Part 1
This timeline delves into a variety of uncomfortable and sensitive topics, such as school violence, mental illness, suicide, and abuse. reader discretion is advised.
-Eric Harris
“This is what we always wanted to do! This is awesome!”
-Dylan Klebold
TEENAGE TERRORISTS KILL “HUNDREDS” IN COLORADO SCHOOL ATTACK[1]
April 20th, 1999
Littleton, Colorado (CNN)
At least two heavily armed young men committed a bomb and gun attack at an affluent Denver high school, killing untold numbers of students, faculty, and first responders. Sheriff John Stone said that “hundreds” of fatalities were likely. Local hospitals are reported to be “overflowing” with patients treated for shrapnel, gunshot, and burn injuries. It was not clear how many sustained multiple forms of injury.
The incident at Columbine High School apparently began around lunchtime, when an improvised explosive device detonated in the cafeteria, raking the hundreds of students gathered by shrapnel and flames. Eye witnesses describe two teens dressed in all black firing upon teens and adults alike, throwing “grenade-like” explosives. Police responding to the scene were also recipients of gunfire, early reports suggesting that some officers may have been casualties in the gun battles with the two suspects.
Injured students were led out of the school in disorganized groups as first responders struggled to cope with the chaotic scene. National Guard units and bomb defusal technicians were called to the scene and a shelter in place order was issued amid unconfirmed reports that additional bombs were planted in the Denver area. It was reported that a section of the school housing the science wing had also caught fire[3], though it was unclear as to whether this was the work of an additional explosive.
COLORADO KILLERS IDENTIFIED[2]
April 21st, 1999
Littleton, Colorado (CNN)
Authorities on Wednesday morning identified Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, as the orchestrators of Tuesday’s bombing and shooting spree. The pair killed an estimated 260 in an unprecedented act of violence in American schools. Over 300 were injured and still undergoing treatment in local hospitals.
The two teenage terrorists were found dead in the hallways of the science wing of the school from self inflicted gunshot wounds after setting fires in the area. Investigators said that undetonated explosives still remained inside the building and around the killers’ bodies, and would have to be removed before the bodies could be moved.
A motive has not been established for the killings, but witnesses describe the pair as having been laughing, one student having reported that “they said they wanted revenge, that they wanted to kill everyone”.
----
The bombs did not collapse the school as Eric and Dylan apparently wished, but the damage was bad enough. With two bombs consisting of two 20 pound tanks of propane, two 5 gallon gas cans filled with homemade napalm jelly, and seasoned with bullets, nails, broken glass, BB pellets, and other miscellaneous material, the cafeteria bombs killed an estimated 231, many of whom succumbed to their injuries instead of dying outright. Firing on the injured crowd from Rebel Hill, Eric and Dylan briefly exchanged fire with responding deputies, killing one, before retreating into the school to go classroom to classroom, shooting students and teachers through windows and doors, lighting fires[3] and laughing as they went. Engaging police one final time, the pair turned the weapons on themselves, bringing the number felled by gunfire, including themselves, to 38, bringing the final death toll of the Columbine Massacre to 269.
[…]
As bad as the carnage was, it could have been worse. The pair had also placed bombs in each of their cars, rigged to explode roughly half an hour after the main bombs in the cafeteria had detonated, which had failed to go off. Had they gone off, it’s likely that dozens more would have been killed and injured, and the police response delayed even further.
As the bodies began to cool and the fires extinguished at Columbine High School, and the lightning bolt shock started to wear off, the country was thrown into a maelstrom of grief, fear, and fury, as authorities struggled to explain the attack that, as President Clinton would say, “pierced the soul” of the nation. How could two boys from decent, middle class families, kill almost three hundred of their peers, some of whom were their friends, in such a shocking manner?
-Salon, Columbine Five Years Later[4]
[1] This is based off a CNN article made on the day of the attack: https://archive.is/hCcuW
[2] https://archive.is/sNhiI
[3] This is based off allegations made by police that Eric and Dylan turned on gas outlets in the science wing, presumably to start a fire. https://extras.denverpost.com/news/col0623.htm
[4] Based on this article: https://www.salon.com/2004/04/20/columbine_anniversary/
----
“I want to leave a lasting impression on this world.”-Eric Harris
“This is what we always wanted to do! This is awesome!”
-Dylan Klebold
TEENAGE TERRORISTS KILL “HUNDREDS” IN COLORADO SCHOOL ATTACK[1]
April 20th, 1999
Littleton, Colorado (CNN)
At least two heavily armed young men committed a bomb and gun attack at an affluent Denver high school, killing untold numbers of students, faculty, and first responders. Sheriff John Stone said that “hundreds” of fatalities were likely. Local hospitals are reported to be “overflowing” with patients treated for shrapnel, gunshot, and burn injuries. It was not clear how many sustained multiple forms of injury.
The incident at Columbine High School apparently began around lunchtime, when an improvised explosive device detonated in the cafeteria, raking the hundreds of students gathered by shrapnel and flames. Eye witnesses describe two teens dressed in all black firing upon teens and adults alike, throwing “grenade-like” explosives. Police responding to the scene were also recipients of gunfire, early reports suggesting that some officers may have been casualties in the gun battles with the two suspects.
Injured students were led out of the school in disorganized groups as first responders struggled to cope with the chaotic scene. National Guard units and bomb defusal technicians were called to the scene and a shelter in place order was issued amid unconfirmed reports that additional bombs were planted in the Denver area. It was reported that a section of the school housing the science wing had also caught fire[3], though it was unclear as to whether this was the work of an additional explosive.
COLORADO KILLERS IDENTIFIED[2]
April 21st, 1999
Littleton, Colorado (CNN)
Authorities on Wednesday morning identified Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, as the orchestrators of Tuesday’s bombing and shooting spree. The pair killed an estimated 260 in an unprecedented act of violence in American schools. Over 300 were injured and still undergoing treatment in local hospitals.
The two teenage terrorists were found dead in the hallways of the science wing of the school from self inflicted gunshot wounds after setting fires in the area. Investigators said that undetonated explosives still remained inside the building and around the killers’ bodies, and would have to be removed before the bodies could be moved.
A motive has not been established for the killings, but witnesses describe the pair as having been laughing, one student having reported that “they said they wanted revenge, that they wanted to kill everyone”.
----
The bombs did not collapse the school as Eric and Dylan apparently wished, but the damage was bad enough. With two bombs consisting of two 20 pound tanks of propane, two 5 gallon gas cans filled with homemade napalm jelly, and seasoned with bullets, nails, broken glass, BB pellets, and other miscellaneous material, the cafeteria bombs killed an estimated 231, many of whom succumbed to their injuries instead of dying outright. Firing on the injured crowd from Rebel Hill, Eric and Dylan briefly exchanged fire with responding deputies, killing one, before retreating into the school to go classroom to classroom, shooting students and teachers through windows and doors, lighting fires[3] and laughing as they went. Engaging police one final time, the pair turned the weapons on themselves, bringing the number felled by gunfire, including themselves, to 38, bringing the final death toll of the Columbine Massacre to 269.
[…]
As bad as the carnage was, it could have been worse. The pair had also placed bombs in each of their cars, rigged to explode roughly half an hour after the main bombs in the cafeteria had detonated, which had failed to go off. Had they gone off, it’s likely that dozens more would have been killed and injured, and the police response delayed even further.
As the bodies began to cool and the fires extinguished at Columbine High School, and the lightning bolt shock started to wear off, the country was thrown into a maelstrom of grief, fear, and fury, as authorities struggled to explain the attack that, as President Clinton would say, “pierced the soul” of the nation. How could two boys from decent, middle class families, kill almost three hundred of their peers, some of whom were their friends, in such a shocking manner?
-Salon, Columbine Five Years Later[4]
[1] This is based off a CNN article made on the day of the attack: https://archive.is/hCcuW
[2] https://archive.is/sNhiI
[3] This is based off allegations made by police that Eric and Dylan turned on gas outlets in the science wing, presumably to start a fire. https://extras.denverpost.com/news/col0623.htm
[4] Based on this article: https://www.salon.com/2004/04/20/columbine_anniversary/
