I believe, certainly in my state in Colorado, we know that of deaths by firearms, about three-fourths of those deaths are suicides. 58 comments. At this time, on the month of July, the family settled down in Littleton, Colorado, where they lived in a … There were 25 wounded, most in critical condition. Eric was born in Wichita, Kansas. Harris seamed like a regular boy growing up but a hard time fitting in at school, proved deadly. And I just remember this long day of me just sitting there, wondering what was going on and not quite understanding what was happening.". His father Wayne was a U.S. Air Force transport pilot who held eleven different positions in six bases at Ohio, Michigan, and New York. Today she's thinking about her son, who would be in his 30s now and wondering what would become of him "if he hadn't derailed the lives of so many people.". That's because Wayne & Kathy Harris, and Tom & Sue Klebold were vilified after the attack, and responded rationally: with brief written statements and then silence. And he did — over the next 14 months. Eric and Dylan's parents provoke the most debate at my events, yet unfortunately, this will be the shortest section on the site. Harris was required to attend anger management classes where, again, he made a favorable impression. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). 1/4. Comments are welcome while open. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold made several videotapes of themselves talking about their up-coming attack. (May 15, 2000). I think arming teachers raises more risks than it creates in safeguards. So all these things were occurring and I remember asking the diversion councillor 'This is so out of character for Dylan what could this mean? Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold students group 4 x 6 picture taken 2 weeks before the massacre in Photographs Following his retirement from military service in 1993, Wayne and his family moved to Littleton, Colorado from Plattsburgh, New York. They then killed themselves in the school library. "I have. The family moved from Plattsburgh, New York to Littleton, Colorado in July 1993, when Wayne Harris retired from military service. Sue said she believes Dylan was experiencing some bullying at school, and that being arrested with his friend Eric solidified their bond. Eric’s mother, was born Katherine Ann Poole, she was a stayed at home mom. Roughly 27 hours later he and Dylan Klebold would return armed with everything shown here. And then you become an advocate, someone who wants to make a change and it kind of crystallizes what you want to live for and fight for. His parents attended a Lutheran church with their children, and Dylan and his older brother, Byron, attended confirmation classes in accordance with Lutheran tradition. '", "Three days later, he was participating in a massacre. It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Students marking Columbine anniversary call for gun control in walkouts across U.S. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. "I can't say that I had any indication that I knew what he was going to do. Yes. The Harris family relocated often as Eric's father, Wayne Harris, was a U.S. Air Force transport pilot. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. We really didn't know. And I had no idea that he felt that way. They killed 12 … And I think that's sort of what has happened to me.". She shared some of her story with CBC News. Do you think some people blame you as Dylan's parent? We were perceiving that somehow this was a prank or a trick or something that had gone wrong. save. Read More About: BREAKING NEWS, SCANDALS, SPORTS. There are numerous pipe bombs on the floor, including three that Eric refers to as the "Charlie batch". We reserve the right to close comments at any time. Eric's older brother, Kevin, attended college at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Both the Klebold’s and the Harris’s were left to face the terrible consequences of their children’s horrible actions. "Of course. Posted by 1 day ago. Wayne & Kathy Harris’ son had initially showed sigs of a troubled teen. The papers also further document Eric’s now well-known preoccupation with Nazis, Charles Manson and Napalm. Eric Harris And Dylan Klebold Join Forces. Answer Save. ", "We've passed through these doorways of just feeling like a victim where you feel helpless and beaten by life and then you begin to feel like a survivor, like I still feel horrible but I'm going to make it, and I'm going to try to help other people going through this type of loss. "I don't like that idea. A 2006 article, talks about a notebook kept by Eric’s father, Wayne, detailing a parent’s involvement in his child’s downward spiral. By 12:08, Patti Nielson, who was hiding with a few … During this time, Eric met Dylan Klebold. What's happened to Dylan?' In 199… ", "Even in the days preceding the shootings he went to a prom, just a few days before the shootings. Wayne Harris was a U.S. Air Force transport pilot. In 1996, the Harris family purchased a house south of Columbine High School. on May 1, as a featured guest at the Canadian Mental Health Association's "Breakfast of Champions" at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts. She'll be in Windsor, Ont. Close. Eric David Harris (April 9, 1981 – April 20, 1999) and Dylan Bennet Klebold (September 11, 1981 – April 20, 1999) were American mass murderers who killed 13 people and wounded 24 others on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado. They injured 21 others, before taking their own lives. But it's been a very long time. And I was crying a lot and I just remember asking the police that were there over and over again 'Is my son alive? In May 1998, Harris typed a letter of apology to the owner of the van, saying he was sorry he did it. On this day in 1999, her son Dylan and his friend Eric Harris shot and killed 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. [citation needed] The Harris family lived in rented accommodations for the first three years that they lived in the Littleton area. I don't, but I will prove to you I'm fine and I'll get my life back on track.' Their oldest son, Kevin joined the Army following his college graduation. REPOST. It's too great a risk to arm a teacher — in my opinion, we are making schools less safe by arming teachers.". Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. ", "I didn't even know when he had died, I was hearing news reports that many people had been killed …. All are wrapped in duct tape. and finally someone turned to me and said, 'Yes he is.'". He told me, 'Thank you for sending me. No individual was struck. He had a couple incidents all at once, he scratched a locker at school, he and his friends hacked into the computer system at that school, because he was one of the computer technicians at the school, and he and his friend Eric were arrested for stealing something. while at the Army he received his Master’s degree in physical therapy. Dylan had applied to and been accepted at four colleges, and even selected a dorm room. United in their cynical view of the world, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold spent their time playing violent video games, dressing in black, and eventually, diving deeply into their mutual curiosity and affection for … Eric Harris is filming in his home with Dylan Klebold. What do you think? Once inside, they both engaged in another firefight with the police and rescue services in the parking lots below. And we talked with Dylan and she said 'Dylan, do you think you need counselling?' Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. During this time Eric met and befriended Dylan Klebold. The parents of Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold have often been portrayed as disengaged from the lives of their sons and unaware of the dark paths lying ahead. And I was very very upset I didn't know what it meant, the boys were put in a diversion program rather than going to jail — they had counselling, they had classes, they had to pay money to compensate their victim. 19 years on, these Columbine survivors are parents — and they're reaching out to the Parkland teens. Eric David Harris was born in Wichita, Kansas. Harris was born in Wichita, Kansas, on April 9, 1981. He was a little earlier than he usually gets up and I didn't know why. I was aware that there was something going on at the school, some kind of shooting — that people believed he was involved. And it was still dark. One is in the morning when Dylan left the house and said 'Goodbye.' And he said 'No. What, if any, indication did you have about what your son was going to do? After many years of trying to hide herself from the public eye, Sue has become an advocate for mental health and suicide prevention. Could this mean something?' He attended Boulder College in Colorado. I had the best time of my life. — -- On April 20, 1999, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris walked into Columbine High School, carrying weapons and homemade bombs, and began slaughtering their classmates. Sue said that she can relate to the feelings of guilt felt by other parents who have lost a child to suicide. This forced the Harris family to move around frequently before Wayne was forced to retire in 1993 due to cutbacks and he became a part-time caterer. Six months after the massacre at Columbine High, the world knows very little about how the parents of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold are coping. Very early on in my mind, I was in denial. How did you find out what your son had done? ", "The other memory that I have of that day, mostly, was the day itself. By 12:02 PM, both Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had reentered the library. 373. Wayne & Kathy Harris are also the parents of Eric’s older brother, Kevin. After the shooting in Parkland in Floria, President Trump suggested teachers should be armed. For the past 19 years, Sue Klebold, has tried and tried to make sense of what happened. Their teenage son, along with his classmate Dylan Klebold, killed 12 students and a teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, on April 20, 1999. We were very, very confused. He wrote about his plan in a diary. Wayne & Kathy Harris’ son is widely seen as the one plotting the whole nightmare, while Dylan Klebold is seen as the follower. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. What I have found to be helpful for me was my connection with other survivors of suicide loss, because in my mind, and yes I cannot imply at all that Dylan's death was [only] about suicide because he murdered people and I know that, but when i look into what he was experiencing and his state of mind … I feel that I am the mother of someone who died by suicide. In der Columbine High School töteten sie 13 … Later, Eric and Dylan had gotten into trouble with the law for breaking into a locked van and stealing computers. 2 mins ago. Dylan Bennet Klebold was born on September 11th, 1981 in Lakewood, Colorado, to Thomas and Susan Klebold (née Yassenoff). None of us could understand he had been there willfully, couldn't believe it because it didn't match his life.". On April 19th 1999 Eric Harris walks into Columbine High School, scans and uploads his massacre plans to the school server. Am 20. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. They injured 21 others, before taking their own lives. 1 Answer. He said the clincher was Eric's biggest whopper of a lie--his many versions of his feeling about the van break-in that got Eric and Dylan arrested on three felony counts. Dylan behaved very much like any other teenager that I had ever known. Eric is operating the camera. Eric  was often hassled by other students for his weird looks and odd behavior. Sue said there were never any guns in the home. Eric Harris, along with Dylan Klebold, shot and killed 13 people and injured 20 at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Paralyzed Columbine survivor to Dylan Klebold's mother: 'I have forgiven you' A survivor of the Columbine High School attack writes to the mother of … These have not been made public in full, but parts of them have been released. She said she applauds the movement that students from Parkland, Fla. have touched off, taking a stand for stricter gun control. However, he was writing in his journal at the same time: “Why shouldn’t we, the gods, have the right to break into a van that some ************ left in the middle of nowhere?!”. Harris und Klebold töteten acht Jungen, vier Mädchen, einen Lehrer und sich selbst. But he didn't feel like he fit in at Columbine High School in Colorado. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. I think he was feeling disgraced and belittled in some of the social interactions that occurred at the school.". They then killed themselves in the school library. Dylan Klebold was a child of upper-middle-class parents, considered gifted in grammar school. People who use guns like the FBI or police officers have tons and tons of training and impulse control. 8 mins ago. They injured 21 others before taking their own lives. He says they're 2 inches in diameter and 6 inches in length. Not only throughout that day but [it took] months and even years to put all this together. Parents. Sue Klebold wrote a book about her experience, A Mother's Reckoning; Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy. What is your most vivid memory of that day? Dylan Bennet Klebold was born in Lakewood, Colorado, to Thomas and Susan Klebold (née Yassenoff). Were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold heroes for standing up against bullying? The following are transcripts of the publicly available passages. I heard him get up early and walk quickly past my door. Wayne & Kathy Harris are the parents of infamous Columbine HS shooter, Eric Harris. We were asked to leave our home and I spent most of that day sitting on the ground outside, because we had no place to sit. I was a teacher for years, I taught in a community college, I was an educator I had a master's degree in education, I can't say that there was ever anything that Dylan did that worried me except in his junior year he got into some trouble for the first time in his life. Wayne & Kathy Harris’ son had various websites that hosted Doom and Quake files, as well as team information for those he gamed with online. In 1998 Eric Harris had a fall out with a fellow student. Nineteen years ago, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shot and killed 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. share. When the pair began experimenting with pipe bombs, they posted results of the explosions on the websites. The note, apparently written by Eric Harris the day before he and Dylan Klebold stormed Columbine High School, blames last week's rampage on parents, teachers and … In January 1998, they were charged with mischief, breaking and entering, trespassing, and theft. That is a memory that is very vivid and I will always carry that intense feeling. In the days after Dylan Klebold along with Eric Harris shot and killed 12 students and one teacher and then himself at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, his mother, Sue Klebold… I could not believe that my son was capable of hurting other people and Dylan's friends had the same experience.