It was 25 years ago on April 20 when two heavily armed students walked into Columbine High School and opened fire, sending shockwaves across the country. The tragic events of that day became a watershed moment that would eventually lead to an epidemic of violence.
The 1999 massacre in Littleton, CO resulted in 15 deaths, including the shooters. Today, many Americans still equate the word Columbine with terror while authorities remember the day as a sad and frightening turning point.
“Suddenly, we saw these innocent people being, you know, shot down for no reason,” said Suzanne Sibole, a school safety specialist and threat assessment expert with Youth Risk Prevention Specialists. “Probably the most critical thing and the most important thing it did was show us there are signs if we can learn them, we can intervene sooner.”
Sibole says springtime especially requires extra vigilance in identifying possible warning signs. She notes that in addition to Columbine, this season coincides with the anniversaries of more than 50 such shootings over the past two decades.
“So, I think that was another shock – it was like a new awareness that this can happen,” Sibole said.
Craig Scott survived that day in the school’s
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