Winner of the Spring 2018 StMU History Media Award for
Best Article in the Category of “United States History”
Best Descriptive Article
It was April 20, 1999 in Littleton Colorado. Seventeen-year-old Eric Harris and his eighteen-year-old friend Dylan Klebold both drove separately on a Tuesday morning to play a couple of frames of bowling before heading off to school. Before departing in their black trench coats, the teens stuffed their backpacks and two duffle bags into the trunk of their cars. When they arrived at their school campus later that morning, the two adolescents proceeded into the school, carrying the duffel bags, which contained two propane bombs.1 They kept the bombs inside the duffel bags and carried them into the cafeteria, setting up the bombs throughout the room, where they were rigged to detonate at precisely 11:17 AM. After setting up the bombs, Eric and Dylan then proceeded back to the school parking lot, where they waited for the bombs to explode. The boys had grave intentions on that day. Their intentions were to shoot up their high school, resulting in the most destructive school shooting to ever occur in the United States at the time. Their high school is known as Columbine, the most famous high school in America, for the wrong reasons.2
In January 1998, about a year before this horrific event unfolded, best friends Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were suddenly surrounded by an aggressive and terrifying group of football players in the school cafeteria. The players proceeded to squirt ketchup packets at the two friends. Unable to fight back against the dominant jocks, Eric and Dylan were forced to wear their ketchup-stained clothes all day until they were able to go home from school. Around the cafeteria at Columbine, there were different classes of tables: the athletes had their table, and the weaker, outcast students had their table as well. While walking over to their table to sit at lunch, the athletes often threw skittles at Eric and Dylan and their outcast friends. While sitting at a lunch table with their few friends, the jocks kicked Eric and Dylan’s chairs, knocked their food trays down, and lunged food at them in the cafeteria. Bullying was not only a common occurrence to Eric and Dylan, but it also occurred to other students as well. Weaker students were shoved into lockers, called vile names, and also body slammed. They were the targets of the predators of the school. Everyone in the school, including Eric and Dylan, were afraid of the intimidating jocks, and for good reason. They were members of the trench coat mafia, which was a group that the two teens belonged to, which consisted of pro-Nazi outcasts, such as Eric and Dylan, and who also held a strong hatred for Christians. Their other trench coat mafia friends were able to shrug off the constant bullying. However, the same cannot be said about Eric and Dylan. The two friends took it in and absorbed it all, and their anger grew.3
As a result of the relentless harassment throughout Columbine, before going on a school-wide mass shooting spree, Eric Harris decided to dose on cough syrup, which he said, “is the best thing after a hard day of being called ‘gay’ by a schoolyard full of fashionable jocks and cheerleaders.”4 The two boys were outcasts of their school and members of this trench coat mafia subculture. At lunch for weeks, Eric and Dylan fantasized about blowing up the school, but because being harassed at Columbine was so common for outcast students, it was not unusual for students to speak of such outlandish events. So, when Eric and Dylan said this, other students did not believe they were serious; however, the intentions of the two teens were indeed grim and were not to be underestimated.5
The constant hatred towards his peers caused Eric to devise the plan of the shooting of his high school. Eric did most of the planning, while Dylan followed his lead and did what he said. Eric went into the cafeteria and observed when it was the most populated. He discovered that there were around 488 people inside the cafeteria at 11:17 a.m. Since this was the most populated time, they planned to bring two black duffel bags, each containing a propane tank that they would rig to explode at 11:17 a.m. In addition, they bought weapons, made bombs, and hid them in their trench coats and in the trunks of their cars. They carefully planned the terrible act for over a year prior to the shooting.6
After months and months of constant planning, Eric and Dylan were ready to put their diabolical plan into action. On April 20, 1999, around 11:20 AM, after placing the bombs in the cafeteria, Eric and Dylan were most likely bored of waiting in the parking lot for the bombs to explode. After the bombs failed to detonate around that time, the two adolescents began the destruction of their high school. They unzipped their trench coats, pulled out their guns, and opened fire in the parking lot of Columbine.7
Outside of the school building on campus, seventeen-year-old Rachel Scott was eating lunch with her friend Richard Castaldo. Eric and Dylan came up to Rachel and Richard. The two shooters shot Richard multiple times in almost every part of his body, including his lungs. Then, they shot Rachel several times, hitting her thigh, left arm, and chest. They then turned their guns towards other fleeing students, shooting them as well. Rachel Scott laid on the ground, crying. Rachel, like many other victims of the shooting, was a Christian, which was the religion that the two pro-Nazi shooters despised. Eric went up to the poor and helpless Christian, and asked, “Do you believe in God?” Rachel said yes, and in response Eric said, “Then go be with Him,” and he shot her once again killing her.8 Rachel Scott died a martyr on that horrific day for her faith. Eric and Dylan resumed their carnage by entering into the school building itself. They went into the cafeteria, where most of the students had evacuated. While searching for students, the shooters began throwing bombs. Eric and Dylan then headed upstairs in the building. Coach Dave Sanders decided to stay back in the school to aid students, when Eric and Dylan ran into him. They shot Sanders in the back while he was fleeing, killing him instantly. After combing through the cafeteria, the shooters entered the library of Columbine, the deadliest room of the shooting. They began the bloodshed in the library by shooting behind the librarian’s desk. While in the commons, Eric and Dylan were taunting the students, yelling at them and cursing. They shouted at the horrified teens yelling, “All the jocks stand up!” They also targeted students who were wearing sports apparel. Isaiah Shoels was in the library on that nightmarish day. Isaiah was a football player at the school, which was not a good position to be in on April 20, 1999 at Columbine. Due to his African-American race, Eric and Dylan yelled racial slurs at Isaiah, and then they shot him. Unfortunately, there was more blood to be spilled. Eric then made his way towards Cassie Bernall, another Christian at Columbine, and asked her, “Do you believe in God”? Once again, just like Rachel Scott, Cassie firmly responded “yes,” and then they killed her. Just like Rachel Scott, Cassie Bernall became a martyr at the hands of Eric Harris while professing her faith. They did the same Christian interrogation to Val Schnurr, who admitted her faith and was killed for it. The outraged gunmen exited the commons, leaving ten students in the library shot in cold blood, and many others injured.9
While roaming the school, the campus was being surrounded by police, ambulances, and even the National Guard. They knew they were not leaving that building alive. After deciding that there was nowhere else to run, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold returned to the library, where they shot themselves in the head, putting an end to the bloody massacre of Columbine High School.10
The suicide of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold may have seemed like a definite conclusion to the horrific shooting for some; however, for others, it was only just the beginning. Many families of those slaughtered victims at Columbine could not even begin to comprehend the weight of the situation. Many parents, whose sons or daughters became victims of the shooting, feared for their own marriages, let alone their mental status. One mother of one of the injured victims of the shooting committed suicide years later, due to her daughter being paralyzed and forced into a wheelchair for the rest of her life.11 However, despite the catastrophes of the families, to Eric and Dylan, this was a major success. They planned everything from entering the building, all the way to their own deaths. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were constantly harassed both physically and verbally to the point where they could no longer absorb any more humiliation and mistreatment from their peers. The constant bullying that the adolescents endured resulted in them dealing with severe depression disorders that few people were aware of. Even Dylan’s own parents were unaware of his suicidal behavior and of his ongoing depression at Columbine. Several arguments can be made about the cause of Columbine and what was truly going on inside the teens’ heads. Many claim the cause of the shooting was bullying, while others claim the shooting to be caused by the influence of violent video games, like “Doom,” and goth music artists, like Marilyn Manson. Whatever the true intentions of Eric and Dylan were, we will never seem to understand entirely. However, one point can be made about the disastrous shooting of Columbine on that horrid day. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had a specific goal: to exact revenge on the students of Columbine High School.
- UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History, 2009, s.v. “Columbine High School Shooting,” by Sonia Benson. ↵
- American Decades, 2004, s.v. “Analysis: What the Two Young Colorado Gunmen Were Really Like,” by Cynthia Rose. ↵
- Perspectives on Modern World History, 2012, s.v. “Columbine High School Had a Serious Bullying Problem,” by Ralph W. Larkin. ↵
- Perspectives on Modern World History, 2012, s.v. “Columbine High School Had a Serious Bullying Problem,” by Ralph W. Larkin. ↵
- Ralph W. Larkin, Comprehending Columbine (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2007), 131. ↵
- Ralph W. Larkin, Comprehending Columbine (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2007), 131. ↵
- Wendy Murray Zoba, “Do you Believe in God?” Christianity Today, October 1999. ↵
- Life Focus, “Rachel Scott Life Focus Documentary”, 12:45-13:24, February 15 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M6MSM9o5Y4. ↵
- Wendy Murray Zoba, “Do you Believe in God?” Christianity Today, October 1999. ↵
- Wendy Murray Zoba, “Do you Believe in God?” Christianity Today, October 1999. ↵
- US News and World Report, “Columbine Shooting: 10 Years Later,” 0:00-3:39, April 19, 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XTIOs4YK_c. ↵
239 comments
Lynsey Mott
I remember learning fully of this shooting back when I was an eighth grader, and all I could think of was “how could anyone do this?” Although it was not a commonality back then, it sure is now. To think that the reason behind a lot of these shootings but mostly back in Columbine was because of bullying. I don’t think that should be a reason to kill anyone, let alone hurt anyone. Even though that they were being bullied, I think that they should of seeked help, even if they didn’t get help inside the school, they could of got outside help. They could of went to the news and told them about their school and how they wont listen to them. Also to think that them being pro-Nazi helped their situation of who to kill; for example, asking people if they were Christian and if they were they got killed. Its just horrible that people can do this and not feel any remorse for it, or if they know that they are not going to face justice for their killings, they just kill themselves.
Noah Bolhuis
This was an excellent article, although hard to read. It is sad to see how far humans out of hatred and rage. The Columbine shooting was not only one of the worst mass shootings in American history, but can be considered the birth of a serious, growing problem in today’s society. The rise of school shootings has this nation in such panic. Parents worry every day, politicians try to find ways to stop them, and manufacturers are coming out with bullet proof desks, chairs and backpacks. To say that these type of tragedies isn’t becoming an epidemic is far from the truth, and this shooting in 1999 may be the start of that. It is worrisome that no one took notice of odd behavior (Other than joining a pro-nazi hate group) such as building bombs and purchasing guns at 18 years old. These types of actions need to be noticed and reported, and if these acts were reported, this senseless massacre could have possibly been prevented.
Belene Cuellar
I am honestly not surprised that these kids actually went through with their horrid plan. Their radical beliefs and the constant abuse from their classmates put them in a very dark place. I’m in no way saying that what they did was right, I am saying that a person has a limit to how much they can take before they go off. And in this case both of them had enough of being pushed around. Such a tragedy for so many families, it’s hard to actually grasp that these boys planned everything down to the time.
Hailey Rodriguez
This school shooting will always be remembered and passed down in history. I can’t believe they had been planning this for over a year and that they actually went through with their plans. I also can’t seem to understand how these young boys were involved in a pro-Nazi mafia. They were so young and naive. I believe this was probably the biggest reason which led them to think that planting bombs and shooting Christians would be okay. However, I can’t help but think how much of a difference it could’ve made on the two young boys if the jocks didn’t harass them 24/7. I believe if they didn’t suffer so much at school, they most likely wouldn’t have even spurred up the thought of shooting down the school. However, I do not think it would have changed their opinions about Christians.
Lorenzo Rivera
The Massacre at Columbine High School is truly one of the saddest and most regretful events to ever take place in modern America. This event showed exactly what troubled individuals can be capable of when they are desperate enough and have absolutely nothing to lose in their lives. So many young adults lost their lives and were unable to experience so many things that every individual should be entitled to. We have to make it appoint to stop events like this from ever occurring in our schools, and communities. This tragedy can not be undone, but it will always serve as a constant reminder of what occurred on that horrible spring day in 1999.
Maxx Arizmendi
April 20th, 1999 was a horrific day in Columbine High School, for it became the site of the most destructive school shooting in American history. The reason the shootings occurred was because Dlan Klebold and Eric Harris were bullied by the jocks at their high school. Instead of attempting to massacre everyone at the school, the two assailants should have gone to therapy for emotional support rather than turning to firearms. This shooting shows that those who are bullied need support so that they feel comforted. This article was great in discussing Columbine, and hopefully after the school shootings that have happened recently, it doesn’t happen again. We should help those who are victims of bullying, and everyone will be safer in school.
Diego Aguilera
Crazy to see the extent students will go to get vengeance and retaliate from the constant bullying instead of seeking help. Too many of these school shootings can be prevent if we notice the signs early and truly dive into these students miss to help them. Think about how many lives could be save just by that and making rules more strict. Columbine did start the trend we see of school massacre and i believe soon one day it will all stop but how many more until then? Its crazy to see and hear how students are scared to go to school and don’t know if they’re safe.
Kristy Feather
It’s truly sad to think of this article as it reflects the ideas of modern day actions. Although it’s mentioned that the cause of the shooting was probably constant bullying we can’t be entirely sure. It seems like in today’s world everyone goes to great lengths to ensure that there isn’t bullying or harassment occurring to the extent in which it did to Eric and Dylan – yet we still have mass shootings occurring. If anything it seems the frequency in which domestic-terrorist attacks such as this is on the rise despite the growth towards making school and public spaces “Safe-Spaces”. Personally it makes me wonder if it’s not just the people to begin with and maybe there isn’t much we can do.
Roman Olivera
The Columbine High School shootings were indeed a great tragedy in recent american history and might have been the first to influence many other such shootings after it, by young bullied and or troubled teens and young adults at schools across the nation. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris were not the only teens bullied at the high school but were the ones who decided to take action against the people they felt were the worse offenders of their persecution while at school. I believe that a number of factors contributed to what ultimately became the massacre of many innocent children and adults at Columbine High School. Though we may never know what role each of the victims of the shooting had in the time leading up to these events, it can be assumed that they were not only being bullied by the jocks at the school, but that their hatred as also toward some of the administration for not taking action to protect kids like them from the kids that were more favored at the school such as the athletes and possibly the “Christians,” who were more socially accepted by society as a whole. The two shooters world view and hatred towards groups such as the privileged, the Christians and other races would possibly become greater with their affiliation with a hate group like the Trench Coat Mafia. Some people who became victim to these grim events such as Rachel Scott, and other Christians, might have only been victims because the shooters encountered them by chance. One thing we do know is that the boys as well other social outcasts were first the victims of bullying which ultimately led to the tragic outcome at the high school. There are many positives to come out of this event to include many laws against bullying as well as groups to support teens that are victims of this type of abuse. It has raised awareness and does not allow the adults who should be ultimately monitoring these problems in a high school to turn a blind eye at something that could eventually grow out of control such as this situation. I hope we continue to learn from tragic events in our past like the Columbine Massacre and continue to grow as a country of people united against the mistreatment of people as a whole.
Madeline Torres
The shooting of Columbine is a very horrific and saddening story. I have heard of these two students doing this, but I have never heard of the inside story of what occurred during the time. It’s very heartbreaking and sad how those three students were persecuted for their faith. This article really goes into detail how these adolescents thought at the time, and it is very amazing how much bullying can really affect someone and their mental state. Overall, this article was very much informative and really opens one’s eyes onto how dangerous bullying can be.