Columbine High School massacre

Columbine High School massacre
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Name	Columbine High School massacre
Location	Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado
Date	April 20, 1999
Target	Students and faculty of Columbine High School
Weapons	Firearms, Explosives
Deaths	13
Injuries	21

Columbine High School massacre. The Columbine High School massacre was a Mass shooting that occurred on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, a Suburb of Denver, Colorado. The Massacre was carried out by two seniors at the school, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who were influenced by Nazi Germany, Charles Manson, and Timothy McVeigh. The Attack was one of the deadliest School shootings in United States history, and it led to a significant increase in School security measures across the country, with President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton responding to the tragedy.

Background

The Columbine High School massacre occurred in a Suburban area of Littleton, Colorado, a city located near Denver, Colorado. The school, Columbine High School, was attended by students from Littleton, Colorado, as well as neighboring cities such as Lakewood, Colorado, and Englewood, Colorado. The School district was served by Jefferson County Public Schools, which also included other schools such as Chatfield High School and Arvada High School. In the years leading up to the Massacre, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were influenced by Violent video games such as Doom and Mortal Kombat, as well as Music by artists like Marilyn Manson and Rammstein. They were also inspired by the Oklahoma City bombing, which was carried out by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, and the Waco siege, which involved the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The Attack

On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold arrived at Columbine High School in a Honda Prelude owned by Dylan Klebold's father, Thomas Klebold. They were armed with Firearms, including a Hi-Point 995 and a Savage 67H, as well as Explosives, which they had manufactured themselves. The Attack began at around 11:10 Mountain Daylight Time, when Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold opened fire on students outside the school, killing Rachel Scott and Daniel Rohrbough, and injuring several others, including Richard Castaldo and Sean Graves. The Shooters then entered the school, where they killed Kyle Velasquez and Steven Curnow, and injured several others, including Nicole Nowlen and John Tomlin. The Attack lasted for approximately 49 minutes, during which time Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed a total of 13 people, including William "Dave" Sanders, a teacher at the school, and injured 21 others.

Perpetrators

The Perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, two seniors at the school. Eric Harris was born on April 9, 1981, in Wichita, Kansas, and moved to Littleton, Colorado with his family in 1993. He was a Computer science student at Columbine High School, and was known to be interested in Computer programming and Video games. Dylan Klebold was born on September 11, 1981, in Lakewood, Colorado, and was also a senior at Columbine High School. He was a member of the school's Debate team and was known to be interested in Philosophy and Psychology. Both Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were influenced by Nazi Germany and the Oklahoma City bombing, and had a strong interest in Firearms and Explosives.

Aftermath

The Aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre was marked by a significant increase in School security measures across the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) launched an investigation into the Massacre, which was led by FBI Director Louis Freeh and ATF Director John Magaw. The investigation found that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had planned the Attack for over a year, and had used the Internet to research and purchase Firearms and Explosives. The Investigation also found that the Shooters had been influenced by Violent video games and Music, and had a strong interest in Nazi Germany and the Oklahoma City bombing. In response to the tragedy, President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton launched an initiative to improve School safety and reduce Youth violence, which included the creation of the National Threat Assessment Center and the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative.

Investigation

The Investigation into the Columbine High School massacre was one of the largest and most complex in FBI history, involving over 1,000 FBI agents and 100 Local law enforcement agencies. The Investigation was led by FBI Director Louis Freeh and ATF Director John Magaw, and included experts from the National Institute of Justice and the National Center for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency. The Investigation found that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had planned the Attack for over a year, using the Internet to research and purchase Firearms and Explosives. The Investigation also found that the Shooters had been influenced by Violent video games and Music, and had a strong interest in Nazi Germany and the Oklahoma City bombing. The FBI and ATF also worked with Local law enforcement agencies, including the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Littleton Police Department, to investigate the Massacre and identify the Perpetrators.

Legacy

The Legacy of the Columbine High School massacre is one of tragedy and loss, but also of resilience and hope. The Massacre led to a significant increase in School security measures across the United States, including the use of Metal detectors and Security cameras. The Tragedy also led to a greater awareness of the importance of Mental health and Counseling in Schools, with many schools implementing new programs and services to support students. The Columbine High School massacre also led to a number of Memorials and Tributes, including the Columbine Memorial and the National School Safety and Security Services Memorial. The Tragedy has also been the subject of numerous Books, Films, and Documentarys, including Bowling for Columbine and The Columbine School Shootings. The Columbine High School massacre will always be remembered as a tragic event in American history, and a reminder of the importance of School safety and Mental health awareness. Category:School shootings in the United States