Columbine High School massacre, School shooting in Littleton, Colorado, United States
The Columbine High School massacre was a school shooting that took place at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Two students opened fire on their classmates and teachers, killing 13 people before turning their weapons on themselves.
The shooting happened on April 20, 1999, and shocked the country at a scale that had not been seen before in a school setting. It prompted a national rethinking of how schools handle safety, and its effects on American policy lasted for years.
The name Columbine is now closely linked to the broader conversation about safety in schools across the country. Memorials and remembrance events held near the school each year draw people who want to honor the victims and reflect on what happened.
Columbine High School is still an active school and is not open to the public. A nearby memorial park is accessible to visitors who wish to pay their respects.
The school was not demolished after the shooting but was renovated and reopened, partly to give the community a sense of continuity. The library, where most of the deaths occurred, was completely rebuilt and converted into an atrium.
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