Cassie Bernall
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Cassie Bernall (November 6, 1981 – April 20, 1999) was a student killed in the Columbine High School massacre.
Initial reports suggested that one of the assailants, either Eric Harris or Dylan Klebold, asked Bernall if she believed in God moments before fatally shooting her. She was reported to have answered "yes". Some reports even went so far as to say that another student had just been killed for answering "Yes" to that same question. This story led to Bernall being hailed as a martyr by some Christians, and inspired Michael W. Smith to pen the song, "This Is Your Time". In 2005, the band Flyleaf released an album with the song "Cassie" which is also based upon the alleged events.
In the months following Cassie's death, her mother, Misty Bernall, authored the book She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall (ISBN 0-7434-0052-6) which discusses Cassie's teenage life and spirituality.
The official investigation into the shootings concluded that Cassie did not have the exchange.[1] Witness Craig Scott, brother of Rachel Scott, a girl who was also killed in the massacre, had originally reported that he heard Cassie's voice. When investigators took him back to the scene he indicated that the voice had not come from the area where Bernall had been located. Emily Wyant, who had been sitting with Bernall in the library as the shootings began, confirmed that the exchange did not take place. The official investigation attributed the statement to survivor Valeen Schnurr.[2] Wyant says that she and Bernall were studying together when the gunmen broke in. She says that Cassie prayed, "Dear God. Dear God. Why is this happening? I just want to go home." Suddenly, according to Wyant, Eric Harris slammed his hand onto the table and yelled "Peekaboo!" before fatally shooting Cassie.
Reports alleging that Cassie said "yes" persist.[3]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Cullen, Dave. "Inside the Columbine High investigation", Salon.com, 1999-09-23. Retrieved on 2006-06-18.
- ^ Gray, Alice, Graber, Janna L. (1999). Stories for a Teen's Heart. Multnomah. 1576736466. Retrieved on 2006-06-18.
- ^ Zobra, Wendy Murray. "Cassie Said Yes, They Said No", Christianity Today, 1999-11-01. Retrieved on 2006-06-18.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- cassierenbernall.org, a website established by Bernall's family.
- cassiebernall.com, official website for She Said Yes.
- SheSaidYes.pdf, PDF text of She Said Yes at the Plough Publishing House website.
- Who said "Yes"?, Salon.com.
- "I Smell the Presence of Satan", Salon.com.
- A mother's story, Anglican Journal.
- Biggest question of all, Rocky Mountain News.
