Columbine: Background, Planning & Preparation

This is part two of a three part series examining the attack at Columbine and its impact on law enforcement response. Pt. 1 discussed the response protocol changes. Pt. 2 will examine how the perpetrators planned and prepared.

Joshua Borelli

Aug. 16, 2016

2 min read

This widely published photo from the school's security camera caught Harris and Klebold in the school's cafeteria in the midst of their attack.

Background, Planning & Preparation:

On April 20th, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold entered Columbine High School and went on to commit what would become the deadliest school shooting in American history until the Virginia Tech Shooting in 2007. Harris and Klebold had both been problem students before the shooting. In 1996 Harris created a website on AOL to host gaming levels he and Klebold had created, but by the end of the year the website contained instructions on how to make explosives and contained blogs in which Harris talked about his growing anger against society.

In January of 1998 Harris and Klebold were both arrested for stealing tools and equipment from a van. They later pleaded guilty to the felony theft and were sentenced to attend a juvenile diversion program. Both Harris and Klebold attended mandatory classes and talked with diversion officers. One of the classes they were mandated to attend was an anger management class. During this time Harris also began to see a psychologist for therapy sessions. Klebold also had a history of drinking and failed a urine test but neither he nor Harris were mandated to attend a substance abuse class. Harris and Klebold were released from the program after a couple of weeks because of the positive actions they had been performing during the program.

- - - - - - - - - -

The remainder of this article is part of the book "Active Killers and the Crimes They Perpetrated," available in print or ebook via Amazon.

About the Author

Joshua Borelli

Joshua Borelli has been studying active shooter and mass attack events over the course of the past several years, commensurate with receiving training on response and recovery to natural disasters and civil disturbances. Joshua started to outline this series of articles in an attempt to identify commonalities and logistical needs patterns for response.