The Columbine High School Massacre: A New Victim 26 Years Later
DENVER — Nearly 26 years later, the Columbine High School massacre officially claimed another life.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, in a newly completed autopsy report, ruled last month’s death of Anne Marie Hochhalter, a 43-year-old paralyzed in the 1999 shooting, was a homicide.
The Autopsy Report
Hochhalter died of sepsis, with complications from paraplegia due to two gunshot wounds serving as a “significant contributing factor,” Dr. Dawn B. Holmes, a forensic pathologist in the coroner’s office, wrote in the 13-page report.
Holmes’ ruling that “the manner of death is best classified as homicide,” means the death toll from the April 20, 1999, school shooting has increased to 13 students and one teacher. The two killers took their own lives.
A Life of Resilience
Hochhalter, who died in her Westminster home on Feb. 16, was paralyzed after being shot in the back. She spent the rest of her life in a wheelchair with ongoing health issues. However, loved ones told The Denver Post after her death that despite her medical complications and grief, she never wanted to be portrayed as a victim.
Hochhalter lived a rich life surrounded by friends, loved ones and dogs. She advocated for the disability community and had an affinity for playing musical instruments.
Tributes and Reflections
“She was fiercely independent,” Sue Townsend, stepmother of 18-year-old Lauren Townsend, who died in the Columbine shooting, told The Post last month “She was a fighter. She’d get knocked down — she struggled a lot with health issues that stemmed from the shooting — but I’d watch her pull herself back up. She was her best advocate and an advocate for others who weren’t as strong in the disability community.”
The Victims of Columbine
The others killed at Columbine that day include Cassie Bernall, 17; Steve Curnow, 14; Corey DePooter, 17; Kelly Fleming, 16; Matt Kechter, 16; Daniel Mauser, 15; Daniel Rohrbough, 15; William “Dave” Sanders, 47; Rachel Scott, 17; Isaiah Shoels, 18; John Tomlin, 16; and Kyle Velasquez, 16.
Crime in The News
Related:Today in photo history – 1999: Mass shooting at Columbine High School
Related:Texas teens planned Columbine-style massacre at middle school, police say
Conclusion
The Columbine High School massacre was a tragic event that claimed the lives of 13 students and one teacher. The recent ruling of Anne Marie Hochhalter’s death as a homicide serves as a reminder of the ongoing impact of that day. As we reflect on the lives lost and the survivors who continue to heal, we must also recognize the importance of advocating for the disability community and supporting those affected by gun violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the cause of Anne Marie Hochhalter’s death?
A: Anne Marie Hochhalter died of sepsis, with complications from paraplegia due to two gunshot wounds serving as a “significant contributing factor.”
Q: How many people were killed in the Columbine High School massacre?
A: The death toll from the April 20, 1999, school shooting has increased to 13 students and one teacher, with the two killers also taking their own lives.
Q: What was Anne Marie Hochhalter’s life like after the shooting?
A: Despite being paralyzed and facing ongoing health issues, Anne Marie Hochhalter lived a rich life surrounded by friends, loved ones, and dogs. She advocated for the disability community and had an affinity for playing musical instruments.
