Columbine- Section 2 Reflection (Ch. 16–26)

As I continue to read into the second section of Columbine, it devastates me. Most of this section deals with details behind each child/staff member who perished in this shooting. It is very sad to me for the book to especially bring to attention the reaction of loved ones as they hear the news that their child/spouse has passed away. Some were left unaware for days whether or not their child had died. Sadly, most had assumed when they didn’t come home that their lifeless bodies remained in the school building.

Much of the communities gathered in churches at night to pray, or just talk to one another for support. “Light of the World seats eight hundred and fifty and every pew was packed, with hundreds more students and parents standing against the walls.” People looked to the churches to help get them through this tough time. Especially the loved ones of the victims. When the bodies were finally turned over to loved ones, they held services according to their desires. Students and staff were also brought into the school to help re-enact the attack for the investigators in great detail.

The story reveals that this all didn’t start with a murder plot. The young Eric and Dylan exhibited signs of a life of crime, Eric especially. He kept a journal in which he wrote all of his thoughts, even the darkest ones. Once he even mentioned how he dreamt he was the only living human on earth. No one expected this of him though, because he only showed most people the friendly and charming side of him. Dylan was a very intelligent boy, even taking part in a High Intellectual program for students. Dylan was very sensitive when it came to anger. “He would be docile for days or months, then the pain would boil over and some minor transgression would humiliate him.” He met Eric, and the two boys shared the same hobbies and interest. They also had a third close friend, Zach, but somewhere he got lost in the friendship.

One story of a victim that stood out to me was Dave Sanders’. He was injured but managed to make it safely into a secure room, and waited for the arrival of medical attention. Only that help did not arrive. Dave ended up bleeding to death from his injuries because no one in the room knew how to treat him to keep him alive, and medical help arrived after he was already dead. It leaves me to wonder if he would’ve survived, had medical attention come immediately and treated his injuries. The family of Dave Sanders believes he would’ve lived and were very angry that the situation was not handled the way they thought it should have been. Overall, the book still continues to build, drawing me into the story. I’m excited to continue reading.