Site metadata: {"ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles":"","og:title":"Columbine High School massacre - Wikipedia","generator":"MediaWiki 1.44.0-wmf.19","og:type":"website","og:image:width":["1200","800","640"],"favicon":"https://en.wikipedia.org/static/favicon/wikipedia.ico","language":"en","ogTitle":"Columbine High School massacre - Wikipedia","referrer":["origin","origin-when-cross-origin"],"title":"Columbine High School massacre - Wikipedia","format-detection":"telephone=no","viewport":"width=1120","robots":"max-image-preview:standard","ogImage":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Columbine_Shooting_Security_Camera.jpg","og:image":["https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Columbine_Shooting_Security_Camera.jpg","https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Columbine_Shooting_Security_Camera.jpg"],"og:image:height":["905","603","483"],"scrapeId":"d50d2f16-a539-4701-a62a-c1e554dc81f0","sourceURL":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre","statusCode":200} [Jump to content](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#bodyContent) [![Banner logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Wikimania_logo.svg)\\ \\ **Wikimania 2025 Program Proposals are now open!**\\ \\ Click here to Apply Now\\ \\ This application is open until Monday 31st March, 2025 end of day](https://wikimania.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/2025:Program) [\[ Help with translations! \]](https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Translate&group=Centralnotice-tgroup-WM2025Program_banner&language=en) [Hide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre# "Hide") [Coordinates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_coordinate_system "Geographic coordinate system"): ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/WMA_button2b.png/34px-WMA_button2b.png)[39°36′12″N105°04′29″W / 39.60333°N 105.07472°W / 39.60333; -105.07472](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Columbine_High_School_massacre¶ms=39_36_12_N_105_04_29_W_) [![Page semi-protected](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1b/Semi-protection-shackle.svg/40px-Semi-protection-shackle.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Protection_policy#semi "This article is semi-protected.") [![Listen to this article](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Sound-icon.svg/40px-Sound-icon.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:En-columbine-high-school-massacre.ogg "Listen to this article") From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 1999 mass shooting in Columbine, Colorado, US "Columbine massacre" and "Columbine shooting" redirect here. For the 1927 labor violence, see [Columbine Mine massacre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_Mine_massacre "Columbine Mine massacre"). | Columbine High School massacre | | --- | | [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Columbine_Shooting_Security_Camera.jpg/440px-Columbine_Shooting_Security_Camera.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Columbine_Shooting_Security_Camera.jpg)
Harris (left) and Klebold (right) in the cafeteria at 11:57 a.m. | | [![Map](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/250x200@2x.png?lang=en&domain=en.wikipedia.org&title=Columbine_High_School_massacre&revid=1278932790&groups=_009a7fc9e5bbe2266b61af90996aa93a6812e97e)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#/map/0 "Show in full screen")
[Show in full screen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#/map/0 "Show in full screen")[Wikimedia](https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Maps_Terms_of_Use) \| © [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright) | | Location | [Columbine, Colorado](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine,_Colorado "Columbine, Colorado"), U.S. | | Date | April 20, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-04-20)
11:19a.m. – 12:08p.m. ( [MDT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Time_Zone "Mountain Time Zone")) | | Target | Students and staff at [Columbine High School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School "Columbine High School"), [first responders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_responders "First responders") | | Attack type | [School shooting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_shooting "School shooting"), [mass shooting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_shooting "Mass shooting"), [mass murder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_murder "Mass murder"), [murder–suicide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder%E2%80%93suicide "Murder–suicide"), [arson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arson "Arson"), attempted [bombing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvised_explosive_device "Improvised explosive device"), [shootout](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shootout "Shootout") | | Weapons | - [Intratec TEC-9 Mini](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TEC-9 "TEC-9")
- [Hi-Point 995 carbine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi-Point_carbine "Hi-Point carbine")
- [Savage 67H pump-action shotgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Arms "Savage Arms")
- [Stevens 311D double barreled sawed-off shotgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Arms "Savage Arms")
- 99 explosives
- 4 knives | | Deaths | 15 (including both perpetrators) | | Injured | 24 (21 by gunfire) | | Perpetrators | [Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Harris_and_Dylan_Klebold "Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold") | | Motive | Undetermined | | Convicted | Mark Manes and Philip Duran (weapons suppliers) | | Convictions | **Manes and Duran:**
[Supplying a handgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Colorado "Gun laws in Colorado") to a [minor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_(law) "Minor (law)"), [possession of an illegally sawed-off shotgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_possession_of_a_weapon "Criminal possession of a weapon") | | Sentence | **Manes:**
6 years in prison
**Duran:**
4+1⁄2 years in prison[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-hist-1)[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-auto1-2) | | Litigation | Multiple [lawsuits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawsuit "Lawsuit") against the perpetrators' families and suppliers of the weapons[\[a\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-6) | | | A [school shooting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_shooting "School shooting") and attempted [bombing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing "Bombing") occurred on April 20, 1999, at [Columbine High School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School "Columbine High School") in [Columbine, Colorado](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine,_Colorado "Columbine, Colorado"), United States.[\[b\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-10) The perpetrators, twelfth-grade students [Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Harris_and_Dylan_Klebold "Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold"), murdered twelve students and one teacher; ten were killed in the school library, where Harris and Klebold subsequently died by [suicide](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide "Suicide"). Twenty-one additional people were injured by gunshots, and [gunfire was exchanged](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shootout "Shootout") with the police. Another three people were injured trying to escape. The Columbine massacre was the [deadliest mass shooting at a K-12 school in U.S. history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States_by_death_toll "List of school shootings in the United States by death toll") until December 2012.[\[c\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-12) It is still considered one of the most infamous massacres in the U.S. for inspiring many other school shootings and bombings; the word "Columbine" has since become a byword for modern school shootings. As of 2025[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Columbine_High_School_massacre&action=edit), Columbine is still both the deadliest mass shooting and school shooting in [Colorado](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado "Colorado"), and one of the [deadliest mass shootings in the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_shootings_in_the_United_States#Deadliest_mass_shootings_since_1949 "Mass shootings in the United States"). Harris and Klebold, who planned for roughly a year, and hoped to have a large number of victims, intended for the attack to _primarily_ be a bombing and only secondarily a shooting. However, the pair chose to launch a shooting attack after the several [homemade bombs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvised_explosive_device "Improvised explosive device") they planted in the school failed to detonate. Their motive remains inconclusive. The police were slow to enter the school and were heavily criticized for not intervening during the shooting. The incident resulted in the introduction of the [immediate action rapid deployment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immediate_action_rapid_deployment "Immediate action rapid deployment") (IARD) tactic, which is used in [active-shooter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_shooter "Active shooter") situations, and an increased emphasis on school security with [zero-tolerance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_tolerance_(schools) "Zero tolerance (schools)") policies. The violence sparked debates over [American gun culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_culture_in_the_United_States "Gun culture in the United States") and [gun control laws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_United_States "Gun politics in the United States"), high school [cliques](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clique "Clique"), subcultures (e.g. [goths](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goth_subculture "Goth subculture")), outcasts, and [school bullying](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_bullying "School bullying"), as well as teenage use of [pharmaceutical antidepressants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidepressant "Antidepressant"), the Internet, and [violence in video games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_controversies "Video game controversies") and [film](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_on_the_effects_of_violence_in_mass_media "Research on the effects of violence in mass media"). Many makeshift memorials were created after the massacre, including ones employing victims [Rachel Scott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Scott "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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_Park "Clement Park"). The crosses for Harris and Klebold were later removed following controversy. Planning for a permanent memorial began in June 1999, and the resulting [Columbine Memorial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_Memorial "Columbine Memorial") opened to the public in September 2007. The shooting has inspired dozens of [copycat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copycat_crime "Copycat crime") killings, dubbed the [Columbine effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_effect "Columbine effect"), including many deadlier shootings across the world.[\[d\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-18) ## Perpetrators Main article: [Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Harris_and_Dylan_Klebold "Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold") ### Eric Harris Eric David Harris (April 9, 1981– April 20, 1999) was born in [Wichita, Kansas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wichita,_Kansas "Wichita, Kansas"). The Harris family relocated often, as Harris's father was a [U.S. Air Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force "United States Air Force") transport pilot. His mother was a [homemaker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homemaker "Homemaker"). The family moved from [Plattsburgh, New York](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plattsburgh,_New_York "Plattsburgh, New York"), to Littleton, Colorado, in July 1993, when his father retired from military service.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-suspdk-19) The Harris family lived in rented accommodations for their first three years in the Littleton area. During this time, Harris attended Ken Caryl Middle School, where he met Klebold.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-Fatal-20) In 1996, the Harris family purchased a house south of CHS. Harris's older brother attended college at the [University of Colorado Boulder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Colorado_Boulder "University of Colorado Boulder").[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-:4-21)[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-sides-22) ### Dylan Klebold Dylan Bennet Klebold ([/ˈkliːboʊld/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English "Help:IPA/English") [_KLEE-bohld_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key "Help:Pronunciation respelling key"); September 11, 1981– April 20, 1999) was born in [Lakewood, Colorado](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakewood,_Colorado "Lakewood, Colorado").[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-suspdk-19) His parents were [pacifists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifism "Pacifism") and attended a [Lutheran](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism "Lutheranism") church with their children. Both Dylan and his older brother, Byron, attended [confirmation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation "Confirmation") classes in accordance with the [Lutheran tradition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation#Lutheran_view "Confirmation").[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-mult1-23) As had been the case with his older brother, Klebold was named after a renowned poet—in his case [Dylan Thomas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_Thomas "Dylan Thomas").[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-auto-24) Klebold attended Normandy Elementary for first and second grade before transferring to Governor's Ranch Elementary, and became part of the CHIPS ("Challenging High Intellectual Potential Students") program.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-25) ## Background ### Criminal history In 1996, 15-year-old Eric Harris created a private website on [America Online](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_Online "America Online") (AOL),[\[e\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-27) initially to host levels (known as [WADs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_WAD "Doom WAD")) Harris created for use in the [first-person shooter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-person_shooter "First-person shooter") video games _[Doom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_(1993_video_game) "Doom (1993 video game)")_, _[Doom II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_II "Doom II")_, and _[Quake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quake_(video_game) "Quake (video game)")_.[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-harris-26)[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-salon.comt-28)[\[f\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-30) On the site, Harris began a [web log](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog "Blog") ("blog"), which included details about Harris sneaking out of the house to cause mischief and vandalism, such as lighting fireworks with Klebold and others.[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-FOOTNOTELarkin2007161-31) These were known as "Rebel Missions",[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-32) and Harris's blog primarily consisted of "mission logs". Beginning in early 1997, the blog postings began to show the first signs of Harris's anger against society.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-jcso97-33) By the end of the year, the site contained instructions on how to make explosives.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-guard-34) Harris's site attracted few visitors and caused no concern until August 1997, after Harris ended a blog post detailing murderous fantasies with "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 classmate of his.[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-brooks72-35)[\[g\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-37) After Brown's parents viewed the site, they contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office on August 7, 1997. An investigator wrote a draft [affidavit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affidavit "Affidavit") to request a [search warrant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_warrant "Search warrant") for the Harris household, but it was never submitted to a judge.[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-38)[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-:4-21)[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-39) On January 30, 1998, Harris and Klebold were [arrested](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrest "Arrest") for breaking into a white van parked near Littleton and stealing tools and computer equipment.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-40) They would subsequently attend a joint court hearing, where they [pled](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plea "Plea") guilty to the [felony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony "Felony") [theft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theft "Theft"). The judge sentenced them to a juvenile [diversion program](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversion_program "Diversion program").[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-juvey-41)[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-event1-42) As a result, both delinquents attended mandatory classes such as [anger management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anger_management "Anger management") and talked with diversion officers.[\[h\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-44) They both were eventually released from diversion several weeks early because of positive actions in the program and put on [probation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probation "Probation").[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-ten-45)[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-juvey-41) ### Writings Shortly after the court hearing for the van break-in, Harris reverted his website back to just hosting user-created levels of _Doom_. He began to write his thoughts down in a journal. Klebold had already been keeping a personal journal since March 1997; as early as November of that year, Klebold had mentioned going on a killing spree. Klebold used his journal to vent about his personal problems as well as what he'd wear and use during the attack.[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-Block-43) In both their journals, Harris and Klebold would later plot the attack. Soon after beginning his journal, Harris typed out a plan for an attack which included possibly escaping to a foreign country after the massacre, or [hijacking an aircraft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_hijacking "Aircraft hijacking") at [Denver International Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_International_Airport "Denver International Airport") and crashing it into [New York City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City "New York City").[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-:4-21) Klebold and Harris both made entries in their journals on topics related to [sexuality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexuality "Sexuality"). Klebold expressed shame for his sexual interests, which included [bondage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bondage_(BDSM) "Bondage (BDSM)") and [foot fetishism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_fetishism "Foot fetishism"), stating that, "My humanity has a foot fetish, & bondage exteme (sic) liking. I try to thwart it..."[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-46) Harris described his desire for sex with women, especially his desire of [raping](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_in_the_United_States "Rape in the United States") and [torturing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture "Torture") women in his bedroom.[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-FOOTNOTELarkin2007136-47) Harris also expressed interest in [cannibalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_cannibalism "Human cannibalism"), stating that he would like to dismember a woman with whom he could have "animalistic sex" and eat her flesh.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-FOOTNOTELarkin2007135%E2%80%93136-48) Harris and Klebold's schoolwork also foreshadowed the massacre.[\[i\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-51) They both displayed themes of violence in their [creative writing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_writing "Creative writing") projects. In December 1997, Harris wrote a paper on school shootings titled "Guns in School",[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-52)[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-53) and a poem from the perspective of a bullet.[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-tape2651-54) Klebold wrote a short story about a man killing students which worried his teacher so much that she alerted his parents.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-55)[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-56) Both had also actively researched war and murder. For one project, Harris wrote a paper on [Nazi Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany "Nazi Germany") and Klebold wrote a paper on [Charles Manson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Manson "Charles Manson").[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-57)[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-58)[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-ideo-59) In a [psychology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology "Psychology") class, Harris wrote he dreamed of going on a [shooting spree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spree_killer "Spree killer") with Klebold.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-60) Harris's journals described several experimental bomb detonations.[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-Block-43)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-61) 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.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-suspdk-19) ### Tapes #### Basement tapes Harris and Klebold were both enrolled in video-production classes and kept five [video tapes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videotape "Videotape") that were recorded with school video equipment.[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-dive-62) Only two of these, " [Hitmen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_killing "Contract killing") for Hire" and "Rampart Range", and part of a third known as " [Radioactive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_decay "Radioactive decay") Clothing", have been released.[\[j\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-64) The remaining three tapes detailed their plans and reasons for the massacre, including the ways they hid their weapons and deceived their parents.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-slatecol-65) Most were shot 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.[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-tape333-66) In December 1999, before anyone besides investigators had seen them, [_Time_ magazine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_(magazine) "Time (magazine)") published an article on these tapes.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-tape-67) 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.[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-68) Transcripts of some of the dialogue and a short clip recorded surreptitiously by a victim's father still exist. The pair claimed they were going to make copies of the tapes to send to news stations but never did so.[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-69) 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trench_coat "Trench coat") [Mafia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafia "Mafia"), a clique in the school who wore black trench coats and opposed jocks,[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-coat-70) extorting money for protecting [preps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preppy "Preppy") from bullies.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-Fatal-20)[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-hithire-71)[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-kass197-72) Klebold and Harris themselves were apparently not a part of the Trench Coat Mafia but were friends with some of its members.[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-Salon-73)[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-rules-74)[\[k\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-79) They wore black trench coats on the day of the massacre, and the _Hitmen for Hire_ video seemed a kind of dress [rehearsal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehearsal "Rehearsal"), showing them walking the halls of the school, and shooting bullies outside with fake guns.[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-hithire-71) On October 21, 2003, a video was released showing the pair doing [target practice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_practice "Target practice") on March 6, 1999, in nearby foothills known as [Rampart Range](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rampart_Range "Rampart Range"), with the weapons they would use in the massacre.[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-evid-80) #### Nixon tape Before the massacre, Harris left a [micro cassette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcassette "Microcassette") 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."[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-81) ## Weaponry ### Guns In the months prior to the attacks, Harris and Klebold acquired two [9mm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9719mm_Parabellum "9×19mm Parabellum") firearms and two [12-gauge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gauge_(bore_diameter) "Gauge (bore diameter)") shotguns. Harris had a [Hi-Point 995 carbine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi-Point_carbine "Hi-Point carbine") with thirteen 10-round magazines and a [Savage-Springfield 67H](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Arms#Shotguns "Savage Arms") [pump shotgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pump_action "Pump action"). Klebold used a 9mm [Intratec](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intratec "Intratec") [TEC-DC9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TEC-9 "TEC-9") [semi-automatic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_firearm "Semi-automatic firearm") [handgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handgun "Handgun") with one 52-, one 32-, and one 28-round magazine and a [Stevens 311D](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevens_Arms#Shotguns "Stevens Arms") [double-barreled shotgun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-barreled_shotgun "Double-barreled shotgun"). Harris' shotgun was [sawed-off](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawed-off_shotgun "Sawed-off shotgun") to around 26 inches (0.66 m) and Klebold shortened his shotgun's length to 23 inches (0.58 m), a [felony](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony "Felony") under the [National Firearms Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act "National Firearms Act").[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-82)[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-83) On November 22, 1998, their friend Robyn Anderson purchased a carbine rifle and the two shotguns for the pair at the Tanner [Gun Show](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_show "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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_shooting "Target shooting") and denied that she had prior knowledge of their plans.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-auto-24) Anderson was not charged.[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-84)[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-85)[\[l\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-86) Harris and Klebold both held part-time jobs at a local [Blackjack Pizza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackjack_Pizza "Blackjack Pizza"). Through Philip Duran, one of their coworkers, Klebold bought a TEC-9 handgun from Mark Manes for $500 at another gun show on January 23.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-Fatal-20)[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-87) Manes, Manes' girlfriend, and Duran are all in the Rampart Range video.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-Fatal-20)[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-88) After the massacre, Manes and Duran were both prosecuted.[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-89)[\[78\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-90) Each was charged with supplying a handgun to a minor and possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Manes and Duran were sentenced to a total of six years and four-and-a-half years, respectively, in prison.[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-hist-1)[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-auto1-2) ### Explosives In addition to the firearms, the complex and highly planned attack involved several [improvised explosive devices](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvised_explosive_devices "Improvised explosive devices"). Harris and Klebold constructed a total of 99 bombs.[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-bombsum-91) These included [pipe bombs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_bomb "Pipe bomb"), [carbon-dioxide cartridges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powerlet "Powerlet") filled with [gunpowder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder "Gunpowder") (called "crickets"[\[80\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-92)), [Molotov cocktails](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov_cocktails "Molotov cocktails"), and [propane tanks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propane "Propane") converted to [bombs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propane_bomb "Propane bomb"). The propane bombs were used in the cafeteria, the shooters' cars, and in another location intended as a diversion. For ignition, they used storm matches, cannon fuses, and [model rocket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_rocket "Model rocket") igniters as well as [timing devices](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_bomb "Time bomb") built from mechanical alarm clocks for the propane bombs.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-93) During the massacre, they carried match strikers taped to their forearms for easy ignition of the pipe bombs and CO2 bombs. Harris also experimented with [napalm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napalm "Napalm"), and envisioned a kind of backpack and [flamethrower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamethrower "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.[\[82\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-94) #### Pipe bombs Harris's website contained instructions on making pipe bombs and Molotovs, and the extensive use of [shrapnel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fragmentation_(weaponry) "Fragmentation (weaponry)").[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-guard-34) Harris's father once discovered one of his pipe bombs.[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-95) Harris's journal logged the creation of 25 pipe bombs.[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-bombsum-91) Klebold scared his coworkers by once bringing a pipe bomb into work.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-Fatal-20) 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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta "Atlanta")", presumably after the [Olympic Park bombing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Olympic_Park_bombing "Centennial Olympic Park bombing").[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-bombsum-91)[\[84\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-96)[\[85\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-97) #### 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.[\[86\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-98) Harris was caught on a [Texaco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texaco "Texaco") gas station security camera at 9:12 a.m. buying a [Blue Rhino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Rhino "Blue Rhino") propane tank.[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-99) Both cafeteria bombs included a single 20-pound tank, attached pipe bombs, and supporting gasoline canisters alongside.[\[88\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-guidebomb-100) #### Car bombs Both car bombs were made from two 20-pound propane tanks, pipe bombs, and various containers filled with gasoline were spread throughout the vehicles.[\[88\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-guidebomb-100) Eight pipe bombs were placed in Klebold's car, and one in Harris'.[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-bombsum-91) ### Knives Harris and Klebold were both equipped with knives, but investigators do not believe they ever utilized them during the massacre. Harris had a [boot knife](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot_knife "Boot knife") on his belt and a "Khyber-pass" [machete](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machete "Machete") [bowie knife](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowie_knife "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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika "Swastika") on the sheath. Klebold had a "Cobra" knife mounted to his belt on the left side as well as a [switchblade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switchblade "Switchblade") in his right pocket.[\[89\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-101) ## 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,[\[90\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-102) 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 possibly any police officers, paramedics, firemen, or reporters who had come to the school.[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-ten-45)[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-103)[\[m\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-105) However, the bombs in the cafeteria and cars failed to detonate.[\[93\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-106) 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.[\[94\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-107) Other sources claim the top of the staircase where the massacre began was their preferred spot to wait for the bombs to go off all along.[\[95\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-108)[\[n\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#cite_note-109) A total of 188 rounds of ammunition were fired by the perpetrators during the massacre. Firing nearly twice as much as Klebold, Harris fired his carbine rifle a total of 96 times: 47 shots outside, 36 shots inside, and 13 shots in the library. Harris also discharged his shotgun 25 times: 21 times in the library and four times inside. He did not fire his shotgun outside the school. Klebold fired the TEC-9 handgun 55 times: three shots outside, 31 shots inside, and 21 shots in the library. Klebold also fired 12 rounds from his double-barreled shotgun: twice outside, four times inside, and six times in the library. Law enforcement officers fired 141 rounds during