Columbine revisited: 24 short years ago. Somehow I feel I know the characters personally. The pretty sophomore girl that was determined to follow her Jesus. She would have been 40 years old now. The senior mastermind that made the plans, the junior boy that, “Went along for the ride.”
One of the contributing factors was the lack of discipline at Columbine. Students routinely throwing things, pushing, and constant taunting. When they were apprehended nothing was done. Eric and Dylan had begun wearing black trench coats. Dylan’s mom was unaware of this, and had no idea of where he got it.
A group of freshmen boys were taunting Dylan and Eric. There were several incidents but one took precedence. Dylan had his first car, which he cherrished. His dad had helped him restore an older car until it was prestine. One day someone stood on his car in the parking lot, denting both the hood and top.
Rachel Scott had been hanging with three girls that proved to be devil worshipers. Her parents were shocked one day, when her mother inadvertently, looking for something, came across elaborate plans to kill their parents. They went immediately to the police, and her mother quit her job so that she could keep an eye on her daughter.
They took her out of her school, so that she would not have contact with these girls, and put her in Columbine. They also moved close to Columbine. Rachel was only allowed to go to school and home. They asked the church youth director, to find some Christian girls that would befriend her, and the only place she could go was to the Wednesday night youth service.
Through this contact she became a Christian, and completely changed her life. She now was determined to live for Jesus, and tell others about Him. She was friends with Dylan and Eric and had spoken to them just days before she was killed.
Dylan and Eric had shown a video as a class project. The video was about killing Christians. Rachel had talked to them and told them that she did not approve of the video.
Dillon’s parents didn’t realize anything was wrong. His mother worked for the school district, consulting with incorrigible students. The day of the shooting, Dylan left the house and told his mother, “See ya.”
Rachel was the first person killed. She was sitting in the schoolyard, when they came across her. They asked her if she was a Christian and she said, “You know I am!” They shot her on the spot. What the media and FBI forgot to tell you was they were targeting Christians.
Cassie Russell, had the same experience. She had been a Satan worshiper, and devoted to Charles Manson music. Now she was an outspoken Christian. Eight of the 12 students killed had declared Jesus openly.
Dylan’s parents had to flee their home that night, and move in with a family living in the mountains. His mother has written several books seeking answers, but there are few answers coming, except what is really obvious. The problem is a spiritual problem.
Rachel had parked her car in the parking lot, and it was never entered again. Their cars were left on the old tennis court as a shrine and are there to this day. Students still leave flowers and have not forgotten.
Rachel kept an extensive journal including pictures and stories. She seemed to have a premonition that she was going to be a martyr. The morning she died she had drawn a picture she entitled, “13 Tears.” It was a picture of an eye out of which flowed 13 tears that dropped on a rose. Out of the rose fell 13 drops of blood.
There were 12 students and one teacher killed that day. The evil seems overwhelming. Mankind is capable of so much evil, and of so much good. As a Christian we believe the good will overcome evil, but it seems a terrible price. These boys could have been helped.
Psalms 103:3 Who redeems your life from the pits, and the crowns you with love and compassion.
—James Neuhouser
Editor’s Note: As this is a very tragic story of bravery and sacrifice to God and Christianity, the validity of this specific story is still uncertain. There were several accounts of students proclaiming belief in God as Harris and Klebold terrorized a building full of children and educators. Several students were said to have stood up to the shooters and became martyrs — Rachel Scott, Cassie Bernall and Schnurr — were specifically named by students after the massacre.
