Columbine-like
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Columbine-like was a phrase coined shortly after the Columbine High School massacre, after several teenagers were arrested for a school massacre plot directly resembling, and inspired by, that of the shooting at Columbine High. The word gained more common usage as more of these plots were foiled over the next few years after Columbine.
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[edit] Columbine
On April 20, two teenagers named Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold planted bombs in their cars and cafeteria. Though just simple propane bombs, those in the cafeteria were capable of killing the majority of students and teachers in the area, and cause the library above it to fall onto the cafeteria, causing further deaths.
From what is known from their diaries and video tapes, the two youths intended to kill over 500 students in the cafeteria and then rampage through the school, shooting survivors, before eventually committing suicide. Bombs in the cars were intended to blow up survivors and emergency services in the parking lot after their rampage. Despite such detailed planning, none of these bombs went off.
After their bombs failed to detonate, they armed themselves with their weapons;
- Two shotguns, one pump actionand one double barreled, both 12 gauge.
- A 9mm Hi-Point 995 Carbine
- A semi-automatic 9mm IntratecTEC-DC9 AB10 handgun
- More than 50 home-made explosive devices, such as pipe bombs
They then rampaged through various parts of the school, especially the library, before committing suicide. They left 14 students, including themselves, and 1 teacher dead, and more than 20 injured. The shooting shocked the world more than any other act of school violence; the planning, the large arsenal of weapons and explosives, and the joint suicide at the end of the shooting.
[edit] Columbine inspiration
The Columbine Massacre attracted huge media attention, and many students who were angry, bullied, or wanting to become known began plotting their own attacks on their schools. Most were prevented or foiled. Up to this day, students continue to plot attacks, almost all of which are stopped.
Additionally, almost all other notable school shooters after 1999 would have files on their computer or would reference Columbine. Examples of this include:
- Jeff Weise - Killed 9 people on Red Lake reservation and then himself in the Red Lake High School massacre would reference Columbine over the internet. He had a username which translated to "Abandoned 420"
- Robert Steinhäuser - Killed 16 people at his German high school in the Erfurt massacre. He had files on his computer which contained information about the Columbine Massacre.
- Charles Andrew Williams - Killed 2 and wounded 13 with a .22 revolver at Santana High School in Santee, California. Told friends he was going to "pull a Columbine".
[edit] Notable Copycat Incidents
- Erfurt massacre - Steinhäuser killed 13 teachers, 2 students, and even a police officer, before committing suicide, and therefore bringing the death toll to 17.
- Red Lake High School massacre - Jeff Weise's spree left his grandfather and grandfather's partner dead (both of whom were police officers), a security guard, five students, one teacher and finally himself, thus bringing the death toll to 10.
[edit] Movies directly inspired by Columbine
Columbine also captured the eye of several film makers, and although movies about school violence had been made several times before, it was after Columbine that films would focus solely on such shootings, and would portray the shootings in several different ways, spanning several genres, from arthouse to black comedy. The most common, however is Drama.
Note: Despite it's title being a direct reference to Columbine, Bowling for Columbine is actually a film about America's so-called culture of violence, such as the easy availability of firearms throughout the country.
[edit] Movies indirectly inspired by Columbine
Columbine also helped to remind the public of school shootings in general, which had been occurring for decades before Columbine. Most movies about school shootings were made after Columbine, such as:
- Heart of America -Focuses on the final day of school, which includes many subplots.
- Home Room - Focuses on the aftermath of a shooting which leaves 9 dead and several injured. Main plot revolves around that of two students, one who was injured and the other is a suspect of involvement.
- Pretty Persuasion - Focuses on a manipulative student, who can persuade people to agree with or help her, often using tactics such as seduction. Thus the title, Pretty Persuasion.
Note: Countless television series also used Columbine in their storylines. This was most commonly used by teenage drama and police genres.
[edit] External links
- Trenchcoat Chronicles - Constant updates on latest school shooting plots.
