</ref> The victims' family members threatened to sue Jefferson County. As a result, select victim families and journalists were allowed to view them, though the tapes were then withheld from the public and, in 2011, destroyed for fear of inspiring future massacres.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.westword.com/news/columbine-killers-basement-tapes-destroyed-6283043 |title=Columbine Killers' Basement Tapes Destroyed |first=Alan |last=Prendergast |date=February 2, 2015 |access-date=February 24, 2019 |archive-date=February 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218180504/https://www.westword.com/news/columbine-killers-basement-tapes-destroyed-6283043 |url-status=live }}</ref> Transcripts of some of the dialogue and a short clip recorded surreptitiously by a victim's father still exist, with the transcripts being online via various resources. The pair claimed they were going to make copies of the tapes to send to news stations but never did so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/columbine_basement_tapes_1.0.pdf|title=Transcript of the Columbine 'Basement Tapes'|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-date=July 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715180540/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/columbine_basement_tapes_1.0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
When an economics class had Harris make an ad for a business, he and Klebold made a video called ''Hitmen for Hire'' on December 8, 1998, which was released in February 2004. It depicts them as part of the Trench Coat Mafia, a clique in the school who wore black trench coats and opposed jocks,<ref name=coat/> extorting money for protecting preps from bullies.<ref name=Fatal/><ref name=hithire/><ref name=kass197>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|pp=197–199}}</ref> Klebold and Harris themselves were apparently not a part of the Trench Coat Mafia but were friends with some of its members.<ref name=Salon>{{cite web |last=Cullen |first=Dave |url=http://www.salon.com/1999/09/23/columbine_4/ |title=Inside the Columbine High investigation |work=Salon |date=September 23, 1999 |access-date=May 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517044320/http://www.salon.com/1999/09/23/columbine_4/ |archive-date=May 17, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=rules/>{{efn|They did not appear in a group photo of the Trench Coat Mafia in the yearbook.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilgoren |first=Jodi |date=1999-04-25 |title=TERROR IN LITTLETON: THE GROUP; Society of Outcasts Began With a $99 Black Coat |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/25/us/terror-in-littleton-the-group-society-of-outcasts-began-with-a-99-black-coat.html |access-date=2022-01-12 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626024728/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/25/us/terror-in-littleton-the-group-society-of-outcasts-began-with-a-99-black-coat.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC News | Americas | Who are the Trenchcoat Mafia? |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/325054.stm |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=news.bbc.co.uk |archive-date=September 10, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250910155031/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/325054.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.denverpost.com/1999/04/21/columbine-high-school-trench-coat-mafia/ |title=Columbine High School shooting focuses on "Trench Coat Mafia" |first1=Susan |last1=Greene |first2=Bill |last2=Briggs |date=April 21, 1999 |access-date=May 20, 2020 |archive-date=July 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719200843/https://www.denverpost.com/1999/04/21/columbine-high-school-trench-coat-mafia/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Harris's father stated that his son was "a member of what they call the Trench Coat Mafia" in the 9-1-1 call he made on April 20, 1999.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|p=219}}</ref>}} They wore black trench coats on the day of the massacre, and the ''Hitmen for Hire'' video seemed a kind of dress rehearsal, showing them walking the halls of the school, and shooting bullies outside with fake guns.<ref name=hithire>{{cite web |url=https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-hitmen-for-hire-eric |title=Hitmen For Hire · Eric Harris School Assignment |website=columbine-guide.com |access-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016165421/https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-hitmen-for-hire-eric |url-status=live }}</ref>
A video was released showing the pair doing target practice in nearby foothills known as Rampart Range, with the weapons they later used in the massacre.<ref name=evid>{{cite web |url=https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-all-evidence |title=All Columbine Evidence Released, w Commentary | Harris & Dylan Klebold |website=The Columbine Guide | Eric Harris Dylan Klebold: journals, evidence |access-date=November 5, 2018 |archive-date=October 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008184515/https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-all-evidence |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Nixon tape==== Before the massacre, Harris left a micro cassette labeled "Nixon" on the kitchen table. On it, Harris said "It is less than nine hours now," placing the recording at some time around 2:30 a.m. He went on to say "People will die because of me," and "It will be a day that will be remembered forever."<ref>Cullen, 2009. p. 144.</ref>
==Weaponry== === Guns === In the months prior to the attacks, Harris and Klebold acquired two 9mm firearms and two 12-gauge shotguns. Harris had a Hi-Point 995 carbine with thirteen 10-round magazines and a Savage-Springfield 67H pump shotgun. Klebold used a 9mm Intratec TEC-DC9 semi-automatic handgun with one 52-, one 32-, and one 28-round magazine and a Stevens 311D double-barreled shotgun. Harris's shotgun was sawed-off to around {{convert|26|in|cm}} and Klebold shortened his shotgun's length to {{convert|23|in|cm}}, a felony under the National Firearms Act.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vpc.org/studies/wgun990420.htm |title=Where'd They Get Their Guns? – Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado |website=vpc.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217001607/http://www.vpc.org/studies/wgun990420.htm |archive-date=December 17, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=February 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":72">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/EQUIPMENT_TEXT.htm |title=How they were equipped that day |date=May 15, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202153237/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/EQUIPMENT_TEXT.htm |archive-date=December 2, 2009 |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2018}}</ref> On November 22, 1998, their friend Robyn Anderson purchased a carbine rifle and the two shotguns for the pair at the Tanner Gun Show, as they were too young to legally purchase the guns themselves. After the attack, she told investigators that she had believed the pair wanted the weapons for target shooting and denied that she had prior knowledge of their plans.<ref name="auto">{{Harvnb|Klebold|2016|p=84}}</ref> Anderson was not charged.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Luzadder |date=October 3, 1999 |url=http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/shooting/1003robyn.shtml |title=Loophole protects Columbine 'witness' |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221030107/http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/shooting/1003robyn.shtml |archive-date=February 21, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/18/columbine.manes/index.html |title=Gun provider pleads guilty in Columbine case |date=August 18, 1999 |publisher=CNN |access-date=June 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125215205/http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/18/columbine.manes/index.html |archive-date=November 25, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|The Jeffco Final Report explained: "No law, state or federal, prohibits the purchase of a long gun (rifle) from a private individual (non-licensed dealer) [...] If Anderson had purchased the guns from a federally licensed dealer, it would have been considered a 'straw purchase' and considered illegal under federal law."<ref name=coat>Columbine Report, {{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/MAFIA_TEXT.htm |title=The Trench Coat Mafia & Associates |date=May 15, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204180405/http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/MAFIA_TEXT.htm |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=June 26, 2018}}</ref>}}
Harris and Klebold both held part-time jobs at a local Blackjack Pizza. Through Philip Duran, one of their coworkers, Klebold bought a TEC-9 handgun from Mark Manes for $500 {{USDCY|500|1999}} at another gun show on January 23.<ref name=Fatal/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/col0624.htm |title=Duran gets 4 1/2-year term |last=Pankratz |first=Howard |date=June 24, 2000 |newspaper=The Denver Post |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312123352/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/col0624.htm |archive-date=March 12, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Manes, Manes's girlfriend, and Duran are all in the Rampart Range video.<ref name="Fatal" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/rampart.html|title=Rampart Range Video |website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 15, 2026 |archive-date=July 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080710002726/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/rampart.html}}</ref> After the massacre, Manes and Duran were both prosecuted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/518610.stm |title=Columbine gun supplier jailed |work=BBC News |date=November 13, 1999 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030184551/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/518610.stm |archive-date=October 30, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|pp=167–168, 285–286}}</ref> Each was charged with supplying a handgun to a minor and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. After both pled guilty,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Times |first1=Julie |last2=Cart |date=1999-08-19 |title=Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Gun to Columbine Killers |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-19-mn-1611-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111203048/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-19-mn-1611-story.html |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=staff |first=CBSNews com staff CBSNews com |date=2000-05-08 |title=A Columbine Guilty Plea - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-columbine-guilty-plea/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250714151742/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-columbine-guilty-plea/ |archive-date=July 14, 2025 |access-date=2025-06-22 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Manes and Duran were sentenced to a total of six years and four-and-a-half years, respectively, in prison.<ref name="hist" /><ref name="auto1"/>
=== Explosives === In addition to the firearms, the complex and highly planned attack involved several improvised explosive devices. Harris and Klebold constructed a total of 99 bombs.<ref name="bombsum">{{cite web |series=Columbine Report |publisher=Sheriff's Office, Jefferson County, Colorado |via=CNN |date=May 15, 2000 |url=http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/BOMBS_TEXT.htm |title=Bomb Summary |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218120916/http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/BOMBS_TEXT.htm |archive-date=February 18, 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref> These included 27 pipe bombs, 48 carbon-dioxide cartridges filled with gunpowder (called "crickets"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2009/04/columbine-killer-eric-harris-plans-the-massacre.html |title=Columbine killer Eric Harris plans the massacre |last=Cullen |first=Dave |date=April 16, 2009 |magazine=Slate |access-date=October 16, 2018 |ref=none |archive-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016033515/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2009/04/columbine-killer-eric-harris-plans-the-massacre.html |url-status=live }}</ref>), seven Molotov cocktails, and 15 propane tanks converted to bombs, five of which were {{convert|20|lb|0|spell=in}} or more. Two propane bombs were used in the cafeteria, two in the shooters' cars, and in another location intended as a diversion. For ignition, they used storm matches, cannon fuses, and model rocket igniters as well as timing devices built from mechanical alarm clocks for the propane bombs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/Columbine_report_Homeland_Security.pdf |title=Wanton Violence at Columbine High School |page=27 |access-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616084052/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/Columbine_report_Homeland_Security.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> During the massacre, they carried match strikers taped to their forearms for easy ignition of the pipe bombs and {{CO2}} bombs.<ref name=":72" />
Harris also experimented with napalm, and envisioned a kind of backpack and flamethrower. They both attempted to get another friend and coworker, Chris Morris, who was a part of the Trench Coat Mafia, to keep the napalm at his house, but he refused. Harris also tried to recruit him to be a third shooter but played it off as a joke when rebuked.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|pp=330–331}}</ref>
==== Pipe bombs ==== Harris's website contained instructions on making pipe bombs and Molotovs, and the extensive use of shrapnel.<ref name=guard/> Harris's father once discovered one of his pipe bombs.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|pp=159–161}}</ref> Harris's journal logged the creation of 25 pipe bombs.<ref name=bombsum />
Klebold scared his coworkers by once bringing a pipe bomb into work.<ref name=Fatal /> They would give various nicknames to their pipe bombs. After the massacre, two pipe bombs had been left in Klebold's bedroom, one named "Vengeance" and another "Atlanta", presumably after the Olympic Park bombing.<ref name=bombsum /><ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|p=66}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/evidence/ev3.jpg|title=Index of Evidence Released|website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 15, 2026|archive-date=November 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104134603/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/evidence/ev3.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref>
====Cafeteria bombs==== They had in their possession eight propane tanks all converted into bombs. The weekend before the shooting, Harris and Klebold bought two propane tanks and other supplies from a hardware store. They bought six propane tanks on the morning of the attack.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=40}}</ref> Harris was caught on a gas station security camera at 9:12 a.m. buying a propane tank.<ref>{{Harvnb|Krabbé|2012|p=295}}</ref> Both cafeteria bombs included a single {{convert|20|lb|0|adj=mid|spell=in}} tank, attached pipe bombs, and supporting gasoline canisters alongside.<ref name="guidebomb">{{cite web |url=https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-bombs |title=The Bombs: The Columbine Guide |website=The Columbine Guide |access-date=October 26, 2018 |archive-date=September 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923230848/https://www.columbine-guide.com/columbine-bombs |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Car bombs==== Both car bombs were made from two twenty-pound propane tanks, pipe bombs, and various containers filled with gasoline were spread throughout the vehicles.<ref name="guidebomb"/> Eight pipe bombs were placed in Klebold's car, and one in Harris's.<ref name=bombsum/>
=== Knives === Harris and Klebold were both equipped with two knives each, but investigators have concluded that they were not used during the massacre. Harris had a boot knife on his belt and a "Khyber-pass" machete bowie knife taped to the back of his ankle. Both had an "R", referencing Harris's alias "REB", etched into the handle, and the machete had a swastika on the sheath. Klebold had a "Cobra" knife mounted to his belt on the left side as well as a switchblade in his right pocket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/evidence.php|title=2004 Evidence Exhibit|website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 15, 2026 |archive-date=July 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715104653/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/evidence.php}}</ref>
==The massacre== According to the shooters' respective journals and video tapes, it is believed by investigators that the pair intended to detonate their propane bombs in the cafeteria at the busiest lunch hour,<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Uncovering The Tragedy At Columbine High: A Mass Shooting Documentary |others=Real Crime, producer |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9mUpUHk3nE |via=YouTube |date=10 May 2019 |access-date=2023-02-12 |time=27m40s |last=Battan |first=Kate |quote=Eric Harris had even gone so far as to study how many people were in the cafeteria at any given time during the lunch hour. ... Approximately 450 [at peak period] is what he was estimating, and we had 455 kids down there. |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604071330/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9mUpUHk3nE |url-status=live }}</ref> killing hundreds of students. After this, they would shoot and stab survivors, as well as lob bombs. Bombs set in their cars in the parking lot would also eventually detonate, killing more students as well as any police officers, paramedics, firemen or reporters who had arrived at the school.<ref name="ten">{{cite news |last=Toppo |first=Greg |date=April 14, 2009 |title=10 years later, the real story behind Columbine |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-13-columbine-myths_N.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415152154/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-04-13-columbine-myths_N.htm |archive-date=April 15, 2009 |access-date=April 14, 2009 |work=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/329303.stm |title=Columbine killers planned to kill 500 |date=April 27, 1999 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515095812/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/329303.stm |archive-date=May 15, 2010 |url-status=live |work=BBC News}}</ref>{{efn|Investigators speculated they were supposed to detonate after the massacre and injure first responders.<ref>''The Columbine School Shootings'' {{ISBN|978-1-420-50138-4}} p. 65</ref>}} However, the bombs in the cafeteria and cars failed to detonate.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cullen |first=Dave |date=April 24, 2009 |title=The Reluctant Kller |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/25/dave-cullen-columbine |access-date=July 15, 2020 |issn=0261-3077 |ref=none |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019031751/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/25/dave-cullen-columbine |url-status=live }}</ref>
Several official sources claim they planned to shoot the fleeing survivors from the parking lot, but when the bombs failed, they moved to the staircase on the hill at the west side.<ref>''E.g.'', {{cite web |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/Columbine%20-%20Governor%27s%20Commission%20Report.pdf |title=Governor's Report |page=26 |access-date=November 3, 2018 |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003125908/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/Columbine%20-%20Governor%27s%20Commission%20Report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Other sources claim the top of the staircase where the massacre began was their preferred spot to wait for the bombs to go off.<ref>{{Harvnb|Krabbé|2012|pp=31, 41}}</ref>{{efn|Klebold made notes prior to the massacre which included "Go to the outside hill, wait. When first bombs go off, attack."<ref name=suspdk/>}}
A total of 188 rounds of ammunition were fired by the perpetrators during the massacre:<ref name="crit"/><ref name="cnnrep"/>
*Harris fired 121 shots in total, nearly twice as much as Klebold. He fired his carbine rifle 96 times: 47 shots outside, 49 shots inside, and 13 shots in the library. Harris also discharged his shotgun 25 times: 21 times in the library and four times elsewhere in the building. He did not fire his shotgun outside the school. *Klebold fired 67 shots in total. He fired the TEC-9 handgun 55 times: three shots outside, 52 shots inside, and 21 shots in the library. Klebold also fired 12 rounds from his double-barreled shotgun: twice outside, ten times inside, and six times in the library.
Law enforcement officers also fired 141 rounds during exchanges of gunfire with the shooters.<ref name="crit">{{cite news |title=The Critical Incident Team |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/SHOOT_TEAM_TEXT.htm |url-status=live |access-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315125026/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/SHOOT_TEAM_TEXT.htm |archive-date=March 15, 2017}}</ref><ref name="cnnrep">{{cite news |date=May 16, 2000 |title=Report: 12 killed at Columbine in first 16 minutes |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/05/15/columbine.report.04/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818101434/http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/05/15/columbine.report.04/ |archive-date=August 18, 2000}}</ref>
=== Planting the bombs === On Tuesday morning, April 20, 1999, Harris and Klebold placed two duffel bags in the cafeteria. Each bag contained propane bombs, set to detonate during the "A" lunch shift, which began at 11:15 a.m.{{efn|All times are in Mountain Daylight Time, UTC-6.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=45}}</ref>}}
No witness recalled seeing the duffel bags being added to the 400 or so backpacks that were already in the cafeteria.<ref name="timeline1">Columbine Report, {{cite news |date=May 15, 2000 |title=The Columbine High School Shootings: Narrative Time Line of Events 11:10 AM to 11:59 AM |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/NARRATIVE.Time.Line.htm |url-status=live |access-date=December 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215192448/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/NARRATIVE.Time.Line.htm |archive-date=December 15, 2012}}</ref> The security staff at CHS did not observe the bags being placed in the cafeteria; a custodian was replacing the school security videotape at around 11:14 a.m.<ref name="duffle">{{Cite web |title=dufflebags |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/dufflebags.htm |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=www.cnn.com |archive-date=October 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001170549/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/dufflebags.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after the massacre, police speculated the bombs were placed during this "tape change". They also investigated whether the bombs were placed during the "after-prom" party held the prior weekend.<ref name="duffle" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0424a.htm |title=Columbine - Tragedy and Recovery |website=The Denver Post |access-date=November 17, 2018 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116000737/https://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0424a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0501d.htm |title=What happened on prom night? |first=Patricia |last=Callahan |author-link=Patricia Callahan |website=The Denver Post |access-date=January 21, 2019 |archive-date=February 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205023707/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0501d.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Some Internet sleuths claim the bomb placement can be seen on the surveillance video at around 10:58 a.m.<ref>{{cite web |last=Prendergast |first=Alan |date=July 8, 2016 |title=Video: Did Police Investigation Miss Key Moment in Columbine Attack? |url=https://www.westword.com/news/video-did-police-investigation-miss-key-moment-in-columbine-attack-8079357 |access-date=October 26, 2018 |archive-date=July 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710080949/https://www.westword.com/news/video-did-police-investigation-miss-key-moment-in-columbine-attack-8079357 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Neil Gardner was assigned to the high school as a full-time school resource officer. Gardner usually ate lunch with students in the cafeteria, but on April 20 he was eating lunch in his patrol car at the northwest corner of the campus, watching students in the Smokers' Pit in Clement Park, a meadow adjacent to the school.<ref name=deputies>Columbine Report, {{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/DEPUTIES_TEXT.htm |title=Deputies on Scene |access-date=December 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222141354/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/DEPUTIES_TEXT.htm |archive-date=December 22, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Two backpacks filled with pipe bombs, aerosol canisters, and small propane bombs were also placed in a field about {{convert|3|mi}} south of CHS, and {{cvt|2|miles}} south of the fire station.{{efn|On the corner of South Wadsworth Boulevard and Ken Caryl Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diversion_map |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/Diversion_MAP.htm |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=www.cnn.com |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112034658/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/Diversion_MAP.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>}} The bombs were intended as a diversion to draw firefighters and emergency personnel away from the school. Only the pipe bombs and one of the aerosol canisters detonated, causing a small fire, which was quickly extinguished by the fire department. It went off after first having been moved. Bomb technicians immediately examined the bombs and relayed to police at the school the possibility of devices with motion activators.<ref name=bombsum />
Harris and Klebold changed clothes and returned separately to CHS. Harris parked his vehicle in the junior student parking lot, and Klebold parked in the adjoining senior student parking lot. The school cafeteria was their primary bomb target; the cafeteria had a long outside window-wall, ground-level doors, and was just north of the senior parking lot.<ref>Columbine Report, Diagram 12</ref> The library was located above the cafeteria in the second-story of the window-wall. Each car contained bombs.<ref name="guidebomb" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Klebold|2016|p=131}}</ref>
As Harris pulled into the parking lot, he encountered classmate Brooks Brown, with whom he had recently patched up a longstanding series of disputes. According to Brown, who was smoking a cigarette, he was surprised to see Harris, whom he earlier noted had been absent from a class test. Harris, a good student, was unlikely to miss school days with important academic obligation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/reports/cr/p25923-26859-936columbinedocs.pdf |title=Columbine Documents. (1999). Columbine Documents (Report no. JC-001-026323) Jefferson County Sherriff's Office |website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 15, 2026 |archive-date=November 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111212522/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/reports/cr/p25923-26859-936columbinedocs.pdf}}</ref> Brown berated Harris for missing the test. Harris, acting unconcerned, replied "It doesn't matter anymore." Harris went on: "Brooks, I like you now. Get out of here. Go home." Brown, feeling uneasy and already prepared to skip his next class, walked away down South Pierce Street.<ref name=brooks13>{{Harvnb|Brown|2002|pp=13–15}}</ref>
Meanwhile, Harris and Klebold armed themselves, using straps and webbing to conceal weapons beneath their trench coats. They lugged bags containing bombs and ammunition. Harris had concealed his shotgun in one of the bags. Beneath the trench coats, Harris wore a military bandolier and a white T-shirt with the inscription "Natural Selection" in black letters, a mantra he had adopted; Klebold wore a black T-shirt with "Wrath" in red letters.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=41}}</ref>
The cafeteria bombs failed to detonate. Had these explosives detonated as intended, they would have killed or severely wounded the 488 students in the cafeteria and damaged the school's structure, collapsing the library into the cafeteria and possibly killing more students and staff.<ref name="bombsum" />
===11:19 a.m.: Shooting begins=== At 11:19 a.m., 17-year-old Rachel Scott and her friend Richard Castaldo were having lunch and sitting on the grass next to the west entrance of the school. Klebold threw a pipe bomb towards the parking lot; the bomb only partially detonated, causing it to give off smoke. Likewise, several students during the incident first thought that they were watching a prank.<ref name=eyes/><ref name=librev/>
Harris shot Scott four times with a Hi-Point 995.<ref name=OOLdeceasedJCSO>{{Cite book|url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/reports/cr/p11867-11870.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007023504/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/reports/cr/p11867-11870.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 7, 2018|page=JC-001-011868|chapter=Columbine High – OOL Deceased|access-date=April 11, 2026|title=Columbine High School 99-7625 Evidence|volume=2|publisher=Jefferson County Sheriff's Office|location=Colorado}}</ref> from a distance of {{convert|10 to 15|ft}},{{sfn|Larkin|2007|pp=48, 199}} she sustained a fourth and fatal wound to her left temple.<ref name="autopsyp1">{{Cite web |last=Dobersen |first=Michael J. |date=May 18, 1999 |title=Pathological Diagnoses |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/autopsies/rach1.gif |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904074251/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/autopsies/rach1.gif |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |access-date=April 11, 2026 |work=Scott, Rachel |publisher=Jefferson County Coroner's Office |page=1 |location=Colorado}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Martyrs of Columbine: Faith and the Politics of Tragedy|page=140}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kystandard.com/content/%E2%80%98thirteen-tears%E2%80%99-legacy-rachel-scott |title='Thirteen Tears': The Legacy of Rachel Scott |access-date=April 11, 2026 |newspaper=The Kentucky Standard |date=May 4, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619233356/http://www.kystandard.com/content/%E2%80%98thirteen-tears%E2%80%99-legacy-rachel-scott |archive-date=June 19, 2013 }}</ref> Castaldo was shot eight times in the chest, arm, and abdomen by both Harris and Klebold, he fell unconscious to the ground and was left paralyzed below the chest.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=46}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Rachel's Tears: 10th Anniversary Edition: The Spiritual Journey of Columbine|pages=91–92}}</ref> Castaldo survived, but Scott immediately died from her injuries.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Diagram Of Columbine High School Shootings|url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/Sketch_0014.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106030301/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/Sketch_0014.htm|archive-date=January 6, 2017|access-date=April 11, 2026}}</ref>
After firing twice, Klebold's TEC-9 jammed, and he was forced to temporarily cease shooting to fix it, which he did by reloading a new magazine into his pistol. Meanwhile, Harris took off his trenchcoat and aimed his carbine down the west staircase in the direction of three students: Daniel Rohrbough, Sean Graves, and Lance Kirklin. The students presumed they were paintball guns, and were about to walk up the staircase directly below the shooters. Harris fired ten times, killing Rohrbough,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hpwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/COLUMBINE_HPW.pdf#page=28 |title=Reinvestigation into the Death of Daniel Rohrbough at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 |publisher=El Paso County Sheriff's Office |access-date=January 4, 2019 |archive-date=October 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027101335/http://www.hpwhite.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/COLUMBINE_HPW.pdf#page=28}}</ref> and injuring Graves and Kirklin.<ref name=timeline1 /> William David Sanders, a teacher and coach at the school, was in the cafeteria when he heard the gunfire and began warning students.<ref name=dave>{{cite web |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/victim/sanders.php |title=Coach William "Dave" Sanders |website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 15, 2026 |archive-date=April 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415153332/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/victim/sanders.php}}</ref>
Harris turned west and fired seven shots in the direction of five students sitting on the grassy hillside adjacent to the steps and opposite the west entrance of the school:<ref name=timeline1 /> Michael Johnson was hit in the face, leg, and arm but ran and escaped; Mark Taylor was shot in the chest, arms, and leg and fell to the ground, where he faked death; the other three escaped uninjured.<ref name=timeline1 />
Klebold fired down the stairs with his shotgun, injuring Nicholas Foss with a graze wound, then walked down the steps toward the cafeteria. He came up to Lance Kirklin, who was already wounded and lying on the ground, weakly calling for help. Klebold said, "Sure. I'll help you," then shot Kirklin in the jaw with his shotgun. Although near-fatally injured, Kirklin ultimately survived.<ref name=eyes>{{cite news |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0613a.htm |title=Through the Eyes of Survivors |access-date=March 16, 2017 |newspaper=The Denver Post |date=June 13, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114133750/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0613a.htm |archive-date=November 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Kevin |last=Simpson |title=Lance Kirklin's story |date=April 16, 2000|url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/col0416a.htm|access-date=April 10, 2026|newspaper=The Denver Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121035957/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/col0416a.htm |archive-date=January 21, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Graves—paralyzed beneath the waist—had crawled into the doorway of the cafeteria's west entrance and collapsed. He rubbed his blood on his face and played dead.<ref name=surfive>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1980&dat=20040418&id=VXMyAAAAIBAJ&pg=1302,2595537 |title=Survivors push forward 5 years after Columbine shootings |access-date=August 24, 2016 |newspaper=The Item |date=April 18, 2004 |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111233201/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1980&dat=20040418&id=VXMyAAAAIBAJ&pg=1302,2595537 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=five/> After shooting Kirklin, Klebold walked towards the cafeteria door. He then stepped over the injured Graves to enter the cafeteria.<ref name=surfive/> Graves remembers Klebold saying, "Sorry, dude."<ref>{{Citation |title=Chaos at Columbine: Revisiting the Tragedy 17 Years Later - Pt. 2 - Crime Watch Daily |date=April 20, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4zwrbuncL8 |language=en |access-date=2022-01-12 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118165258/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4zwrbuncL8 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Klebold then only briefly entered the cafeteria and did not shoot at the several people still inside. Officials speculated that Klebold went to check on the propane bombs. Harris was still on top of the stairs shooting, and severely wounded and partially paralyzed 17-year-old Anne Marie Hochhalter as she attempted to flee.<ref name=surfive/><ref name=five/>{{efn|Hochhalter died of her injuries on February 16, 2025, at the age of 43. Her death certificate lists her cause of death as sepsis due to ''Streptococcus pyogenes''. Her death was officially ruled a homicide.<ref name=kdvr>{{Cite web |last=Willard |first=Heather |date=12 March 2025 |title=Coroner report: Columbine survivor's death 'best classified as homicide' |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/coroner-report-columbine-survivors-death-best-classified-as-homicide/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313161626/https://kdvr.com/news/local/coroner-report-columbine-survivors-death-best-classified-as-homicide/ |archive-date=13 March 2025 |access-date=14 March 2025 |website=FOX31 KVDR}}</ref> }}
Klebold came out of the cafeteria and went back up the stairs to join Harris.<ref name=timeline1 /> They each shot at students standing close to a soccer field but did not hit anyone. They walked toward the west entrance, throwing pipe bombs in several directions, including onto the roof; only a few of these pipe bombs detonated. Witnesses heard one of them say, "This is what we always wanted to do. This is awesome!"<ref>{{cite news|date=May 16, 2000 |url=http://www.thedailycamera.com/shooting/16lcolb.html |title=Excerpts from report on Columbine High massacre |work=The Daily Camera |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815082931/http://www.thedailycamera.com/shooting/16lcolb.html |archive-date=August 15, 2000 |agency=Associated Press|url-status=dead|access-date=May 26, 2026}}</ref><ref name=":132">{{cite web |title=Gunfire in the Halls of Columbine |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/event/event2.html |publisher=acolumbinesite.com |access-date=May 26, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207035157/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/event/event2.html |archive-date=February 7, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
Meanwhile, art teacher Patti Nielson was inside the school; she had noticed the commotion and walked toward the west entrance with student Brian Anderson. Nielson had intended to walk outside to tell the two students, "Knock it off",<ref name=timeline1 /> thinking they were either filming a video or pulling a student prank.<ref name=eyes/> As Anderson opened the first set of double doors, the gunmen shot out the windows, injuring him with flying glass; Nielson was hit in the shoulder with shrapnel. Anderson and Nielson ran back down the hall into the library, and Nielson alerted the students inside to the danger, telling them to get under desks and keep silent. She dialed 9-1-1 and hid under the library's administrative counter.<ref name=timeline1 /> Anderson fell to the floor, bleeding from his injuries, then hid inside the magazine room adjacent to the library.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cashman |first1=John R. |title=Emergency Response Handbook for Chemical and Biological Agents and Weapons |date=2008 |doi=10.1201/9781420052664 |isbn=978-0-429-14049-5 |page=53 }}</ref>
===11:22 a.m.: Police response and West Entrance shootouts=== At 11:22 a.m., a custodian called Deputy Neil Gardner, the assigned resource officer to Columbine, requested assistance in the senior parking lot on the school radio. The only paved route took him around the school to the east and south on Pierce Street, where at 11:23 a.m., he heard on his police radio that a female was down, and assumed she had been struck by a car. While exiting his patrol car in the senior lot at 11:24, he heard another call on the school radio, "Neil, there's a shooter in the school."<ref name=deputies />
Harris, at the west entrance, immediately turned and fired ten shots from his carbine at Gardner, who was {{Convert|60|yards|m}} away.<ref name=deputies /> As Harris reloaded his carbine, Gardner leaned over the top of his car and fired four rounds at Harris from his service pistol.<ref name=eyes/><ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|p=8}}</ref> Harris ducked back behind the building, and Gardner momentarily believed that he had hit him. Harris then reemerged and fired at least four more rounds at Gardner (which missed and struck two parked cars), before retreating into the building. No one was hit during the exchange of gunfire.{{efn|Gardner was not wearing his prescription eyeglasses.<ref>{{cite news |first=Trent |last=Seibert |date=November 23, 2000 |title=Columbine: Deputy's eyesight in question |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/col1123b.htm |work=The Denver Post |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322205016/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/col1123b.htm |archive-date=March 22, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} Gardner reported on his police radio, "Shots in the building. I need someone in the south lot with me."<ref name=deputies /> By this point, Harris had shot 47 times, and Klebold five.<ref name=crit/> The shooters then entered the school through the west entrance, moving along the main north hallway, throwing pipe bombs and shooting at anyone they encountered. Klebold shot Stephanie Munson in the ankle, but she was able to walk out of the school.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/Sketch_0034.htm |work=CNN |access-date=May 26, 2026 |title=Diagram Of Columbine High School Shootings |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000707010450/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/Sketch_0034.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2000 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=eyes/> The pair then shot out the windows to the east entrance of the school. After proceeding through the hall several times and shooting toward—and missing—any students they saw, they went toward the west entrance and turned into the library hallway.{{sfn|Watson|2003|p=198}}
Deputies Paul Smoker and Paul Magor, motorcycle patrolmen for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, were writing a traffic ticket north of the school when the "female down" call came in at 11:23 a.m. Taking the shortest route, they drove their motorcycles over grass between the athletic fields and headed toward the west entrance. When they saw Deputies Scott Taborsky, Rick Searle, and Kevin Walker following them in their patrol car, they abandoned their motorcycles for the safety of the car. The six deputies had begun to rescue two wounded students near the ball fields when another gunfight broke out at 11:26, as Harris returned to the double doors and again began shooting at Deputy Gardner, who returned fire. From the hilltop, Deputy Smoker fired three rounds from his pistol at Harris, who again retreated into the building. As before, no one was hit.<ref name="timeline1" /><ref name="deputies" />
thumb|right|Sanders guiding more than 100 students out of the cafeteria. Inside the school cafeteria, Dave Sanders and two custodians, Jon Curtis and Jay Gallatine, initially told students to get under the tables, then evacuated students up the staircase leading to the second floor of the school. The stairs were located around the corner from the library hallway in the main south hallway. Sanders then tried to secure as much of the school as he could.<ref name=eyes/><ref name=dave /> Sanders and another student were at the end of the hallway, where he gestured for students in the library to stay, before encountering Harris and Klebold, who were approaching from the corner of the north hallway. Sanders and the student turned and ran in the opposite direction.<ref name=":5">{{cite news |first1=Lou |last1=Kilzer |first2=Gary |last2=Massaro |url=http://www.denver-rmn.com/shooting/0516dave3.shtml |title=Science teacher died a hero |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927234555/http://www.denver-rmn.com/shooting/0516dave3.shtml |archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> Harris and Klebold shot at them both, with Harris hitting Sanders twice in the back and neck, hitting his teeth on exit, but missing the student.<ref name=eyes/><ref name=dave /> The latter ran into a science classroom and warned everyone to hide. Klebold walked over towards Sanders, who had collapsed, and tossed a pipe bomb, then returned to Harris up the library hallway.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=139}}</ref>
Sanders struggled toward the science area, and teacher Rich Long took him into a classroom where 30 students were located. Due to his knowledge of first aid, student Aaron Hancey was brought to the classroom from another by teacher Kent Friesen despite the unfolding commotion. With the assistance of fellow student Kevin Starkey and teacher Theresa Miller, Hancey administered first aid to Sanders for three hours, attempting to stem the blood loss using shirts from students in the room, and showing him pictures from his wallet to keep him talking.<ref name=eyes/><ref name=hancey>{{cite web |last=Trostle |first=Pat |url=http://news.hjnews.com/columbine-hero-has-local-ties/article_b823be2b-4681-53c7-b595-0d7b1380190d.html |title=Columbine hero has local ties |date=February 2, 2000 |access-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310234158/http://news.hjnews.com/columbine-hero-has-local-ties/article_b823be2b-4681-53c7-b595-0d7b1380190d.html |archive-date=March 10, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Klebold|2016|p=129}}</ref> Using a phone in the room, Miller and several students maintained contact with police outside the school.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=141}}</ref>
As the shooting unfolded, pipe bombs were tossed in the hallways and down into the cafeteria. Patti Nielson in the library called 911, telling her story and urging students in the library to take cover beneath desks. According to transcripts, her call was received by a 911 operator at 11:25:18 a.m.<ref name="patti">{{cite video |url=http://i.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/videos/PATTI.mpg |title=PATTI |publisher=Jeffco 911 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514003812/http://i.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/videos/PATTI.mpg |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{anchor|quotebox}}
===11:29–11:36 a.m.: Library massacre=== thumb|upright|An FBI diagram of the library, with locations of fatalities. Harris' and Klebold's bodies were found in the bottom left corner. At 11:29 a.m., Harris and Klebold entered the library. Fifty-two students, two teachers and two librarians were inside.<ref name="lark5">{{Harvnb|Larkin|2007|p=5}}</ref> Harris fired his shotgun twice at a desk. Student Evan Todd had been standing near a pillar when the shooters entered the library and had just taken cover behind a photocopier.<ref name="librev" /><ref name="lark6" /> Todd was hit by wood splinters in the eye and lower back but was not seriously injured.<ref name="inju">{{cite web |url=http://acolumbinesite.com/victim/injured6.php#evan |title=Injured Victims |last=Shepard |first=C |website=acolumbinesite.com |access-date=May 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523100301/http://acolumbinesite.com/victim/injured6.php#evan |archive-date=May 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> He then hid behind the administrative counter.<ref name="librev" />
The gunmen walked into the library, towards the two rows of computers. Sitting at the north row was disabled student Kyle Velasquez. Klebold fired his shotgun, fatally hitting him in the head and back.<ref name=librev/><ref name=OOL>{{Cite book |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/reports/cr/p11867-11870.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007023504/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/reports/cr/p11867-11870.pdf |archive-date=October 7, 2018 |page=JC-001-011868 |chapter=Columbine High – OOL Deceased |title=Columbine High School 99-7625 Evidence |volume=2 |access-date=October 6, 2018 |publisher=Jefferson County Sheriff's Office |location=Colorado}}</ref> They put down their ammunition-filled duffel bags at the south—or lower—row of computers and reloaded their weapons. They then walked between the computer rows, toward the windows facing the outside staircase.
Throughout the massacre in the library, they ordered everybody to get up, said how long they had been waiting for this, and seemed to be enjoying themselves, shouting things like "Woo!" after shooting.<ref name="librev" /> While ordering the jocks to stand up, one of the two said, "Anybody with a white hat or a sports emblem on it is dead."<ref name="librev" /><ref name="lark5" /> Wearing a white baseball cap at Columbine was a tradition among sports team members.<ref name="lark5" /> Nobody stood up, and several students tried to hide their white hats.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=179}}</ref>
Windows were shot out in the direction of the recently arrived police.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|p=37}}</ref> Officers returned fire, and the gunmen retreated from the windows; no one was injured.<ref name="timeline1" /> Klebold removed his trench coat. He then fired his shotgun at a nearby table, injuring three students: Patrick Ireland, Daniel Steepleton, and Makai Hall.<ref name="librev" />
Harris walked toward the lower row of computer desks with his shotgun and fired a single shot under the first desk while down on one knee. He hit 14-year-old Steven Curnow with a mortal wound to the neck.<ref name="OOL" /> He then moved to the adjacent computer desk, injuring 17-year-old Kacey Ruegsegger with a shot which passed completely through her right shoulder, also grazing her neck and severing a major artery.<ref name="OOL" /><ref name="remem">{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/remembering-columbine/ar-AA2QskL |title=Remembering Columbine |publisher=MSN |date=July 17, 2014 |access-date=August 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826014926/http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/remembering-columbine/ar-AA2QskL |archive-date=August 26, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> When she started gasping in pain, Harris said, "Quit your bitching."<ref name="five">{{cite web |url=https://people.com/archive/columbine-five-years-later-vol-61-no-15/ |title=Columbine Five Years Later |work=People |date=April 19, 2004 |access-date=November 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117211130/https://people.com/archive/columbine-five-years-later-vol-61-no-15/ |archive-date=November 17, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Harris then walked to a table south of the lower computer table, with two students underneath: Cassie Bernall and Emily Wyant. Harris slapped the surface of the table twice as he knelt, and said "Peek-a-boo" before shooting Bernall once in the head with the shotgun, killing her.<ref name=OOL/><ref name=autopsy>{{cite web |url=http://www.autopsyfiles.org/columbine.htm/|website=autopsyfiles.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811124613/http://www.autopsyfiles.org/columbine.htm/ |archive-date=August 11, 2015 |title=Columbine Massacre Victims|access-date=May 25, 2026}}</ref> Harris at this point held the gun with one hand, and the weapon hit his face in recoil, injuring his nose. He told Klebold he had done so, and Klebold responded "Why'd you do that?"<ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|p=38}}</ref>
After fatally shooting Bernall, Harris turned toward the next table, where Bree Pasquale sat next to the table rather than under it due to lack of space. Harris's nose was bleeding; witnesses later reported that he had blood around his mouth. Harris asked Pasquale if she wanted to die, and she responded with a plea for her life. Harris laughed and responded "Everyone's gonna die." When Klebold said "shoot her," Harris responded "No, we're gonna blow up the school anyway."<ref name=lark6>{{Harvnb|Larkin|2007|p=6}}</ref>
Klebold noticed Ireland trying to provide aid to Hall, who had suffered a wound to his knee. As Ireland tried to help Hall, his head rose above the table. Klebold shot him a second time, hitting him twice in the head and once in the foot. Ireland was knocked unconscious but survived.<ref name=eyes/> Klebold then walked toward another table, where he discovered 18-year-old Isaiah Shoels, 16-year-old Matthew Kechter, and 16-year-old Craig Scott (Rachel's younger brother), hiding underneath. Klebold called out to Harris that he found a "nigger" and tried to pull Shoels out from under the table.<ref name="eyes" /><ref name="suit">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19991006&id=L2RWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6615,4899761 |title=Massacre Memorial Sparks Suit |work=The Spokesman Review |date=October 6, 1999 |access-date=September 24, 2016 |archive-date=November 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112000036/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19991006&id=L2RWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6615,4899761 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|p=39}}</ref>
Harris left Pasquale and joined him. According to witnesses, they taunted Shoels for a few seconds, making derogatory racial comments. The gunmen both fired under the table; Harris shot Shoels once in the chest, killing him, and Klebold shot and killed Kechter. Though Shoels was not shot in the head, Klebold said: "I didn't know black brains could fly that far."<ref name="lark7" /> Meanwhile, Scott was uninjured, lying in the blood of his friends, feigning death. Harris then yelled, "Who's ready to die next?!"<ref name="eyes" />
He turned and threw a "cricket" at the table where Hall, Steepleton, and Ireland were. It landed on Steepleton's thigh; Hall quickly noticed it and tossed it behind them, and it exploded in mid-air.<ref name=":132"/> Harris walked toward the bookcases between the west and center section of tables in the library. He jumped on one and shook it, apparently attempting to topple it, then shot at the books which had fallen.<ref name=eyes/><ref name=remem/>
Klebold walked to the east area of the library. Harris walked from the bookcase, past the central area to meet Klebold. The latter shot at a display case next to the door, then turned and shot toward the closest table, hitting and injuring 17-year-old Mark Kintgen in the head and shoulder. He then turned toward the table to his left and fired, injuring 18-year-olds Lisa Kreutz, Lauren Townsend, and Valeen Schnurr with the same shotgun blast. Klebold then moved toward the same table and fired several shots with the TEC-9, killing Townsend.<ref name=remem/>
At this point, the seriously injured Valeen Schnurr began screaming, "Oh, my God! Oh, my God!"<ref name=yes>{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Cullen|date=September 30, 1999|url=https://www.salon.com/1999/09/30/bernall/|title=Who said "Yes"? |website=salon.com|access-date=April 15, 2026 |archive-date=July 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719172215/https://www.salon.com/1999/09/30/bernall/}}</ref><ref name=lark7>{{Harvnb|Larkin|2007|p=7}}</ref> In response, Klebold asked Schnurr if she believed in the existence of God; when Schnurr replied she did, Klebold asked "Why?" and commented "God is gay." Klebold reloaded but walked away from the table.<ref name=yes/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://acolumbinesite.com/victim/injured6.php |title=Injured Victims |website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 15, 2026 |archive-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715160527/http://acolumbinesite.com/victim/injured6.php}}</ref><ref name="Kass 2009 page=40">{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|p=40}}</ref>
Harris approached another table where two girls were hiding. He bent down to look at them and dismissed them as "pathetic".<ref name=librev/><ref name=remem/> Harris then moved to another table where he fired twice, injuring 16-year-olds Nicole Nowlen and John Tomlin. Tomlin moved out from under the table. Klebold shot him repeatedly, killing him.<ref name=OOL/><ref name="Kass 2009 page=40"/>
Harris then walked back over to the other side of the table where Townsend lay dead. Behind the table was 16-year-old Kelly Fleming. Harris shot Fleming with his shotgun, hitting her in the back and killing her.<ref name=OOL/> He shot at the table behind Fleming, hitting Townsend, who was already dead; Kreutz again; and wounding 18-year-old Jeanna Park.<ref name=librev /> The shooters moved to the center of the library, where they reloaded their weapons at a table. Harris then pointed his carbine under a table, but the student he was aiming at moved out of the way. Harris turned his gun back on the student and told him to identify himself. It was John Savage, an acquaintance of Klebold's. He asked Klebold what they were doing, to which he shrugged and answered, "Oh, just killing people."<ref name=lark7/> Savage asked if they were going to kill him. Because of the background noise, Klebold said, "What?" Savage asked again whether they were going to kill him. Klebold said no, and told him to run. Savage fled, escaping through the library's main entrance and through the cafeteria.<ref name=librev />
After Savage left, Harris turned and fired his carbine at the table directly north of where he had been, hitting the ear and hand of 15-year-old Daniel Mauser. Mauser retaliated by either shoving a chair at Harris or grabbing at his leg; Harris fired again and hit Mauser in the center of the face at close range, killing him.<ref name=OOL/> Harris then moved south and fired three shots under another table, critically injuring two 17-year-olds, Jennifer Doyle and Austin Eubanks. Klebold then shot once, fatally killing 17-year-old Corey DePooter, at 11:35.<ref name="timeline1" /><ref name="librev" /> There were no further victims, they had killed 10 people in the library and wounded 12.{{efn|There were 56 potential victims in the library; investigators would later find that the shooters had enough ammunition to have killed them all.<ref name=timeline1 />}}
Klebold was quoted as saying they might start knifing people, but they never did. They headed towards the library's main counter. Harris threw a Molotov cocktail toward the southwestern end of the library, but it failed to explode. They converged close to where Todd had moved after having been wounded.<ref name="librev" /> Klebold pulled the chair out from the desk, then he pointed his TEC-9 at Todd, who was wearing a white hat. Klebold asked if he was a jock, and when Todd said no, Klebold responded "Well, that's good. We don't like jocks." Klebold then demanded to see his face; Todd partly lifted his hat so his face would remain obscured. When Klebold asked Todd to give him one reason why he should not kill him, Todd said: "I don't want trouble." Klebold responded back angrily "Trouble? You don't even know what fucking trouble is!" Todd tried to correct himself: "That's not what I meant! I mean, I don't have a problem with you guys. I never will and I never did." Klebold then told Harris he was going to let Todd live, but that Harris could kill him if he wanted.<ref name=inju/>
Harris appeared to pay no attention and stated that he and Klebold should head to the cafeteria. Klebold fired into an open library staff break room, hitting a small television. While Harris was walking away, Klebold said, "One more thing!", then picked up the chair beside the library counter under which Patti Nielson was hiding, and slammed the chair down on top of the computer terminal and library counter.<ref name="librev" /> Klebold joined Harris at the library entrance. The two walked out of the library at 11:36. Cautiously, fearing the shooters' return, 10 injured and 29 uninjured survivors began to evacuate the library through the north emergency exit door, which led to the sidewalk next to the west entrance. Kacey Ruegsegger was evacuated from the library by Craig Scott. Had she not been evacuated at this point, Ruegsegger would likely have bled to death from her injuries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/columbine-survivor-in-rose-parade/article_b0245b7c-acc0-5143-b019-684323905931.html/ |title=Columbine survivor in Rose Parade |access-date=August 20, 2016 |newspaper=Casper Star Tribune |date=December 27, 2004 |archive-date=June 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623075227/http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/columbine-survivor-in-rose-parade/article_b0245b7c-acc0-5143-b019-684323905931.html/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Patrick Ireland, unconscious, and Lisa Kreutz, unable to move, remained in the building.<ref name="eyes" /><ref name="librev">{{Cite web |title=Findings of Library Events |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/LIBRARY_TEXT.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114110923/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/LIBRARY_TEXT.htm |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |access-date=May 29, 2025 |publisher=CNN.com }}</ref> Patti Nielson crawled into the exterior break room, into which Klebold had earlier fired shots, and hid in a cupboard.<ref name=":132" />
=== 12:08 p.m.: Suicides === After leaving the library, Harris and Klebold entered the science area, where they caused a fire in an empty storage closet. It was extinguished by a teacher who had hidden in an adjacent room.{{sfn|Larkin|2007|p=8}} The gunmen then proceeded toward the south hallway, where they shot into an empty science room. At 11:44 a.m., they were captured on the school security cameras as they re-entered the cafeteria. The recording shows Harris crouching against the rail on the staircase and firing toward the propane bombs left in the cafeteria, in an unsuccessful attempt to detonate them.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sarche |first=Jon |date=September 24, 1999 |title=Bomb's failure apparently changed Columbine killers' plans |url=https://azdailysun.com/bombs-failure-apparently-changed-columbine-killers-plans/article_5032828f-8505-5cb7-abdc-2ca4924d13ae.html |work=Arizona Daily Sun|access-date=April 19, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413194649/https://azdailysun.com/bombs-failure-apparently-changed-columbine-killers-plans/article_5032828f-8505-5cb7-abdc-2ca4924d13ae.html |archive-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref> As Klebold approached the propane bomb and examined it, Harris took a drink from one of the cups left behind. Klebold lit a Molotov cocktail and threw it at the propane bomb. About a minute later, the gallon of fuel attached to the bomb ignited, causing a fire that was extinguished by the fire sprinklers a few minutes later.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bai |first1=Matt |title=Columbine High School: Anatomy of a Massacre |url=https://www.newsweek.com/columbine-high-school-anatomy-massacre-166950 |access-date=15 October 2020 |work=Newsweek |date=2 May 1999 |location=New York City |archive-date=April 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420231845/https://www.newsweek.com/columbine-high-school-anatomy-massacre-166950 |url-status=live }}</ref> They left the cafeteria at 11:46.
After leaving the cafeteria, they returned to the main north and south hallways of the school and fired several shots into walls and ceilings as students and teachers hid in rooms. They walked through the south hallway into the main office before returning to the north hallway. At 11:56, they returned to the cafeteria, and briefly entered the school kitchen.<ref name=timeline1/> They returned up the staircase and into the south hallway at 12:00 p.m.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/NARRATIVE.Time.Line2.htm |title=NARRATIVE TIME LINE |publisher=CNN|access-date=April 19, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822021500/https://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/NARRATIVE.Time.Line2.htm |archive-date=August 22, 2007}}</ref>
They re-entered the library, which was empty of survivors except for the unconscious Ireland and the injured Kreutz. Once inside, at 12:02 p.m., police were shot at again through the library windows and returned fire. Nobody was injured in the exchange.<ref name=timeline1/> By 12:05, all gunfire from the school had ceased. By 12:08 p.m., both gunmen had killed themselves. Harris sat down with his back to a bookshelf and fired his shotgun through the roof of his mouth; Klebold went down on his knees and shot himself in the left temple with his TEC-9. An article by ''The Rocky Mountain News'' stated that Patti Nielson overheard them shout "One! Two! Three!" in unison, just before a loud boom.<ref name=Fatal>{{cite news |last1=Bartels |first1=Lynn |first2=Carla |last2=Crowder |url=http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/shooting/0822fata1.shtml |title=Fatal Friendship |newspaper=The Rocky Mountain News |date=1999 |access-date=September 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221031521/http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/shooting/0822fata1.shtml |archive-date=February 21, 2001}}</ref> Nielson later said that she had never spoken with either of the writers of the article.<ref>[http://acolumbinesite.com/reports/cr/p0001-0100.pdf Progress Report, Case # 99-16215] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904084603/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/reports/cr/p0001-0100.pdf |date=September 4, 2015 }} pp. 98–99</ref>
In 2002, the ''National Enquirer'' published two post-mortem photos of Harris and Klebold in the library. Klebold's gun was underneath his body and so unseen in the photo, leading to speculation that Harris shot Klebold before killing himself. However, some of Klebold's blood was on Harris's legs, suggesting that he had fallen onto Harris after Harris had already killed himself.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=The National Enquirer |title=Columbine Killers |date=June 4, 2002}}</ref> Also, just before shooting himself, Klebold lit a Molotov cocktail on a nearby table, underneath which Patrick Ireland was lying, which caused the tabletop to momentarily catch fire. Underneath the scorched film of material was a piece of Harris's brain matter, suggesting Harris had shot himself by this point.<ref>{{Harvnb|Krabbé|2012|p=30}}</ref>
{{Quote box | align = center | width = 100% | qalign = left | qstyle = padding-right:1.5em; | title = Fatalities | quote = {{olist |'''Rachel Scott''' (aged 17), killed on grass outside west entrance by Harris |'''Daniel Rohrbough''' (aged 15), killed at bottom of stairs leading to west entrance by Harris |'''Anne Marie Hochhalter''' (then aged 17), shot and injured outside the school by Harris; died of injuries in February 2025 at 43 |'''William David Sanders''' (aged 47), shot in hallway adjacent library by Harris; died of blood loss in a science classroom |'''Kyle Velasquez''' (aged 16), killed while sitting in a chair near the middle of the north computer table in the library by Klebold |'''Steven Curnow''' (aged 14), killed at the west end of the south computer table in the library by Harris |'''Cassie Bernall''' (aged 17), killed under library table No. 19 by Harris |'''Isaiah Shoels''' (aged 18), killed under library table No. 16 by Harris |'''Matthew Kechter''' (aged 16), killed under library table No. 16 by Klebold |'''Lauren Townsend''' (aged 18), killed under library table No. 2 by Klebold |'''John Tomlin''' (aged 16), killed next to library table No. 6 by Klebold; after being wounded by Harris |'''Kelly Fleming''' (aged 16), killed next to library table No. 2 by Harris |'''Daniel Mauser''' (aged 15), killed under library table No. 9 by Harris |'''Corey DePooter''' (aged 17), killed under library table No. 14 by Klebold |'''''Eric Harris''''' (perpetrator) (aged 18), committed suicide via a self-inflicted gunshot wound |'''''Dylan Klebold''''' (perpetrator) (aged 17), committed suicide via a self-inflicted gunshot wound}} }}
The final death count was 16, including 11 males, and 5 females. Their ages ranged from 14 to 47, the youngest being Steven Curnow, and the oldest being teacher Dave Sanders. ==Crisis ends==
===SWAT response=== thumb|A survivor recalls the events of the dayBy 12:00 p.m., SWAT teams were stationed outside the school, and ambulances started taking the wounded to local hospitals. A call for additional ammunition for police officers in case of a shootout came at 12:20. Authorities reported pipe bombs by 1:00, and two SWAT teams entered the school at 1:09, moving from classroom to classroom, discovering hidden students and faculty.<ref name=SWAT /> They entered at the end of the school opposite the library, hampered by old maps and unaware a new wing had recently been added. They were also hampered by the sound of the fire alarms.<ref name=lesson/>
===Leawood Elementary=== Meanwhile, families of students and staff were asked to gather at nearby Leawood Elementary School to await information. All students, teachers, and school employees were taken away, questioned, and offered medical care in small holding areas before being bussed to meet with their family members at Leawood Elementary. In his book ''Walking in Daniel's Shoes'', Tom Mauser, father of victim Daniel Mauser, recounts how several families who had still been waiting on word of the status of their children were informed by law enforcement that another bus from the school was on its way. However, this bus never arrived, and whether the comments from police stemmed from miscommunication or were an attempt to give distraught parents hope is unknown.<ref>{{Harvnb|Mauser|2012|p=4}}</ref>
===The boy in the window=== thumb|right|Still image of Ireland shortly before he falls from the library window Patrick Ireland had regained and lost consciousness several times after being shot by Klebold. Paralyzed on his right side, he crawled to the library windows where, on live television, at 2:38 p.m., he stretched out the window, intending to fall into the arms of two SWAT team members standing on the roof of an emergency vehicle, but instead falling directly onto the vehicle's roof in a pool of blood. He became known as "the boy in the window."<ref name=five/><ref>{{cite news |date=April 14, 2000 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boy-in-the-window-wont-look-back/ |title='Boy in the Window' Won't Look Back |work=CBS News |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128060501/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/04/14/columbine/main183922.shtml |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The team members, Donn Kraemer and John Ramoniec, were later criticized for allowing Ireland to drop more than seven feet to the ground while doing nothing to try to ensure he could be lowered to the ground safely or break his fall.
==="1 bleeding to death"=== At 2:15 p.m., student Mike Rotole placed a sign in the window, reading "1 bleeding to death", in order to alert police and medical personnel of Dave Sanders's location in the science room.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 17, 2001|title=What Really Happened At Columbine? |work=CBS News |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/04/17/60minutes/main286144.shtml |url-status=live |access-date=May 20, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423060929/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/04/17/60minutes/main286144.shtml |archive-date=April 23, 2009}}</ref><ref name=eyes/><ref name=":5" /> Police initially feared it was a ruse by the shooters. A shirt was also tied to the doorknob. At 2:30, this was spotted, and by 2:40, SWAT officers evacuated the room of students and called for a paramedic.<ref name=SWAT /> Hancey and Starkey were reluctant to leave Sanders behind.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=hancey /> By 3:00, the SWAT officers had moved Sanders to a storage room, which was more easily accessible.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |year=2000 |title=SWAT - Special Weapons and Tactics |url=http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/SWAT_TEXT.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040925075415/http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/SWAT_TEXT.htm |archive-date=25 September 2004 |access-date=2021-02-02 |website=CNN.com}}</ref> As they did so, a paramedic arrived and found Sanders had no pulse.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=SWAT /> He had died of his injuries in the storage room before he could receive medical care. He was the only teacher to die in the shooting.
=== Suicide mission; estimated 25 dead === Lisa Kreutz, shot in the shoulder, arms, hand, and thigh, was evacuated at 3:22 p.m., along with Patti Nielson, Brian Anderson, and the three library staff who had hidden in the rooms adjacent to the library. Kreutz was the last person to be pulled from the library.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/victim/injured3.html |title=The Injured at Columbine High School |website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 16, 2026 |archive-date=November 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104122444/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/victim/injured3.html}}</ref><ref name="librev" /> By 3:30, officials found the bodies in the library.<ref name=SWAT>Columbine Report, SWAT</ref>
[[File:President Clinton's Remarks Regarding Columbine HS Shooting (1999).webm|thumb|President Bill Clinton's remarks regarding the shooting on April 20, 1999]] By 4:00, Sheriff John P. Stone made an initial estimate of 25 dead students and teachers, 50 wounded, and referred to the massacre as a "suicide mission".<ref name="SWAT" /><ref name="twfive">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9904/20/school.shooting.08/ |title=As many as 25 dead in Colorado school attack |date=April 20, 1999 |publisher=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000824081540/http://www.cnn.com/US/9904/20/school.shooting.08/ |archive-date=August 24, 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref> President Bill Clinton later issued a statement.<ref name="twfive" />
=== Bomb squad response === Stone said that police officers were searching the bodies of the gunmen. They feared they had used their pipe bombs to booby-trap corpses, including their own. At 4:30 p.m., the school was declared safe. At 5:30, additional officers were called in, as more explosives were found in the parking lot and on the roof. By 6:15, officials had found a bomb in Klebold's car in the parking lot, set to detonate the gas tank.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9904/21/school.shooting.01/ |title=Colorado school shooters identified |date=April 21, 1999|access-date=April 19, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060101223254/http://www.cnn.com/US/9904/21/school.shooting.01/ |archive-date=January 1, 2006}}</ref>
At 10:40 p.m., a member of the bomb squad, who was attempting to dispose of an un-detonated pipe bomb, accidentally lit a striking match attached to the bomb by brushing it against the wall of the ordnance disposal trailer. The bomb detonated inside the trailer but no one was injured.<ref name=bombsum />
The bomb squad disarmed the car bomb. Klebold's car was repaired and, in 2006, put up for auction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/columbine-killer-s-car-back-on-market |title=Columbine Killer's Car Back on Market |access-date=November 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123201204/https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/columbine-killer-s-car-back-on-market |archive-date=November 23, 2018}}</ref>
==Immediate aftermath== thumb|Clinton's remarks to the Columbine High School community on May 20, 1999 On the morning of April 21, bomb squads combed the high school. By 8:30 a.m., the official death toll of 15 was released.<ref name=after /> The earlier estimate was ten over the true death toll count, but close to the total count of wounded students. The total count of deaths was 12 students (14 including the shooters) and one teacher; 20 students and one teacher were injured as a result of the shootings. Three more victims were injured indirectly as they tried to escape the school. One of the survivors later died from her injuries, bringing the number of victim fatalities to fourteen.
At 10:00 a.m., the bomb squad declared the building safe for officials to enter. By 11:30 a.m., a spokesman of the sheriff declared the investigation underway. Thirteen of the bodies were still inside and around the high school as investigators photographed the building.<ref name=after>{{cite web |title=Columbine Shooting Aftermath – 1999 |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/after/1999.html |publisher=acolumbinesite.com |access-date=September 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828184438/http://acolumbinesite.com/after/1999.html |archive-date=August 28, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
At 2:30 p.m., a press conference was held by Jefferson County District Attorney David Thomas and Sheriff John Stone, at which they said that they suspected others had helped plan the shooting. Formal identification of the dead had not yet taken place, but families of the children thought to have been killed had been notified.
Throughout the late afternoon and early evening, the bodies were gradually removed from the school and taken to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office to be identified and autopsied. By 5:00 p.m., the names of many of the dead were known. An official statement was released, naming the 15 confirmed deaths and 27 injuries related to the massacre.<ref name=after />
On April 22, the cafeteria bombs were discovered.<ref name="after" />
In the wake of the massacre, the National Hockey League postponed the start of the first round playoff series between the Colorado Avalanche and the San Jose Sharks.<ref>{{cite web |last=Frei |first=Terry |date=April 20, 2010 |title=Columbine remembered by Avs, Sharks before playoff game |url=http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_14917409 |access-date=September 29, 2014 |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529163017/http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_14917409 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1999-04-22 |title=HOCKEY; In Denver, Games Are Called Off |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/22/sports/hockey-in-denver-games-are-called-off.html |access-date=2021-06-02 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |agency=The Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1999-04-22 |title=Avalanche Postpones Two Playoff Games |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-22-sp-29998-story.html |access-date=2021-06-02 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
In the days following the shootings, Rachel Scott's car and John Tomlin's truck became memorials,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/victim/memorial.php |title=Columbine Memorials |website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 15, 2026 |archive-date=July 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708072242/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/victim/memorial.php}}</ref> and impromptu memorials were held in Clement Park. On April 30, carpenter Greg Zanis erected fifteen 6-foot-tall wooden crosses to honor those who had died at the school. Daniel Rohrbough's father cut down the two meant for the gunmen.<ref name="after" /> There were also fifteen trees planted, and he cut down two of those as well.<ref name="suit" />
In November 2021, a report was leaked to NPR about that year's National Rifle Association convention in Denver. In a series of audio tapes, Wayne LaPierre and other top officials suggested raising one million dollars for the victims' families, and the cancellation of the convention was considered by some within the organization.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mak |first1=Tim |title=A secret tape made after Columbine shows the NRA's evolution on school shootings |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1049054141/a-secret-tape-made-after-columbine-shows-the-nras-evolution-on-school-shootings |access-date=13 November 2021 |agency=NPR |date=9 November 2021 |archive-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113163237/https://www.npr.org/2021/11/09/1049054141/a-secret-tape-made-after-columbine-shows-the-nras-evolution-on-school-shootings |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Lisa |title=Recordings Of NRA Top Brass After 1999 Columbine Shootings Reveal They Reportedly Considered Canceling The Annual Meeting |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakim/2021/11/09/recordings-of-nra-top-brass-after-1999-columbine-shootings-reveal-they-reportedly-considered-canceling-the-annual-meeting/ |access-date=13 November 2021 |work=Forbes |date=9 November 2021 |archive-date=November 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110030810/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakim/2021/11/09/recordings-of-nra-top-brass-after-1999-columbine-shootings-reveal-they-reportedly-considered-canceling-the-annual-meeting/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Search warrant press conference === Also on April 30, high-ranking officials of Jefferson County and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office met to decide if they should reveal that Michael Guerra had drafted an affidavit for a search warrant of Harris's residence more than a year before the shootings, based on his previous investigation of Harris's website and activities.<ref name=event1>{{cite web |title=April 20, 1999 |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/event/event1.html |publisher=acolumbinesite.com |access-date=September 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918205249/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/event/event1.html |archive-date=September 18, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Since the affidavit's contents lacked the necessary probable cause, they decided not to disclose this information at a press conference held on April 30, nor did they mention it in any other way.<ref>{{cite news |title=Grand Jury Knocks Columbine Probe |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grand-jury-knocks-columbine-probe/ |access-date=21 January 2023 |work=CBS News |date=2002-10-05 |archive-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230121093029/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grand-jury-knocks-columbine-probe/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Over the next two years, Guerra's original draft and investigative file documents were lost. In September 1999, a Jefferson County investigator failed to find the documents during a secret search of the county's computer system. A second attempt in late 2000 found copies of the document within the Jefferson County archives. Their loss was termed "troubling" by a grand jury convened after the file's existence was reported in April 2001.<ref name=gjury>{{cite web |url=http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/Columbine_Grand_Jury_Report.pdf |title=Columbine Grand Jury Report |date=September 1, 2004 |publisher=District Court, City and County of Denver, Colorado |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040922095745/http://media.mnginteractive.com/media/paper36/Columbine_Grand_Jury_Report.pdf |archive-date=September 22, 2004}}</ref> It was concealed by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and not revealed until September 2001, resulting from an investigation by the TV show ''60 Minutes''. The documents were reconstructed and released to the public, but the original documents are still missing. The final grand jury investigation was released in September 2004.<ref name=gjury />
=== Christian martyrdom === In the wake of the shooting, victims Rachel Scott and Cassie Bernall came to be regarded as Christian martyrs by Evangelical Christians.<ref name=yes/><ref name="vox">{{Cite web |last=Wilkinson |first=Alissa |date=April 20, 2017 |title=After Columbine, martyrdom became a powerful fantasy for Christian teenagers |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/4/20/15369442/columbine-anniversary-cassie-bernall-rachel-scott-martyrdom |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421163241/https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/4/20/15369442/columbine-anniversary-cassie-bernall-rachel-scott-martyrdom|archive-date=April 21, 2017 |access-date=April 9, 2026 |website=Vox |language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Pike|2009|p=662}}{{sfn|Senie|2016|p=112}} The closest living witness to Scott's death, Richard Castaldo, has stated Harris asked Scott if she believed in God, and murdered her after she answered "You know I do", but this has been questioned, and Castaldo later stated he was not sure.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot1216b.htm |title=Who said 'yes' blurs with time |access-date=August 10, 2020 |newspaper=Denver Post |date=December 16, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607001104/https://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot1216b.htm |archive-date=June 7, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Considerable media attention focused upon Bernall, who had been killed by Harris in the library and whom Harris was reported to have asked, "Do you believe in God?" immediately prior to her murder.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/17/columbine-massacre-gun-crime-us |title=The truth about Columbine |access-date=October 9, 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011012515/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/17/columbine-massacre-gun-crime-us |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Bernall was reported to have responded "Yes" to this question before her murder. Emily Wyant, the closest living witness to Bernall's death, denied that Bernall and Harris had such an exchange.<ref name="belief">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-10/14/026r-101499-idx.html |title=Columbine Miracle: a Matter of Belief |access-date=September 12, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 14, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909020229/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-10/14/026r-101499-idx.html |archive-date=September 9, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Joshua Lapp thought Bernall had been queried about her belief, but he was unable to correctly point out where Bernall was located, and was closer to survivor Valeen Schnurr during the shootings. Likewise, another witness, Craig Scott, claimed the discussion was with Bernall. However, when asked to indicate where the conversation had been coming from, he pointed to where Schnurr was shot.<ref name="tof">{{cite web |title=Columbine Student Cassie Bernall Said "Yes" When Asked By One of the Shooters if She Believed in God-Disputed! |url=http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/cassie.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010013639/http://truthorfiction.com/rumors/c/cassie.htm |archive-date=October 10, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2011 |publisher=TruthOrFiction.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Schnurr herself claims that she was the one questioned as to her belief in God.<ref name="belief" />
=== We are Columbine === Classes at Columbine were held at nearby Chatfield Senior High for the remaining three weeks of the 1999 school year.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/1999/11/01/03tucker.html |title=Life After Death – Education Week Teacher |last=Hill |first=David |newspaper=Education Week |date=November 1999 |language=en-US |access-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810235401/https://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/1999/11/01/03tucker.html |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In August 1999, students returned to the school, and principal Frank DeAngelis led a rally of students clad in "We are Columbine" shirts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nypost.com/1999/08/17/victims-kin-bitter-at-columbine-rally-hs-opens-without-mention-of-massacre/ |title=VICTIMS' KIN BITTER AT COLUMBINE RALLY: HS OPENS WITHOUT MENTION OF MASSACRE |first=Douglas |last=Montero |date=August 17, 1999 |access-date=November 2, 2018 |archive-date=November 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115153748/https://nypost.com/1999/08/17/victims-kin-bitter-at-columbine-rally-hs-opens-without-mention-of-massacre/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Secondary casualties === In the years following the shooting, numerous individuals connected to the event experienced long-term physical and psychological effects. Survivors, including students and teachers, reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.<ref>{{cite news |last=Donaldson James |first=Susan |date=April 13, 2009 |title=Columbine Shootings 10 Years Later: Students, Teacher Still Haunted by Post-Traumatic Stress |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=7300782&page=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427102132/http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=7300782&page=1 |archive-date=April 27, 2013 |access-date=June 4, 2013 |work=ABC News}}</ref>
Six months after the shootings, Anne Marie Hochhalter's mother died by suicide.<ref name="surfive" /><ref name="five" /> Hochhalter herself died on February 16, 2025, at the age of 43. According to Hochhalter's father, she died due to medical complications from the paralysis and injuries sustained during the shooting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 March 2025 |title=Cause of death for my daughter, Anne Marie Hochhalter, has been released by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. I'm sharing this for family and friends who may see some things in the media that may be, or may not be, totally accurate. I thought folks might like to know. |url=https://x.com/zhawke2002/status/1898131609205064075 |access-date=11 March 2025 |language=en |archive-date=March 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330090732/https://x.com/zhawke2002/status/1898131609205064075 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hernandez |first1=Elizabeth |title=Columbine High School shooting survivor dies decades after tragedy. Her tenacious spirit is remembered. |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2025/02/17/anne-marie-hochhalter-obituary-columbine-high-school-shooting-survivor/ |access-date=18 February 2025 |work=The Denver Post |date=17 February 2025 |archive-date=March 17, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317115408/https://www.denverpost.com/2025/02/17/anne-marie-hochhalter-obituary-columbine-high-school-shooting-survivor/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Slevin |first=Colleen |date=18 February 2025 |title=Columbine survivor Anne Marie Hochhalter, who forgave gunman's mother, dies at 43 |url=https://apnews.com/article/columbine-anne-marie-hochhalter-forgive-klebold-obit-f8e8aabd8cf7fe23d71d81d1e6eac423 |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=The Associated Press |quote="Hochhalter was found in her home in suburban Denver on Sunday. Her family suspects she died of natural causes stemming from her injuries in the 1999 shooting in which 12 students and a teacher were killed."}}</ref> On March 13, 2025, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office released her autopsy report, officially ruling her cause of death as homicide.<ref name="cnn-fast" /><ref name="kdvr" /> The ruling brought the total number of deceased victims resulting from the attack to 14.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Associated Press. |date=2025-03-13 |title=Columbine victim's death is ruled a homicide nearly 26 years after school shooting |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/13/us/columbine-school-shooting-hochhalter-homicide |access-date= |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
Greg Barnes, a 17-year-old student at Columbine who had also witnessed Sanders's shooting, and also a close friend of Kechter, died by suicide on May 4, 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/col0506.htm |title=Song only clue to student's despair |date=May 6, 2000 |access-date=October 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831192115/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/col0506.htm |archive-date=August 31, 2012}}</ref>
Survivor Austin Eubanks, who was injured during the shooting, became heavily medicated, developing an opioid addiction.<ref>{{cite news |last=Vera |first=Amir |date=May 19, 2019 |title=Columbine survivor Austin Eubanks found dead at 37 |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/18/us/columbine-survivor-found-dead/index.html |access-date=May 19, 2019 |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530015500/https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/18/us/columbine-survivor-found-dead/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He eventually overcame and later spoke publicly about the addiction, but died from an accidental overdose on May 18, 2019, at the age of 37.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanglin |first=Doug |title=Columbine survivor Austin Eubanks died of accidental heroin overdose, coroner says |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/14/columbine-survivor-coroner-says-austin-eubanks-died-drug-overdose/1455288001/ |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=June 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614172437/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/14/columbine-survivor-coroner-says-austin-eubanks-died-drug-overdose/1455288001/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Conspiracy theories and misinformation === In the immediate aftermath, conspiracy theories and unfounded claims were made by several anti-government movements and extremist religious and political movements, such as the Westboro Baptist Church and televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
Westboro's founder and then-leader, Fred Phelps, unfoundedly claimed that both Harris and Klebold were gay, saying: "Two filthy fags slaughtered 13 people at Columbine High."<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last1=Cullen |first1=Dave |author1-link=Dave Cullen |title=Gay leaders fear Littleton backlash |url=https://www.salon.com/1999/04/27/gay/ |access-date=20 January 2022 |work=Salon.com |date=27 April 1999}}</ref>{{sfn|Watson|2003|p=90}} Falwell also claimed that Harris and Klebold were gay, though he retracted afterward.<ref name=":2">{{cite book |last1=Klein |first1=Jessie |title=The Bully Society: School Shootings and the Crisis of Bullying in America's Schools |date=2013 |publisher=New York University Press |location=New York City |isbn=978-1-4798-6094-4 |page=89 |edition=Volume 6}}</ref>
Conspiracy theories also arose from anti-gun control activists and extremists, claiming that the massacre had either been staged or that both Harris and Klebold had been government agents, aiming at promoting tougher gun control legislation.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Knight |first1=Peter |title=Conspiracy Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia, Volumen1 |date=2003 |publisher=ABC-Clio |location=Santa Barbara, California |isbn=978-1-57607-812-9 |page=486 |edition=Volume 1}}</ref> Other conspiracy theories point to a mysterious third shooter that has never been identified.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Marshall Bender |first1=Stuart |title=Legacies of the Degraded Image in Violent Digital Media |date=2017 |publisher=Springer Publishing |location=New York City |isbn=978-3-319-64459-2 |page=48}}</ref>
Other antisemitic conspiracy theories pointed to the massacre being a Jewish conspiracy, due to Klebold's mother being Jewish.{{sfn|Larkin|2007|p=14}}
Political commentator and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones once implied that the US government had "perpetrated" Columbine,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hobfoll |first1=Steven E. |title=Tribalism: The Evolutionary Origins of Fear Politics |date=2018 |publisher=Springer Publishing |location=New York City |isbn=978-3-319-78405-2 |page=187}}</ref> and has claimed that "the Columbine school shootings were 100 percent false flag".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sykes |first1=Charlie |title=Alex Jones' very bad week exposes a toxic conservative evolution |url=https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/alex-jones-net-worth-plummeting-trump-you-watching-n1297748 |access-date=11 August 2022 |work=MSNBC |date=6 August 2022 |archive-date=August 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811191445/https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/alex-jones-net-worth-plummeting-trump-you-watching-n1297748 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Multiple media outlets stated that the school was in Littleton; the school has a Littleton postal address, but is not in the city limits. Denver-area newspapers and outlets had more accurate information on the school's location.<ref name="Larkin2007"/> Because of the media reporting, the City of Littleton was linked in the minds of the public with the massacre.<ref name=Leitch/>
==Motive== The shooting was planned as a terrorist-style attack that would cause "the most deaths in US history",<ref>{{cite book |last1=Balleck |first1=Barry J |title=Modern American Extremism and Domestic Terrorism: An Encyclopedia of Extremists and Extremist Groups |date=2018 |publisher=ABC-Clio |isbn=978-1-4408-5275-6 |page=76}}</ref> but the motive has never been ascertained with any degree of certainty. In a letter provided with the May 15 report on the Columbine attack, Sheriff John Stone and Undersheriff John A. Dunaway wrote they "cannot answer the most fundamental question—why?"<ref name=evid/><ref name=cnnrep /> In the days following the event, media speculation regarding the killers' motive was rife. Media reports were disseminated suggesting various motives of the killers, although all theories were largely unsubstantiated and turned out to be myths.{{Sfn|Cullen|2009|pp=149, 159}} These reports included blaming bullying, goth culture, video games, Marilyn Manson,{{Sfn|Cullen|2009|p=149}} and targeting jocks and minorities.{{Sfn|Cullen|2009|pp=151–152}} Other rumors were spread in the local area but not largely disseminated by the media, such as the false claim spread by some students that the killers were bullied because they were homosexual.{{Sfn|Cullen|2009|p=155}}
=== Mental disorder ===
==== The FBI's theory ==== The FBI concluded that the killers had mental illnesses, that Harris was a clinical psychopath, and Klebold had depression.<ref name="slatecol" /> Dwayne Fuselier, the supervisor in charge of the Columbine investigation, later remarked: "I believe Eric went to the school to kill and didn't care if he died, while Dylan wanted to die and didn't care if others died as well."<ref>{{Harvnb|Klebold|2016|p=172}}</ref>
In April 1998, a year prior to the shooting, as part of his diversion program, Harris wrote a letter of apology to the owner of the van he and Klebold broke into earlier that year.<ref name="dive" /> Around the same time, he derided the owner of the van in his journal, stating that he believed he had the right to steal something if he wanted to.<ref name="HJ41298">{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=260}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbine-online.com/journals/columbine-eric-harris-big-lie.htm |title=Eric's big lie |last=Cullen |first=Dave |publisher=Columbine Online |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119045203/http://www.columbine-online.com/journals/columbine-eric-harris-big-lie.htm |archive-date=January 19, 2011}}</ref> By far the most prevalent theme in Klebold's journals is his wish for suicide and his private despair at his lack of success with women, which he refers to as an "infinite sadness".<ref>{{Harvnb|Klebold|2016|p=159}}</ref> Klebold had repeatedly documented his desires to kill himself, and his final remark in the Basement Tapes, shortly before the attack, is a resigned statement made as he glances away from the camera: "Just know I'm going to a better place. I didn't like life too much."<ref name="tape333">{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=349}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Klebold|2016|p=137}}</ref>
The FBI's theory was used by Dave Cullen for his 2009 book ''Columbine''. Harris was depicted as the mastermind, having a messianic-level superiority complex and hoping to demonstrate his superiority to the world. Klebold was a follower who primarily participated in the massacre as a means to simply end his life.<ref name="slatecol" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Klebold|2016|pp=159–160}}</ref>
This theory has been met with criticism.<ref name="Salon" /> Critics cite the fact that Klebold, not Harris, was the first to mention a killing spree in his journal.<ref name="Block" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Roberts |first=Michael |date=May 7, 2009 |title=Author Jeff Kass on how his Columbine theories differ from Dave Cullen's |url=https://www.westword.com/news/author-jeff-kass-on-how-his-columbine-theories-differ-from-dave-cullens-5884190 |access-date=October 27, 2018 |archive-date=October 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027143100/https://www.westword.com/news/author-jeff-kass-on-how-his-columbine-theories-differ-from-dave-cullens-5884190 |url-status=live }}</ref> They also cite evidence that Harris was depressed as well, such as his prescription for antidepressants mentioned below.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sheffield |first1=Anne |title=Sorrow's Web: Overcoming the Legacy of maternal Depression |date=2001 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |location=Manhattan, NY, USA |isbn=978-0-7432-1318-9 |page=247}}</ref>
==== Medication ==== Opponents of contemporary psychiatry like Peter Breggin claim that the psychiatric medications prescribed to Harris may have exacerbated his aggressiveness.<ref>{{Harvnb|Larkin|2007|p=119}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Breggin |first=Peter R. |date=April 30, 1999 |title=Was School Shooter Eric Harris Taking Luvox? |url=http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=190. |access-date=February 10, 2009 |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708092809/http://breggin.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=190. |url-status=live }}</ref> Harris had complained of depression, anger, and suicidal thoughts, for which he was prescribed antidepressants.<ref name="Fatal" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|pp=295–296}}</ref> Toxicology reports confirmed that Harris had fluvoxamine, sold under the brand name Luvox, in his bloodstream at the time of the shootings,<ref>{{cite news |last=Schrader |first=Ann |date=May 4, 1999 |title=Drug found in Harris' body |work=The Denver Post |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0504e.htm |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021172920/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0504e.htm |archive-date=October 21, 2014}}</ref> whereas Klebold had no medications in his system.<ref>{{cite web|last=Galloway |first=Dr.|url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/autopsies/dylan8.gif |title=Dylan Klebold autopsy – page 8 |website=acolumbinesite.com|access-date=April 15, 2026 |archive-date=April 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411073520/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/autopsies/dylan8.gif}}</ref> Harris continued his scheduled meetings with his psychologist until a few months before the massacre.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|pp=214, 261}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Salvatore |first=Steve |date=April 29, 1999 |title=Columbine shooter was prescribed anti-depressant |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9904/29/luvox.explainer/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126042048/http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9904/29/luvox.explainer/ |archive-date=November 26, 2014}}</ref>
==== Other theories ==== There have been other attempts to diagnose Harris and Klebold with mental illness. Peter Langman believes Harris was a psychopath and Klebold was schizotypal.<ref>{{Harvnb|Langman|2009}}</ref> Professor Aubrey Immelman published a personality profile of Harris, based on journal entries and personal communication, and believes the materials suggested behavior patterns consistent with a "malignant narcissism...pathological narcissistic personality disorder with borderline and antisocial features, along with some paranoid traits, and unconstrained aggression."{{efn|The report notes that such a profile should not be construed as a direct psychiatric diagnosis, which is based on face-to-face interviews, formal psychological testing, and collection of collateral information.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eric Harris: Personality Profile |first=Aubrey |last=Immelman |date=August 2004 |url=http://www.csbsju.edu/uspp/Criminal-Profiling/Columbine_Eric-Harris-profile.html |publisher=College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911215748/http://www.csbsju.edu/uspp/Criminal-Profiling/Columbine_Eric-Harris-profile.html |archive-date=September 11, 2007}}</ref>}}
=== Media speculation === ====Bullying==== Early stories following the massacre charged that school administrators and teachers at Columbine had long condoned bullying by jocks and this explained the motive.<ref name="kassb">{{cite news |url=http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/shooting/1003col4.shtml |title=Students tell of bullying at Columbine High |first=Jeff |last=Kass |date=October 3, 2000 |newspaper=Rocky Mountain News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221025234/http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/shooting/1003col4.shtml |archive-date=February 21, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Lorraine |last2=Russakoff |first2=Dale |date=June 12, 1999 |title=Dissecting Columbine's Cult of the Athlete |page=A1 |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/june99/columbine12.htm |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009035341/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/june99/columbine12.htm |archive-date=October 9, 2014}}</ref> The link between bullying and school violence has attracted increasing attention since.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Colleen |title=Secret Service study: Most school shooters were badly bullied, showed warning signs |url=https://coloradosun.com/2019/11/07/school-shootings-columbine-high-gun-violence-sandy-hook/ |work=Colorado Sun |agency=AP |issue=Crime and Courts |date=7 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dr. Froggé |first1=George |title=Bullying and Its Correlation with School Violence |url=https://www.ebpsociety.org/blog/education/388-bullying-and-its-correlation-with-school-violence |website=Evidence Based Community |publisher=Austin Peay State University |date=20 October 2019 |access-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510142925/https://www.ebpsociety.org/blog/education/388-bullying-and-its-correlation-with-school-violence |url-status=live }}</ref>
Accounts from various parents and school staffers reported bullying in the school.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Colorado News and Denver News: The Denver Post |url=https://extras.denverpost.com/news/col1003a.htm |access-date=2022-01-12 |website=extras.denverpost.com |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406235003/https://extras.denverpost.com/news/col1003a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Reportedly, Harris and Klebold were regularly called "faggots".<ref>{{cite news |date=April 30, 1999 |title=The Community: Columbine Students Talk of Disaster and Life |newspaper=The New York Times |url=http://partners.nytimes.com/library/national/043099colo-voices.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611192303/http://partners.nytimes.com/library/national/043099colo-voices.html |archive-date=June 11, 2011}}</ref> Klebold said on the Basement Tapes, "You've been giving us shit for years"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/columbine_basement_tapes_1.0.pdf|title=Transcript of the Columbine "Basement Tapes"|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-date=July 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715180540/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/columbine_basement_tapes_1.0.pdf|url-status=live}} "There is nothing you guys could have done to prevent any of this. There is nothing that anyone could have done to prevent this. No one is to blame except me and Vodka [Klebold's nickname]. Our actions are a two man war against everyone else."</ref><ref name="schoolshooters.info">{{cite web |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/search_for_truth_at_columbine_2.2.pdf |title=The Search for Truth at Columbine |author=Peter Langman |date=31 July 2014 |website=schoolshooters.info |access-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120065255/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/search_for_truth_at_columbine_2.2.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_search_for_justification_1.3.pdf |author=Peter Langman |date=3 February 2016 |title=Eric Harris: The Search for Justification |website=schoolshooters.info |access-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120065247/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_search_for_justification_1.3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Dylan when talking to his father about the jocks had stated, "They sure give Eric hell." but he also said that the jocks tended to leave him [Dylan] alone.<ref>{{Harvnb|Klebold|2016|p=187}}</ref> Brown also noted Harris was born with mild chest indent. This made him reluctant to take his shirt off in gym class, and other students would laugh at him.<ref>{{Harvnb|Brown|2002|p=51}}</ref> Nathan Vanderau, a friend of Klebold, and Alisa Owen, who knew Harris, noted they were picked on. Vanderau recalled that a "cup of fecal matter" was thrown at them.<ref name="under">''Investigative Reports: Columbine: Understanding Why''. A&E. 2002</ref>
It has been alleged that Harris and Klebold were once both confronted by a group of students at CHS who sprayed them with ketchup while referring to them as "faggots" and "queers". Klebold told his mother it had been the worst day of his life.<ref name="kle189">{{Harvnb|Klebold|2016|p=189}}</ref> According to Brown, "That happened while teachers watched. They couldn't fight back. They wore the ketchup all day and went home covered with it." According to classmate Chad Laughlin, it involved seniors pelting Klebold with "ketchup-covered tampons" in the commons. Laughlin also stated, "A lot of the tension in the school came from the class above us...There were people fearful of walking by a table where you knew you didn't belong, stuff like that. Certain groups certainly got preferential treatment across the board."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.westword.com/news/forgiving-my-columbine-high-school-friend-dylan-klebold-5834485 |title=Forgiving my Columbine High School friend, Dylan Klebold |author=Prendergast, Alan |date=April 17, 2009 |newspaper=Denver Westword Post |access-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621134956/https://www.westword.com/news/forgiving-my-columbine-high-school-friend-dylan-klebold-5834485 |url-status=live }}</ref>
A similar theory was expounded by Brooks Brown in his book on the massacre, ''No Easy Answers''; he noted that teachers commonly ignored bullying and that when Harris and Klebold were bullied by the jocks at CHS, they would make statements such as: "Don't worry, man. It happens all the time!"<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/june99/columbine12.htm |title=Dissecting Columbine's Cult of the Athlete |access-date=October 15, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 12, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309020347/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/june99/columbine12.htm |archive-date=March 9, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Cullen, as well as forensic psychologists, psychiatrists and criminologists dispute the theory of "revenge for bullying" as a motivation. While acknowledging the pervasiveness of bullying in high schools including CHS, Cullen claimed they were not victims of bullying. He noted Harris was more often the perpetrator than victim of bullying.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|pp=158–159, 208}}</ref> In an entry by Eric Harris in his journal, he stated that even if he were complimented and respected more by his peers, the attack would have still, in all likelihood, occurred.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Langman |first1=Peter F. |author1-link=Peter F. Langman |title=Eric Harris: The Search for Justification |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_search_for_justification_1.3.pdf |website=schoolshooters.info |access-date=9 November 2023 |quote=If people would give me more compliments all of this might still be avoidable... but probably not. |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120065247/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_search_for_justification_1.3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In another entry by Eric in his journal he says not to blame the school's administration for the attack as the staff were doing a good job running the school.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Langman |first1=Peter F. |author1-link=Peter F. Langman |title=Eric Harris: The Search for Justification |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_search_for_justification_1.3.pdf |website=schoolshooters.info |access-date=9 November 2023 |quote=God damnit do not blame anyone else besides me and V [Vodka, i.e., Dylan] for this. Don't blame my family, they had no clue and there's nothing they could have done, they brought me up just fucking fine... don't blame the school... the admin[istration] is doing a fine job. |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120065247/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_search_for_justification_1.3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In a fact check published on April 19, 2019, on the eve of the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the massacre, Gillian Brockell in ''The Washington Post'' underscored that, contrary to the popular view, their attack was not revenge for being bullied.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/04/19/bullies-black-trench-coats-columbine-shootings-most-dangerous-myths/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421033120/https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/04/19/bullies-black-trench-coats-columbine-shootings-most-dangerous-myths/ |archive-date=April 21, 2019 |title=Bullies and Black Trench Coats: The Columbine Shooting's Most Dangerous Myths |first=Gillian |last=Brockell |newspaper=Washington Post |date=April 19, 2019 |url-access=registration}}</ref> Author Jeff Kass who has also published a book on the attack believes that bullying was not the cause.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/20/columbine.myths/ |title=Debunking the myths of Columbine, 10 years later - CNN.com |website=www.cnn.com |access-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-date=November 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113151945/https://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/20/columbine.myths/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Peter Langman also argues against bullying being the cause of the attack.<ref name="schoolshooters.info"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_search_for_justification_1.3.pdf |author=Peter Langman |date=3 February 2016 |title=Eric Harris: The Search for Justification |website=schoolshooters.info |access-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120065247/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_search_for_justification_1.3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Other researchers have also argued against the bullying hypothesis.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mears |first1=Daniel P. |last2=Moon |first2=Melissa M. |last3=Thielo |first3=Angela J. |title=Columbine Revisited: Myths and Realities About the Bullying–School Shootings Connection |journal=Victims & Offenders |date=2 November 2017 |volume=12 |issue=6 |pages=939–955 |doi=10.1080/15564886.2017.1307295 }}</ref>
==== Isolation ==== Rejection was also highlighted as a possible cause. Social cliques within high schools such as the Trench Coat Mafia were widely discussed. One perception formed was that Harris and Klebold were both outcasts who had been isolated from their classmates, prompting feelings of helplessness, insecurity, and depression, as well as a strong need for power and attention.<ref name="hist" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/april99/suspects21.htm |title=Gunmen Recalled as Outcasts |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=1999-04-21 |access-date=2020-04-24 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212043523/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/april99/suspects21.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Harris's last journal entry reads, "I hate you people for leaving me out of so many fun things",<ref name=HJ4399>Harris journal, April 3, 1999</ref> while Klebold wrote "The lonely man strikes with absolute rage."<ref>Klebold's day planner</ref> In an interview, Brown described them as the school's worst outcasts, "the losers of the losers".<ref>{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=Jared |url=http://bsuenglish.com/dlrOLD/past/issue1_lynch.pdf |title=Resurfacing Specters in the House of Media: The Ghosts of Columbine in American Horror Story: Murder House |publisher=Ball State University |page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724020542/http://bsuenglish.com/dlrOLD/past/issue1_lynch.pdf |archive-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Larkin|2007|p=77}}</ref>
This concept too has been questioned, as both Harris and Klebold had a close circle of friends and a wider informal social group.<ref name="ten" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brooks |first=David |date=2004-04-24 |title=Opinion | The Columbine Killers |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/24/opinion/the-columbine-killers.html |access-date=2022-01-12 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204104540/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/24/opinion/the-columbine-killers.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Cullen and Brockell both also say they were not in the Trench Coat Mafia and were not isolated outcasts or loners.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|pp=146–147}}</ref> Other close friends of the pair such as Chad Laughlin and Nathan Dykeman state the duo were not outcasts.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.westword.com/news/forgiving-my-columbine-high-school-friend-dylan-klebold-5834485 | title=Forgiving my Columbine High School friend, Dylan Klebold | date=April 17, 2009 | access-date=November 16, 2018 | archive-date=June 21, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621134956/https://www.westword.com/news/forgiving-my-columbine-high-school-friend-dylan-klebold-5834485 | url-status=live }}</ref> Peter Langman also concurs by also arguing against the pair being loners and outcasts.<ref>{{cite web |first=Peter |last=Langman |title=The Search For Truth at Columbine |website=School Shooters |date=31 July 2014 |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/search_for_truth_at_columbine_2.2.pdf |access-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120065255/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/search_for_truth_at_columbine_2.2.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Peter |last=Langman |title=Eric Harris: The Search for Justification |website=School Shooters |date=3 February 2016 |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_search_for_justification_1.3.pdf |access-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120065247/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_search_for_justification_1.3.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Political terrorism==== Some peers, such as Robyn Anderson, stated that the pair were not interested in Nazism, and they did not worship or admire Hitler in any way. However, in retrospect, Anderson also stated that there were many things the pair did not tell friends. Harris at least did revere the Nazis, often praising them in his journal.<ref name="ideo" /><ref name="Fatal" /> While some sources{{who|date=April 2026}} claim that there is a connection to Hitler's birthday (20 April 1889), the theory is dismissed by others{{who|date=April 2026}} since the date of the attack had been delayed due to a munitions problem.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/20/its-25-years-since-columbine-this-is-why-i-cant-leave-the-story-behind | title=It's 25 years since Columbine. This is why I can't leave the story behind | newspaper=The Observer | date=April 20, 2024 | last1=Cullen | first1=Dave }}</ref>
Sociologist Ralph Larkin has theorized that the massacre was to trigger a revolution of outcast students and the dispossessed: "[A]s an overtly political act in the name of oppressed students victimized by their peers. [...] The Columbine shootings redefined such acts not merely as revenge but as a means of protest of bullying, intimidation, social isolation, and public rituals of humiliation."<ref name="larkin2009">{{cite journal |last1=Larkin |first1=Ralph W. |title=The Columbine Legacy: Rampage Shootings as Political Acts |journal=American Behavioral Scientist |date=May 2009 |volume=52 |issue=9 |pages=1309–1326 |doi=10.1177/0002764209332548 }}</ref>
In contrast with the theory that the attack was political, one author argues Columbine was only increasingly linked to terrorism after the September 11 attacks.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Altheide |first1=David L. |title=The Columbine Shootings and the Discourse of Fear |journal=American Behavioral Scientist |date=June 2009 |volume=52 |issue=10 |pages=1354–1370 |doi=10.1177/0002764209332552 }}</ref>
====Marilyn Manson==== {{Main|Marilyn Manson–Columbine High School massacre controversy}}
In the late 1990s, Marilyn Manson and his band established themselves as a household name,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/marilyn-manson-interview-i-just-think-you-have-to-be-astonishing |title=Marilyn Manson interview: 'I just think you have to be astonishing' |first=Mischa |last=Pearlman |work=Time Out |date=January 21, 2015 |access-date=April 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126040415/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/marilyn-manson-interview-i-just-think-you-have-to-be-astonishing |archive-date=January 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and as one of the most controversial rock acts in music history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/02/06/marilyn-manson_n_6625118.html |title=25 Unexpected Facts About Marilyn Manson (Only One of Which Involves Mario Kart) |first=Brian |last=Gasparek |work=The Huffington Post |date=February 6, 2015 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819191844/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/02/06/marilyn-manson_n_6625118.html |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Their two album releases prior to the massacre were both critical and commercial successes,<ref name="NMEalbums">{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/marilyn-manson-s-albums-ranked-from-worst-to-best-do-you-agree-1403501 |title=Marilyn Manson's Albums Ranked From Worst To Best |first=Emily |last=Barker |work=NME |date=June 12, 2015 |access-date=April 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519133654/http://www.nme.com/photos/marilyn-manson-s-albums-ranked-from-worst-to-best-do-you-agree-1403501 |archive-date=May 19, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and by the time of their Rock Is Dead Tour in 1999, the frontman had become a culture war iconoclast and a rallying icon for alienated youth.<ref name="RSMMAG">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/marilyn-manson/biography |title=Marilyn Manson Rolling Stone Biography |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829094114/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/marilyn-manson/biography |archive-date=August 29, 2016}}</ref>
Immediately after the massacre, a significant portion of blame was directed at the band and, specifically, at its outspoken frontman.<ref>{{cite news |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/04/20/columbine.pop.culture/index.html |title=Columbine left its indelible mark on pop culture |publisher=CNN |date=April 20, 2009 |access-date=November 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514002848/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/04/20/columbine.pop.culture/index.html |archive-date=May 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1160375.stm |title=Never mind the headlines... |work=BBC News |date=February 9, 2001 |access-date=October 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415123154/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1160375.stm |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the weeks following the shootings, media reports about Harris and Klebold portrayed them and the Trench Coat Mafia as part of a gothic cult.<ref name=hist>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.com/topics/columbine-high-school-shootings |title=Columbine Shooting |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=history.com |date=November 9, 2009 |access-date=April 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315062132/http://www.history.com/topics/columbine-high-school-shootings |archive-date=March 15, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/01/us/terror-littleton-shunned-for-those-who-dress-differently-increase-being-viewed.html |title=For Those Who Dress Differently, an Increase in Being Viewed as Abnormal |last=Goldberg |first=Carey |date=May 1, 1999 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027011637/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/01/us/terror-littleton-shunned-for-those-who-dress-differently-increase-being-viewed.html |archive-date=October 27, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Early media reports alleged that the shooters were fans, and were wearing the group's T-shirts during the massacre.<ref name=Salon/><ref>{{cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Christopher |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/513754/colorado-tragedy-continues-to-spark-manson-bashing/ |title=Colorado Tragedy Continues To Spark Manson Bashing |publisher=MTV |date=April 27, 1999 |access-date=May 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008181330/http://www.mtv.com/news/513754/colorado-tragedy-continues-to-spark-manson-bashing/ |archive-date=October 8, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Although these claims were later proven to be false,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/marilyn-manson-media-storm-after-columbine-really-shut-down-my-career-entirely/ |title=Marilyn Manson: Media Storm After Columbine 'Really Shut Down My Career Entirely' |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=June 24, 2015 |access-date=June 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627061551/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/marilyn-manson-media-storm-after-columbine-really-shut-down-my-career-entirely/ |archive-date=June 27, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> news outlets continued to run sensationalist stories with headlines such as "Killers Worshipped Rock Freak Manson" and "Devil-Worshipping Maniac Told Kids To Kill".<ref name="Screaming">{{cite magazine |first=Tom |last=Bryant |date=November 11, 2010 |title=Screaming For Vengeance |magazine=Kerrang! |issue=1338 |pages=40–42 |issn=0262-6624}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Steve |editor-first=Steve |editor-last=Jones |title=''Pop music and the press'' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N-ViwZnnR3oC&q=Killers+worshipped+Rock+Freak&pg=PA126 |access-date=November 14, 2010 |year=2002 |publisher=Temple University Press |location=Philadelphia |isbn=978-1-56639-966-1 |pages=126–127}}</ref> Speculation in national media and among the public led many to believe that Manson's music and imagery were the shooters' sole motivation,<ref>{{cite web |last=D'Angelo |first=Joe |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1443825/20010517/marilyn_manson.jhtml |title=Colorado Governor, Congressman Support Anti-Manson Group |publisher=MTV |date=May 21, 2001 |access-date=November 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040910144235/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1443825/20010517/marilyn_manson.jhtml |archive-date=September 10, 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Screaming"/> despite reports that revealed that the two were not big fans.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/columbine-whose-fault-is-it-19990624 |title=Columbine: Whose Fault Is It? |first=Marilyn |last=Manson |author-link=Marilyn Manson |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 24, 1999 |access-date=June 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721192522/http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/columbine-whose-fault-is-it-19990624 |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Holland |first=Meegan |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/04/separating_myth_from_fact_on.html |title=Columbine High School massacre on 10th anniversary: 5 myths surrounding deadliest school attack in U.S. history |newspaper=The Grand Rapids Press |date=April 20, 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415123201/http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/04/separating_myth_from_fact_on.html |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Despite this, Marilyn Manson were widely criticized by religious,<ref name="Ape">{{cite magazine |last1=Kessler |first1=Ted |date=September 9, 2000 |title=Marilyn Manson Goes Ape |magazine=NME |pages=28–31 |issn=0028-6362}}</ref> political,<ref name="Reexamination">{{cite news |last=Burk |first=Greg |url=http://www.laweekly.com/news/marilyn-a-re-examination-2132874 |title=Marilyn: A Re-Examination |newspaper=LA Weekly |publisher=Village Voice Media |date=January 18, 2001 |access-date=May 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529211151/http://www.laweekly.com/news/marilyn-a-re-examination-2132874 |archive-date=May 29, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> and entertainment-industry figures.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Uhelszki |first=Jaan |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lynyrd-skynyrd-threaten-marilyn-manson-with-a-can-of-whoop-ass-19990813 |title=Lynyrd Skynyrd Threaten Marilyn Manson With a Can of Whoop Ass |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 13, 1999 |access-date=June 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519133714/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lynyrd-skynyrd-threaten-marilyn-manson-with-a-can-of-whoop-ass-19990813 |archive-date=May 19, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Under mounting pressure in the days after Columbine, the group postponed their last five North American tour dates out of respect for the victims and their families.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431704/marilyn-manson-postpones-us-tour-dates.jhtml |title=Marilyn Manson Postpones U.S. Tour Dates |publisher=MTV |date=April 28, 1999 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813220034/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1431704/marilyn-manson-postpones-us-tour-dates.jhtml |archive-date=August 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/331363.stm |title=Manson cancels rest of US tour |work=BBC News |date=April 29, 1999 |access-date=November 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415123212/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/331363.stm |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427257/19990422/story.jhtml |title=Marilyn Manson Concert, Other Denver Events Cancelled in Wake of High School Shooting |publisher=MTV |date=April 22, 1999 |access-date=November 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011110152256/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427257/19990422/story.jhtml |archive-date=November 10, 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Manson published his response to these accusations in an op-ed piece for ''Rolling Stone'', titled "Columbine: Whose Fault Is It?", in which he castigated America's gun culture, the political influence of the National Rifle Association, and the media's irresponsible coverage, which he said facilitated the placing of blame on a scapegoat.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/columbine-whose-fault-is-it-232759/ |title=Columbine: Whose Fault Is It? |author=Manson, Marilyn |date=June 24, 1999 |publisher=Rolling Stone |access-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-date=August 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802121905/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/columbine-whose-fault-is-it-232759/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/nme/1434 |title=Marilyn Manson: The Write To Be Wrong |work=NME |date=May 1, 1999 |access-date=March 31, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119100905/http://www.nme.com/news/nme/1434 |archive-date=January 19, 2012}}</ref> After concluding the European and Japanese legs of their tour on August 8, the band withdrew from public view to work on their next album, 2000's ''Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)'' as an artistic rebuttal to the allegations leveled against them.<ref name=Salon/><ref name="Screaming"/><ref name=Sterngold>{{cite news |author=Sterngold, James |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/29/us/terror-in-littleton-the-culture-rock-concerts-are-cancelled.html |title=Terror in Littleton: The Culture; Rock Concerts Are Cancelled |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 29, 1999 |access-date=November 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701001244/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/04/29/us/terror-in-littleton-the-culture-rock-concerts-are-cancelled.html |archive-date=July 1, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Video games=== {{Quote box | quote = They are able to hook into the Internet and play video games that are extraordinarily violent, that cause the blood pressure to rise and the adrenaline level to go up, games that cause people to be killed and the players to die themselves. It is a very intense experience. They are able to get into Internet chat rooms and, if there are no nuts or people of the same mentality in their hometown, hook up with people around the country. They are able to rent from the video store—not just go down and see ''Natural Born Killers'' or ''The Basketball Diaries''—but they are able to bring it home and watch it repeatedly. In this case, even maybe make their own violent film. Many have said this murder was very much akin to ''The Basketball Diaries'', in which a student goes in and shoots others in the classroom. I have seen a video of that, and many others may have. | source = —Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Youth Violence, Senator Jeff Sessions, testifying before the Senate on the Columbine tragedy, 1999.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cherkis |first=Jason |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-sessions-guns-columbine_us_5894d54de4b0c1284f25dd10 |title=Sen. Jeff Sessions Blamed Culture, Not Guns, For Columbine Massacre |work=HuffPost |date=2017-02-03 |access-date=2019-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209011356/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jeff-sessions-guns-columbine_us_5894d54de4b0c1284f25dd10 |archive-date=2019-02-09 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sessions |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Sessions |url=http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/floor-statements?ID=ADA43A1E-7E9C-9AF9-7EF1-9F3BEAE3E1BE |title=Floor Statements: Violence in Colorado – Columbine |publisher=United States Senate |date=April 28, 1999 |access-date=February 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212225815/http://www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/floor-statements?ID=ADA43A1E-7E9C-9AF9-7EF1-9F3BEAE3E1BE |archive-date=December 12, 2016}}</ref> | width = 35% }} Violent video games were also blamed.<ref name="hist" /><ref name="slashdot">{{cite web |url=http://slashdot.org/articles/99/04/25/1438249_F.shtml |title=Voices From The Hellmouth |author=JonKatz |date=April 26, 1999 |publisher=Slashdot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821074326/http://slashdot.org/articles/99/04/25/1438249_F.shtml |archive-date=August 21, 2008 |access-date=August 24, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nais.org/publications/ismagazinearticle.cfm?ItemNumber=144264 |title=Lessons from Littleton (Part I) |work=Independent School |publisher=National Association of Independent Schools |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209120528/http://www.nais.org/publications/ismagazinearticle.cfm?ItemNumber=144264 |archive-date=February 9, 2012 |access-date=August 24, 2008}}</ref> Parents of some of the victims filed several unsuccessful lawsuits against video game manufacturers.<ref name="dism">{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailycamera.com/shooting/2002/05lcolu.html |title=Columbine lawsuit over video games dismissed |first=Nick |last=Wadhams |work=The Daily Camera |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428142549/http://www.thedailycamera.com/shooting/2002/05lcolu.html |archive-date=April 28, 2006 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1295920.stm |title=Columbine families sue computer game makers |first=Mark |last=Ward |date=May 1, 2001 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228023858/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1295920.stm |archive-date=February 28, 2011 |url-status=live |work=BBC News}}</ref> Jerald Block believes their immersion in a virtual world best explains the massacre.<ref name="Block" /> While Brooks Brown disagrees that video games caused the massacre, he agrees elements of their plan came from video games.<ref name="Brown38">{{Harvnb|Brown|2002|p=38}}</ref>
Harris and Klebold were both fans of shooter video games such as ''Doom'', ''Quake'', ''Duke Nukem 3D'' and ''Postal''.<ref name="salon.comt" /><ref>{{Harvnb|Brown|2002|pp=36–40}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|p=92}}</ref> A file on Harris's computer read the massacre will "be like the LA riots, the Oklahoma bombing, WWII, Vietnam, ''Duke'' and ''Doom'' all mixed together."<ref name=":4" /> In his last journal entry, Harris wished to "Get a few extra frags on the scoreboard."<ref name="HJ4399" /> After the massacre, it was alleged Harris created ''Doom'' and ''Duke Nukem 3D'' levels resembling CHS, but these were never found.<ref name=levels /><ref name=shot0504/><ref>{{Harvnb|Kushner|2004|p=263}}</ref>
====''Doom''==== {{See also|Doom (1993 video game)#Controversies}} Harris and Klebold were avid fans of ''Doom''.<ref name=rules>{{cite web |url=https://www.westword.com/news/doom-rules-5060146 |first=Alan |last=Prendergast |date=August 5, 1999 |title=Doom Rules |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-date=April 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420134538/https://www.westword.com/news/doom-rules-5060146 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bai |first=Matt |url=https://www.newsweek.com/columbine-high-school-anatomy-massacre-166950 |title=Columbine High School: Anatomy of a Massacre |work=Newsweek |date=May 2, 1999 |access-date=2020-04-24 |archive-date=April 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420231845/https://www.newsweek.com/columbine-high-school-anatomy-massacre-166950 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=137}}</ref> Harris said of the massacre, "It's going to be like...''Doom''."<ref name=doom262>{{Harvnb|Kushner|2004|p=262}}</ref> He also wrote "I must not be sidetracked by my feelings of sympathy...so I will force myself to believe that everyone is just another monster from ''Doom''."<ref>Harris journal, October 23, 1998</ref> In Harris's yearbook, Klebold wrote "I find a similarity between people and ''Doom'' zombies."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miraldi |first=Rob |title=Video games spur violence. How can we keep ignoring their impact on gun culture? {{!}} Miraldi |url=https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/opinion/2022/07/14/video-games-spur-violence-how-can-we-keep-ignoring-their-impact-on-gun-culture/65373182007/ |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=Poughkeepsie Journal |language=en-US |archive-date=December 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228172423/https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/opinion/2022/07/14/video-games-spur-violence-how-can-we-keep-ignoring-their-impact-on-gun-culture/65373182007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Harris named his shotgun Arlene after a character in the ''Doom'' novels.<ref>{{Harvnb|Cullen|2009|p=293}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Brown|2002|p=204}}</ref> The TEC-9 Klebold used resembled an AB-10, a weapon from the ''Doom'' novels that Harris referenced several times.<ref name=kass197/><ref>{{Harvnb|ab Hugh|1995|p=175}}</ref>
Harris spent a great deal of time creating a large WAD, named Tier (German for 'animal', and a song by Rammstein), calling it his "life's work".<ref>{{cite web|last=Langman |first=Peter |date=29 July 2014 |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/columbine_basement_tapes_1.0.pdf |title=Transcript of the Columbine "Basement Tapes"|access-date=May 19, 2026 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318135043/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/columbine_basement_tapes_1.0.pdf |url-status=live|p=6}}</ref> The WAD was uploaded to the Columbine school computer and to AOL shortly before the attack, but appears to have been lost.<ref name=Block />
====''Duke Nukem 3D''==== The other game mentioned specifically by Harris for what the massacre would be like was ''Duke Nukem 3D''. The game has pipe bombs and one of the enemies is the "pig cop".<ref name=shot0504>{{Cite web |url=https://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0504f.htm |title=Did Harris preview massacre on 'Doom? |website=extras.denverpost.com |access-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-date=March 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250321172650/https://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot0504f.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Brooks Brown wrote that pipe bombs were set in the halls of the school with the intention of causing a chain reaction, because that's what happens in ''Duke Nukem 3D''. Brown also wrote they shot wildly because it works in ''Duke Nukem 3D''.<ref name="Brown38" />
===Notoriety=== In 2004, Dave Cullen argued that according to the FBI, Harris and Klebold committed the massacre in order to be infamous.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cullen|first=Dave|date=April 20, 2004|title=At last we know why the Columbine killers did it.|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2004/04/at-last-we-know-why-the-columbine-killers-did-it.html|website=Slate|archive-date=October 4, 2018|access-date=September 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004005922/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2004/04/at-last-we-know-why-the-columbine-killers-did-it.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Some scientists also reached the same conclusion.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Succar |first1=Rayan |last2=Barak Ventura |first2=Roni |last3=Belykh |first3=Maxim |last4=Wei |first4=Sihan |last5=Porfiri |first5=Maurizio |title=Fame through surprise: How fame-seeking mass shooters diversify their attacks |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=16 May 2023 |volume=120 |issue=20 |article-number=e2216972120 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2216972120 |doi-access=free |pmid=37155850 |pmc=10193991 }}</ref>
Adam Lankford, a researcher for the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who identified 24 fame-seeking mass shooters between 1966 and 2015, included both Harris and Klebold in the group, partially blaming the "American idolization of fame" as a root cause.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lankford |first1=Adam |title=Fame-seeking rampage shooters: Initial findings and empirical predictions |journal=Aggression and Violent Behavior |date=March 2016 |volume=27 |pages=122–129 |doi=10.1016/j.avb.2016.02.002 }}</ref>
==Legacy== {{Main|Columbine effect}}
Following the Columbine shooting, schools across the United States instituted new security measures such as see-through backpacks, metal detectors, school uniforms, and security guards. Some schools implemented the numbering of school doors in order to improve public safety response. Several schools throughout the country resorted to requiring students to wear computer-generated IDs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/16/school.safety/ |title=Drills, new security measures mark return to schools |first=Gary |last=Tuchman |date=August 16, 1999 |access-date=August 22, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050817113800/http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/16/school.safety/ |archive-date=August 17, 2005 |url-status=live |publisher=CNN}}</ref>
Schools also adopted a zero tolerance approach to possession of weapons and threatening behavior by students.<ref name="hist" /><ref name="Khan">{{cite web |url=http://jjie.org/a-plot-with-a-scandal-a-close-look-at-the-kids-for-cash-documentary/ |title=A Plot with a Scandal: A Closer Look at 'Kids for Cash' Documentary |first=Daryl |last=Khan |date=February 10, 2014 |work=Juvenile Justice Information Exchange |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626132904/http://jjie.org/a-plot-with-a-scandal-a-close-look-at-the-kids-for-cash-documentary/ |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |url-status=live |access-date=September 19, 2015}}</ref> Despite the effort, several social science experts feel the zero tolerance approach adopted in schools has been implemented too harshly, with unintended consequences creating other problems.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zerointelligence.net/archives/000348.php |title=Five years after Columbine – is zero tolerance working? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621220507/http://www.zerointelligence.net/archives/000348.php |archive-date=June 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=June 21, 2008}}, ''zerointelligence.net''</ref> Despite the safety measures that were implemented in the wake of the tragedy at Columbine, school shootings continued to take place in the United States, including at Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Stoneman Douglas High School, and Robb Elementary School.
Some schools renewed existing anti-bullying policies.<ref name="kassb" /> Rachel's Challenge was started by Rachel Scott's parents, and lectures schools about bullying and suicide.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=17 April 2001 |title=Preserving A Daughter's Spirit |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/preserving-a-daughters-spirit/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030624113730/https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/04/20/columbine/main186406.shtml |archive-date=24 June 2003 |url-status=live|work=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Darrell |title=Rachel's Tears |last2=Nimmo |first2=Beth |last3=Rabey |first3=Steve |publisher=Thomas Nelson Publishers |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-7852-6848-2 |page=181}}</ref>
In 2000, Sanders was posthumously given the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his actions.<ref name=posth>{{cite news|first=Marissa|last=Payne|title=ESPYs to honor Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver with posthumous courage award|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/06/06/espys-to-honor-special-olympics-founder-eunice-kennedy-shriver-with-posthumous-courage-award/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107144708/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/06/06/espys-to-honor-special-olympics-founder-eunice-kennedy-shriver-with-posthumous-courage-award/|archive-date = November 7, 2017}}</ref>
===Police tactics=== Police departments reassessed their tactics and now train for Columbine-like situations after criticism over the slow response and progress of the SWAT teams during the shooting.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.westword.com/news/swat-leaders-defense-of-columbine-response-too-little-much-too-late-8028541 |title=SWAT Leader's Defense of Columbine Response: Too Little, Much Too Late |first=Alan |last=Prendergast |date=June 22, 2016 |website=Westword}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/18/columbine.SWAT.01/ |title=Columbine tragedy was wakeup call for nation's SWAT teams |date=August 18, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816063906/http://www.cnn.com/US/9908/18/columbine.SWAT.01/ |archive-date=August 16, 2000 |publisher=CNN |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
Police followed a traditional tactic at Columbine: surround the building, set up a perimeter, and contain the damage. That approach has been replaced by a tactic known as the Immediate Action Rapid Deployment tactic. This tactic calls for a four-person team to advance into the site of any ongoing shooting, optimally a diamond-shaped wedge, but even with just a single officer if more are not available. Police officers using this tactic are trained to move toward the sound of gunfire and neutralize the shooter as quickly as possible.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Garrett |first=Ronnie |date=June 2007 |title=Marching to the Sound of Gunshots: Virginia Tech Incident Puts Emphasis on Active Shooter Response |journal=Law Enforcement Technology |volume=34 |pages=54–63 |number=6}}</ref> Their goal is to stop the shooter at all costs; they are to walk past wounded victims, as the aim is to prevent the shooter from killing or wounding more. Dave Cullen has stated: "The active protocol has proved successful at numerous shootings... At Virginia Tech alone, it probably saved dozens of lives."<ref name=lesson>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history_lesson/2009/04/the_four_most_important_lessons_of_columbine.html |title=The Four Most Important Lessons of Columbine |last=Cullen |first=Dave |date=April 29, 2009 |magazine=Slate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110145947/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history_lesson/2009/04/the_four_most_important_lessons_of_columbine.html |archive-date=November 10, 2014 |url-status=live |access-date=October 15, 2014 |ref=none}}</ref> <!-- Secret Service launched the "Safe School Initiative": https://www2.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/preventingattacksreport.pdf -->
===Lawsuits=== After the massacre, many survivors and relatives of those killed filed lawsuits.<ref name=suit/> Under Colorado state law at the time, the maximum a family could receive in a lawsuit against a government agency was $600,000 ({{Inflation|index=US|value=600000|start_year=1999|r=-3|fmt=eq|cursign=$}}).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/metro/19991020-37-schoolma.html |title=School massacre spawns lawsuits |last=Weller |first=Robert |date=October 20, 1999 |work=U-T San Diego |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113152324/http://legacy.utsandiego.com/news/metro/19991020-37-schoolma.html |archive-date=January 13, 2014 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Most cases against the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and school district were dismissed by the federal court on the grounds of government immunity.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/most-columbine-lawsuits-dismissed/ |title=Most Columbine Lawsuits Dismissed |date=November 27, 2001 |access-date=January 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021160011/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/most-columbine-lawsuits-dismissed/ |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |url-status=live |work=CBS News}}</ref> The case against the sheriff's office regarding the death of Dave Sanders was not dismissed due to the police preventing paramedics from going to his aid for hours after they knew the gunmen were dead. The case was settled out of court in August 2002 for $1,500,000.<ref>{{cite news |first= Collen|last=Slevin|date=August 20, 2002|url=https://azdailysun.com/family-of-slain-columbine-teacher-settles-suit-for-1-5-million/article_7a9d3ed8-9722-566b-8172-ea6629483685.html |title=Family of slain Columbine teacher settles suit for $1.5 million |access-date=April 18, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319140426/https://azdailysun.com/family-of-slain-columbine-teacher-settles-suit-for-1-5-million/article_7a9d3ed8-9722-566b-8172-ea6629483685.html |archive-date=March 19, 2023}}</ref>
In April 2001, the families of more than 30 victims received a $2,538,000<!--source rounded figure to nearest ten-thousands--> settlement in their case against the families of Harris, Klebold, Manes, and Duran.<ref name=Settlement>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/20/us/2.53-million-deal-ends-some-columbine-lawsuits.html |title=$2.53 Million Deal Ends Some Columbine Lawsuits |last=Janofsky |first=Michael |date=April 20, 2001 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 13, 2014}}</ref> Under the terms of the settlement, the Harrises and the Klebolds contributed $1,568,000 through their homeowners' policies, with another $32,000 set aside for future claims; the Manes contributed $720,000, with another $80,000 set aside for future claims; and the Durans contributed $250,000, with an additional $50,000 available for future claims.<ref name=Settlement /> The family of victim Shoels rejected this settlement, but in June 2003 were ordered by a judge to accept a $366,000 settlement in their $250-million lawsuit against the shooters' families.<ref name=cnn-fast>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/us/columbine-high-school-shootings-fast-facts/ |title=Columbine High School Shootings Fast Facts |date=September 19, 2013 |access-date=April 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425114806/http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/us/columbine-high-school-shootings-fast-facts/ |archive-date=April 25, 2025 |url-status=live |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9905/27/columbine.lawsuit.02/ |title=$250 million Columbine lawsuit filed |date=May 27, 1999 |access-date=January 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113142645/http://www.cnn.com/US/9905/27/columbine.lawsuit.02/ |archive-date=January 13, 2014 |url-status=live |publisher=CNN}}</ref> In August 2003, the families of victims Fleming, Kechter, Rohrbough, Townsend, and Velasquez received undisclosed settlements in a wrongful death suit against the Harrises and Klebolds.<ref name=cnn-fast />
Parents of some of the victims filed several unsuccessful lawsuits against film companies, over films such as ''The Basketball Diaries'', which includes a dream sequence with a student shooting his classmates in a trench coat.<ref name=dism/> In the Basement Tapes, they debate on whether or not Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino are appropriate choices to direct films about the massacre.<ref name="bullet">{{cite web|last=Langman |first=Peter |date=29 July 2014 |url=https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/columbine_basement_tapes_1.0.pdf |title=Transcript of the Columbine "Basement Tapes"|access-date=May 19, 2026 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318135043/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/columbine_basement_tapes_1.0.pdf |url-status=live|p=5}}</ref> Their home videos also show inspiration taken from ''Pulp Fiction''.<ref name="abaj">{{cite journal |date=September 1999 |title=When Privacy Results in Tragedy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zzgaKM5QDA0C&pg=PA54 |journal=ABA Journal |page=54}}</ref> Both were fans of the film ''Lost Highway''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://scribol.com/pop-culture/film/favorite-movies-most-evil-men-history/10 |title=These Are The Favorite Movies Of The Most Evil Men In History |date=September 6, 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> ''Apocalypse Now'' was found in Harris's VCR.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kass|2009|p=221}}</ref>
===Memorials=== {{See also|Columbine Memorial}} {{multiple image | direction = vertical | width = 220 | image1 = Hopelibrary.JPG | caption1 = HOPE Columbine Memorial Library | image2 = Columbinememorial.JPG | caption2 = The Columbine memorial in Clement Park }} Many impromptu memorials were created after the massacre, including victims Rachel Scott's car and John Tomlin's truck.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-06-mn-34535-story.html |title=Shrine and Its Removal Are Balms to Columbine |date=May 6, 1999 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
In 2000, youth advocate Melissa Helmbrecht organized a remembrance event in Denver featuring two surviving students, called "A Call to Hope".<ref>{{cite news |first=Trent |last=Seibert |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot041200a.htm |title=Young leaders to rally around volunteerism |work=The Denver Post |date=April 12, 2000 |access-date=April 20, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514003742/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/shot041200a.htm |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The library where most of the massacre took place was removed and replaced with an atrium. In 2001, a new library, the HOPE memorial library, was built next to the west entrance.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/10/us/new-library-at-columbine-draws-praise-at-unveiling.html |title=ew Library at Columbine Draws Praise at Unveiling |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 10, 2001}}</ref>
On February 26, 2004, thousands of pieces of evidence from the massacre were put on display at the Jefferson County fairgrounds in Golden.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=David |date=February 26, 2004 |title=The Horrors of Columbine Are Laid Bare in Evidence |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-feb-26-na-columbine26-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305134817/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-feb-26-na-columbine26-story.html |archive-date=March 5, 2020 |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=Los Angeles Times |url-status=live }}</ref>
A permanent memorial "to honor and remember the victims of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Columbine High School" began planning in June 1999, and was dedicated on September 21, 2007, in Clement Park.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 September 2007 |title='This place is about remembrance:' Columbine memorial opens |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2007/09/21/this-place-is-about-remembrance-columbine-memorial-opens/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424194709/https://www.denverpost.com/2007/09/21/this-place-is-about-remembrance-columbine-memorial-opens/ |archive-date=April 24, 2017 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press |url-status=live }}</ref> The memorial fund raised $1.5 million in donations over eight years of planning. Designing took three and a half years and included feedback from victims' families, survivors, the high school's students and staff, and the community.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Kirk |last2=Kelley |first2=Katie |date=2006-06-17 |title=A Memorial at Last for Columbine Killings |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/17/us/17columbine.html |access-date=2022-01-12 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Columbine Memorial —Overview |publisher=The Foothills Foundation |url=http://www.columbinememorial.org/Overview.asp |access-date=May 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430163123/http://www.columbinememorial.org/Overview.asp |archive-date=April 30, 2008}}</ref>
Soon after the massacre, music students at CU Boulder raised money to commission a piece of music to honor Columbine. The university band turned to Frank Ticheli, who responded by composing the wind ensemble work ''An American Elegy''. The following year, the Columbine band premiered the piece at CU Boulder's concert hall. {{as of|2019}}, Ticheli's sheet music publisher estimates ''An American Elegy'' has been performed 10,000 times.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Karla |date=19 April 2019 |title='An American Elegy,' Composed In Columbine's Wake, Continues To Heal |url=https://www.cpr.org/podcast-episode/an-american-elegy-composed-in-columbines-wake-continues-to-heal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702134352/https://www.cpr.org/podcast-episode/an-american-elegy-composed-in-columbines-wake-continues-to-heal/ |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |access-date=8 September 2019 |website=Colorado Public Radio |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Gun control=== The shooting resulted in calls for more gun control measures. The gun show loophole and background checks became a focus of a national debate.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 1, 2000 |title=The debate on gun policies in U.S. and midwest newspapers |url=http://www.bmsg.org/resources/publications/issue-8-the-debate-on-gun-policies-in-US-and-midwest-newspapers |publisher=Berkeley Media Studies Group}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=National Conference of State Legislatures |date=June 1, 2000 |title=Colorado After Columbine The Gun Debate. |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/COLORADO+AFTER+COLUMBINE+THE+GUN+DEBATE.-a063840684 |website=The Free Library by Farlex |publisher=Gale Group}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://content.thirdway.org/publications/7/AGS_Report_-_No_Questions_Asked_-_Background_Checks_Gun_Shows_and_Crime.pdf |title=No Questions Asked: Background Checks, Gun Shows, and Crime |publisher=Americans for Gun Safety Foundation |date=April 1, 2001 |access-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103540/http://content.thirdway.org/publications/7/AGS_Report_-_No_Questions_Asked_-_Background_Checks_Gun_Shows_and_Crime.pdf}}</ref> It was the deadliest mass shooting during the era of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Victim Daniel Mauser's father Tom Mauser has become a gun control advocate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danielmauser.com/activist.html |title=Tom's Activism for Gun Control |publisher=Danielmauser.com |access-date=2020-04-24 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804134145/http://www.danielmauser.com/activist.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2000, federal and state legislation was introduced that would require safety locks on firearms as well as ban the importation of magazines holding rounds over a certain number. Though laws were passed that made it a crime to buy guns for criminals and minors, there was considerable controversy over legislation pertaining to background checks at gun shows. There was concern in the gun lobby over restrictions on Second Amendment rights in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/03/07/clinton.guns.03 |title=Clinton pushes Congress to pass new gun control legislation |access-date=March 16, 2008 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316020955/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/03/07/clinton.guns.03 |archive-date=March 16, 2008}}. (March 7, 2000) CNN. Retrieved August 22, 2005.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colorado-kills-gun-laws/ |title=Colorado Kills Gun Laws |date=February 16, 2000 |work=CBS News |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021160959/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/colorado-kills-gun-laws/ |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Frank Lautenberg introduced a proposal to close the gun show loophole in federal law. It was passed in the Senate, but did not pass in the House.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DuBose |first1=Ben |title=Senators aim to close gun-show loophole |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-gunshow1feb01-story.html |access-date=September 15, 2015 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=February 1, 2008}}</ref>
Michael Moore's 2002 documentary ''Bowling for Columbine'' focused heavily on the American obsession with handguns, its grip on Jefferson County, and its role in the shooting.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kmart-kills-ammunition-sales/ |title=Kmart Kills Ammunition Sales |access-date=July 2, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041858/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kmart-kills-ammunition-sales/ |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2019, the MyLastShot Project was launched as a student-led gun violence prevention resource. The campaign was created by students from Columbine High School, and involves students placing stickers on their driver's licenses, student IDs, or phones that states their wishes to have the graphic photos of their bodies publicized if they die in a shooting.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=Jesse |date=March 31, 2009 |title=Columbine students campaign to spread photos of mass-shooting victims as discussion of gun-violence physiology grows |work=The Colorado Sun |url=https://coloradosun.com/2019/03/31/my-last-shot-gun-campaign-columbine-colorado/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ritchin |first=Fred |date=April 18, 2019 |title=Columbine Students Are Asking: Will Sharing Photos of the Dead Change Our History of Violence? |magazine=TIME |url=https://time.com/longform/columbine-gun-violence-campaign/ |access-date=November 27, 2020 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043605/https://time.com/longform/columbine-gun-violence-campaign/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Popular culture=== {{See also|True Crime Community}} Since the advent of social media, a fandom for Harris and Klebold has had a documented presence on social media sites, especially Tumblr and TikTok.<ref>{{cite web |last=John |first=Arit |date=September 12, 2014 |title=How Tumblr's True Crime Fandom Reacted to the Escape of a School Shooter |url=http://www.thewire.com/culture/2014/09/how-tumblrs-true-crime-fandom-reacted-to-the-escape-of-a-school-shooter/380124/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222112335/http://www.thewire.com/culture/2014/09/how-tumblrs-true-crime-fandom-reacted-to-the-escape-of-a-school-shooter/380124/ |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=December 17, 2015 |website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carless |first=Jessica Guynn and Will |title=Columbine school shooters glorified by young followers: Inside the scary online obsession |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2024/04/18/columbine-school-shooting-25-anniversary-social-media/73308760007/ |access-date=2025-09-07 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Columbine glorification content easy to find on TikTok, gaming sites |url=https://www.isdglobal.org/isd-in-the-news/columbine-glorification-content-easy-to-find-on-tiktok-gaming-sites/ |access-date=2025-09-07 |website=ISD |language=en-GB}}</ref> Fans of Harris and Klebold refer to themselves as "Columbiners".<ref>{{cite web |last=Monroe |first=Rachel |author-link=Rachel Monroe |date=October 5, 2012 |title=Killer Crush: The Horror of Teen Girls, from Columbiners to Beliebers |url=http://www.theawl.com/2012/10/the-killer-crush-from-columbiners-to-beliebers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208095151/http://www.theawl.com/2012/10/the-killer-crush-from-columbiners-to-beliebers |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=November 27, 2015 |website=The Awl}}</ref> A qualitative study published in 2015 on the fan cultures surrounding Harris and Klebold found that "Columbiners" function similar to other fandoms, engaging in fan art, fan fiction, and cosplay.<ref name="transformativeworks">{{cite journal |last1=Rico |first1=Andrew Ryan |title=Fans of Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold |journal=Transformative Works and Cultures |date=15 September 2015 |volume=20 |doi=10.3983/twc.2015.0671 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Beaumont |first=Hilary |date=2015-02-24 |title=Inside the World of Columbine-Obsessed Tumblr Bloggers |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/speaking-to-columbiners-about-depression-suicide-and-the-halifax-shooting-plot-232/ |access-date=2020-04-24 |work=Vice}}</ref>
Books and movies have also been inspired by the massacre.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Snow |first1=Robert L. |title=Prepare and Defend: Keep Yourself and Others Safe from Mass Murder Attacks |date=2020 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |location=Lanham, Maryland |isbn=978-1-5381-2921-0 |page=78}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Shapiro |first1=Harvey |title=The Wiley Handbook on Violence in Education: Forms, Factors, and Preventions |date=2018 |publisher=Wiley |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |isbn=978-1-118-96667-9 |page=81}}</ref> The games ''Super Columbine Massacre RPG!'' and ''Pico's School'' was also inspired by the massacre.<ref name="atlantic">{{cite news |last1=Salter |first1=Anastasia |last2=Murray |first2=John |title=How Flash Games Shaped the Internet |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/11/how-flash-games-shaped-the-internet/383136/ |access-date=7 August 2021 |work=The Atlantic |date=29 November 2014 |language=en}}</ref>
The massacre is referenced by rapper Eminem in the songs "The Way I Am",<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 May 2025 |title='It punched a hole through political correctness': How Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP sent shockwaves through the '00s |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20250527-how-eminems-the-marshall-mathers-lp-sent-shockwaves-through-the-noughties |access-date=6 January 2026 |website=BBC Online}}</ref> as well as in "I'm Back"<ref>{{Cite web |title=I'm Back |url=https://www.eminem.com/song/im-back/ |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Eminem |language=en-US}}</ref> and "Rap God"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rap God |url=https://www.eminem.com/song/rap-god/ |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Eminem |language=en-US}}</ref>, where he references the perpetrators in the lyrics, "I take seven kids from Columbine, stand 'em all in a line, add an AK-47, a revolver, a nine, a MAC-11 and it oughtta solve the problem of mine. And that's a whole school of bullies shot up all at one time".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Weatherby |first=Taylor |date=September 3, 2015 |title=15-Year-Old Boy Arrested After Instagramming Columbine-Related Eminem Lyrics |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/15-year-old-boy-arrested-instagram-eminem-im-back-lyrics-columbine-fresno-6685770/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |magazine=Billboard |language=en}}</ref>
===Copycats=== The Columbine shootings influenced subsequent school shootings, with several such plots mentioning it.<ref name=tape/><ref name=hands>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/04/18/vtech.nbc/ |title=Shooter: 'You have blood on your hands' |date=April 18, 2007 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018123847/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/04/18/vtech.nbc/ |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |url-status=live |publisher=CNN}}</ref> Fear of copycats has sometimes led to the closing of entire school districts.<ref name="inter">{{cite web |url=http://www.mayhem.net/Crime/intermittent.html |title=Intermittent Explosive Disorder |publisher=mayhem.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220034110/http://mayhem.net/Crime/intermittent.html |archive-date=December 20, 2010 |url-status=live |access-date=March 11, 2011}}</ref> Since Columbine, over 74 copycat cases have been reported, 21 of which resulted in attacks,{{When|date=January 2025}} while the rest were thwarted by law enforcement. In many of them, the perpetrators cited Harris and Klebold as heroes or martyrs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/10/columbine-effect-mass-shootings-copycat-data/ |title=How Columbine Spawned Dozens of Copycats |work=Mother Jones |date=2015-10-05 |access-date=2020-04-24}}</ref>
==== Analysis ==== Harris and Klebold have become what the ''Napa Valley Register'' have called "cultural icons" for troubled youth.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://napavalleyregister.com/news/columbine-killers-becoming-cultural-icons-to-some-researchers-say/article_7231b5aa-424c-5c67-8f13-2d6ee09f82b4.html |title=Columbine killers becoming cultural icons to some, researchers say |last=Elliott |first=Dan |agency=Associated Press |website=Napa Valley Register |access-date=July 22, 2019}}</ref> According to psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey of the Treatment Advocacy Center, a legacy of the Columbine shootings is its "allure to disaffected youth".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/03/us/minnesota-foiled-school-massacre-john-ladue/index.html |title=The massacre that didn't happen |last=Drash |first=Wayne |date=November 3, 2015 |access-date=April 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402011921/http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/03/us/minnesota-foiled-school-massacre-john-ladue/index.html |archive-date=April 2, 2017 |url-status=live |publisher=CNN}}</ref>
Sociologist Ralph Larkin examined twelve major school shootings in the US in the following eight years and found that in eight of those, "the shooters made explicit reference to Harris and Klebold".<ref name="yorker">{{cite news |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/19/thresholds-of-violence |title=Thresholds of Violence, How school shootings catch on |last=Gladwell |first=Malcolm |date=October 19, 2015 |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=April 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327011302/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/10/19/thresholds-of-violence |archive-date=March 27, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Larkin wrote that the Columbine massacre established a "script" for shootings. "Numerous post-Columbine rampage shooters referred directly to Columbine as their inspiration; others attempted to supersede the Columbine shootings in body count."<ref name="larkin2009" />
A 2015 investigation by CNN identified "more than 40 people...charged with Columbine-style plots". A 2014 investigation by ABC News identified "at least 17 attacks and another 36 alleged plots or serious threats against schools since the assault on Columbine High School that can be tied to the 1999 massacre." Ties identified by ABC News included online research by the perpetrators into the Columbine shooting, clipping news coverage and images of Columbine, explicit statements of admiration of Harris and Klebold, such as writings in journals and on social media, in video posts,{{efn|In 2012, sociologist Nathalie E. Paton of the National Center for Scientific Research in Paris analyzed the videos created by post-Columbine school shooting perpetrators. A recurring set of motifs was found, including explicit statements of admiration and identification with previous perpetrators. Paton said the videos serve the perpetrators by distinguishing themselves from their classmates and associating themselves with the previous perpetrators.<ref name="yorker" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Paton |first1=Nathalie E. |title=School Shootings: Mediatized Violence in a Global Age |chapter=Media Participation of School Shooters and their Fans: Navigating between Self-Distinction and Imitation to Achieve Individuation |series=Studies in Media and Communications |date=2012 |volume=7 |pages=203–229 |doi=10.1108/S2050-2060(2012)0000007014 |isbn=978-1-78052-918-9 |chapter-url=https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00835850 }}</ref>}} and in police interviews, timing planned to an anniversary of Columbine, plans to exceed the Columbine victim counts, and other ties.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/columbine-shootings-grim-legacy-50-school-attacks-plots/story?id=26007119 |title=Columbine Shootings' Grim Legacy: More Than 50 School Attacks, Plots |last1=Thomas |first1=Pierre |date=October 7, 2014 |access-date=April 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417084412/http://abcnews.go.com/US/columbine-shootings-grim-legacy-50-school-attacks-plots/story?id=26007119 |archive-date=April 17, 2017 |url-status=live |work=ABC News |last2=Levine |first2=Mike |last3=Cloherty |first3=Jack |last4=Date |first4=Jack |author-link1=Pierre Thomas (journalist)}}</ref>
In 2015, Canadian journalist Malcolm Gladwell writing in ''The New Yorker'' magazine proposed a threshold model of school shootings in which Harris and Klebold were the triggering actors in "a slow-motion, ever-evolving riot, in which each new participant's action makes sense in reaction to and in combination with those who came before."<ref name="yorker" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/malcolm-gladwell-says-school-shootings-are-slow-moving-riots-2015-10 |title=Malcolm Gladwell says the school shooting epidemic is like a slow-moving riot |last=Weller |first=Chris |date=October 13, 2015 |access-date=April 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418081232/http://www.businessinsider.com/malcolm-gladwell-says-school-shootings-are-slow-moving-riots-2015-10 |archive-date=April 18, 2017 |url-status=live |website=Business Insider}}</ref>
In February 2016, after Klebold's mother, Sue Klebold, spoke out on mental health and suicide prevention in an interview with Diane Sawyer, then-Attorney General of Colorado, Cynthia Coffman, tweeted that Klebold's interview had been "irresponsible and inflammatory, that Klebold had been "selfish", and that her interview could have "very negative consequences". Ted Zocco-Hochhalter, whose daughter Anne-Marie Hochhalter was a Columbine student paralyzed in the attack, countered that Klebold, as a remorseful mother, was productively sparking awareness on mental issues. Mental health organizations echoed Zocco-Hochhalter's remarks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Susan |title=Cynthia Coffman's Columbine Tweets blasted as 'ignorant,' 'insensitive' |url=https://www.coloradoindependent.com/2016/02/23/cynthia-coffmans-columbine-tweets-blasted-as-ignorant-insensitive/ |access-date=4 September 2021 |work=Colorado Independent |date=23 February 2016}}</ref> The day before the interview, Anne-Marie Hochhalter had addressed a social media post to Sue Klebold, saying: "I have forgiven you".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slevin |first=Colleen |date=18 February 2025 |title=Columbine survivor Anne Marie Hochhalter, who forgave gunman's mother, dies at 43 |url=https://apnews.com/article/columbine-anne-marie-hochhalter-forgive-klebold-obit-f8e8aabd8cf7fe23d71d81d1e6eac423 |access-date=19 February 2025 |work=The Associated Press |quote="She said she was sure Klebold had agonized over what she could have done differently just as she had thought of ways she could have prevented the death of the mother she loved. "A good friend once told me, 'Bitterness is like swallowing a poison pill and expecting the other person to die.' It only harms yourself. I have forgiven you and only wish you the best," Hochhalter said in a message she posted on Facebook. She also included a photo of a card Sue and Tom Klebold sent to her as she recovered in the hospital after the shooting."}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|1990s|Crime|United States|Colorado}}<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦---> * 1993 Aurora, Colorado shooting – The deadliest mass shooting in the state prior to the Columbine Massacre * Gun politics in the United States * Gun violence in the United States * List of attacks related to secondary schools * List of filmed mass shootings * List of school shootings in the United States (before 2000) * List of school shootings in the United States by death toll * List of school-related attacks * {{annotated link|Mass shootings in the United States}} {{clear}}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * {{cite book |author=Dafydd ab Hugh |author-link=Dafydd ab Hugh |title=Knee Deep in the Dead |year=1995 |publisher=Gallery Books |isbn=978-1-4767-3893-2 |ref={{harvid|ab Hugh|1995}}}} * {{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Brooks |first2=Rob |last2=Merritt |title=No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Death at Columbine |url=https://archive.org/details/pdfy-pC_WzWbOzxls5ms1 |year=2002 |publisher=Lantern Books |location=New York |isbn=978-1-59056-031-0 |ref={{harvid|Brown|2002}}}} * {{cite book |last=Cullen |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Cullen |title=Columbine |year=2009 |publisher=Hachette Book Group |isbn=978-0-446-54693-5 }} * {{cite book |last=DeAngelis |first=Frank |title=They Call Me Mr. De: The Story of Columbine's Heart, Resilience, and Recovery|publisher= David Burgess Consulting, Inc|year=2019|isbn=978-1-94959-506-2}} * {{cite book |last=Kass |first=Jeff |title=Columbine: A True Crime Story |publisher=Ghost Road Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-9816525-6-6}} * {{cite book |last=Klebold |first=Sue |title=A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of the Columbine Tragedy |publisher=WH Allen |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-7535-5679-5}} * {{cite book |last=Krabbé |first=Tim |year=2012 |title=Wij Zijn Maar Wij Zijn Niet Geschift |publisher=Prometheus |isbn=978-90-446-2054-2 |language=nl}} * {{cite book |last=Kushner |first=David |title=Masters of Doom |year=2004 |publisher=Random House Publishing |isbn=0-8129-7215-5}} * {{cite book |last=Langman |first=Peter |year=2009 |title=Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-230-61828-2}} * {{cite book |last=Larkin |first=Ralph W. |title=Comprehending Columbine |year=2007 |publisher=Temple University Press |isbn=978-1-59213-490-8}} * {{cite book |last=Mauser |first=Tom |title=Walking in Daniel's Shoes |year=2012 |publisher=Ocean Star |isbn=978-0-9853021-1-5}} * {{cite journal |last=Pike |first=Sarah M. |title=Dark Teens and Born-Again Martyrs: Captivity Narratives after Columbine |journal=Journal of the American Academy of Religion |volume=77 |issue=3 |pages=647–679 |date=September 2009 |doi=10.1093/jaarel/lfp038 |jstor=20630144 |pmid=20681084}} * {{cite book |last=Senie |first=Harriet F. |chapter=The Conflation of Heroes and Victims: A New Memorial Paradigm |title=A Companion to Public Art |publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |edition=online |date=2016 |pages=107–118 |isbn=978-1-118-47533-1}} * {{cite book |last=Watson |first=Justin |title=The Martyrs of Columbine: Faith and the Politics of Tragedy |year=2003 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-312-23957-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/martyrsofcolumbi00wats}} * {{cite book |last1=Zettl |first1=Max Sebastian |last2=Bock |first2=Corinne |last3=Buderus |first3=Petra |last4=Pereira |first4=Anne-Sophie |last5=Gonçalves |first5=Katya |last6=Münch |first6=Eva Elisabeth |title=Amok an Schulen |trans-title=School Shootings |chapter=Ursachen |trans-chapter=Causes |language=de |date=2019 |pages=29–112 |doi=10.1007/978-3-658-22708-1_3 |isbn=978-3-658-22707-4 }} * {{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/news/special/columbine_report/ |title=The Columbine Report |work=Salon.com |date=May 16, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010501042207/http://www.salon.com/news/special/columbine_report/ |archive-date=May 1, 2001}} * {{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/TOC.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010508051224/http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/Pages/TOC.htm |archive-date=May 8, 2001 |url-status=dead |title=Investigation Report CD |via=CNN |publisher=Jeffco Sheriff's Office}} * {{cite web |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/reports/report.html |title=Columbine Report documents, the "11k" |publisher=Jeffco Sheriff's Office}} * [http://acolumbinesite.com/eric/writing/journal/journal.html Eric Harris's journal] called "The Book of God", {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904072615/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/eric/writing/journal/journal.html|date=September 4, 2015}}, ''acolumbinesite.com''. [https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/harris_journal_1.3.pdf Another transcription] * [http://www.acolumbinesite.com/dylan/writing.php Dylan Klebold's journal] called "The Book of Existences", [https://web.archive.org/web/20190307173908/https://schoolshooters.info/sites/default/files/klebold_journal_1.1_3.pdf another transcription, includes yearbook] * {{cite web |url=http://www.acolumbinesite.com/quotes.html |title=The Basement Tapes |publisher=Acolumbinesite.com |access-date=August 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125032714/http://acolumbinesite.com/quotes.html |archive-date=November 25, 2010 |url-status=live}} {{div end}}
=== Videos === * {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUSJ6rqEWUY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/AUSJ6rqEWUY |archive-date=2021-10-28 |title=Haunted by Columbine |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 25, 2015}}{{cbignore}}
==Further reading== * {{cite book |first=Elliot |last=Aronson |author-link=Elliot Aronson |title=Nobody Left to Hate. Teaching Compassion After Columbine |publisher=First Owl Books |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-8050-7099-6}} * {{cite book |last=Bernall |first=Misty |title=She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall |year=1999 |publisher=Word Pub. |isbn=978-0-8499-1645-8}} * {{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Kacey Ruegsegger |title=Over My Shoulder: A Columbine Survivor's Story of Resilience, Hope, and a Life Reclaimed |year=2019 |publisher=Oms, LLC |isbn=978-1-7336516-0-8}} * {{cite book |last=Miller |first=Crystal Woodman |title=Marked for Life: Choosing Hope and Discovering Purpose After Earth-Shattering Tragedy |year=2006 |publisher=THINK |isbn=978-1-57683-936-2}} * {{cite book |last1=Saltzman |first1=Marilyn |last2=Sanders |first2=Linda Lou |title=Dave Sanders: Columbine Teacher, Coach, Hero |year=2004 |publisher=Xlibris |isbn=978-1-4134-5222-8}} * {{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Darrell |last2=Nimmo |first2=Beth |title=Rachel's Tears: The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott |year=2000 |publisher=Thomas Nelson Publishers |isbn=978-0-7852-6848-2}} * {{cite book |last=Whitus |first=Grant |title=Bullet Riddled: The First S.W.A.T. Officer Inside Columbine...and Beyond |year=2016 |publisher=Waldorf |isbn=978-1-943276-02-8}} * [https://www.coloradoindependent.com/2016/02/10/are-dylan-klebold-and-eric-harriss-parents-to-blame-for-the-columbine-shooting/ Are Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris's parents to blame for the Columbine shooting?] − Interview by Susan Greene to author Dave Cullen on the responsibility by Harris' and Klebold's parents on the ''Colorado Independent'' on February 10, 2016.
==External links== {{sister project links|auto=yes}} {{Spoken Wikipedia|date=2019-08-30|En-columbine-high-school-massacre.ogg}} * [http://i.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/videos/Evac_1.mpg Video of the evacuation in progress], [http://i.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2000/columbine.cd/videos/Evac_3.mpg Second video of the evacuation] (KUSA-TV (9News) news coverage via CNN) * [http://vault.fbi.gov/Columbine%20High%20School%20/ FBI file on the Columbine massacre] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070208234124/http://www.jefferson.lib.co.us/cltragedy2.html Jefferson County CO Library – Columbine massacre archives] * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815080707/http://insidedenver.com/shooting/|date=August 15, 2000|title=Tragedy of Columbine|work=Rocky Mountain News}} – index of articles from the ''Rocky Mountain News'' * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508133420/http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/littleton_index/littleton_index.html|date=May 8, 1999|title=Colorado School Shooting}} – index of articles from ABC News * [http://www.lfcnews.com/ The Lullaby for Columbine Project]
{{Mass shootings in the United States by deaths}} {{Mass shootings in the United States in the 1990s}} {{School shootings in the United States}} {{Authority control}}
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