Commemerated to those who died valliantly at Columbine High School


Cassie Bernall became a born-again Christian two years ago and was active in church youth programs and Bible study groups. Bernall recently visited Great Britain. Her favorite movie was said to be Mel Gibson’s “Braveheart.”

Corey DePooter, 17, was a good student who loved to golf, hunt and fish. A former wrestler, he recently took a maintenance job at a golf club to save up for a fishing boat with a friend. DePooter hid under a library table with friends as the gunmen sprayed bullets at floor level. I will miss you Corey, you are a great guy, thanks for the golf tips!

Kelly Fleming, 16, was an aspiring songwriter and author who wrote scores of poems and short stories based on her life experiences. She was learning to play the guitar. Fleming moved from Phoenix 18 months ago and was eager to get her driver’s license and a part-time job. She was shot in the library.

Matthew Ketcher, 16, was a junior who had hoped to start for the football team. Ketcher lifted weights and played on offensive and defensive lines. He maintained an A average in school. Ketcher was shot in the library after he tried to reach friends hiding in an adjacent video room.

Daniel Mauser, 15, was a sophomore who excelled in math and science, and earned straight A’s on his last report card. Mauser ran cross country and joined the debate team. He liked to ski, camp and recently returned from a two-week trip to Paris with the French club. Mauser was hoping to get his driver’s license next year.

William “Dave” Sanders, 47, was a computer and business teacher for 24 years. Sanders coached girls’ basketball and softball; his basketball team posted a winning record in his first year, 1997-98, after finishing next-to-last the year before. He was married with two daughters and five grandchildren. Sanders was shot twice in the chest in a burst of gunfire while leading two-dozen students down a hallway to safety. He survived at least three hours, until students were rescued. Students said as Sanders lay dying, he asked them to tell please tell his children that “he loved them.”

Rachel Scott, 17, played the lead in a student-written school play, “Smoke in the Room.” Active in the Celebration Christian Fellowship church, she also liked photography and was hoping to work as a missionary in Africa. Scott earned good grades while working at a Subway sandwich shop to pay off the car she had borrowed from her parents. During the shooting rampage, her younger brother Craig, 16, played dead in the library and helped lead others to safety. You are the sweetest girl Rachel, I will miss you very much, never forget Armageddon!

Isaiah Shoels, 18, was due to graduate in May. He suffered health problems as a child and had heart surgery twice. Shoels wanted to attend an arts college and become a music executive. He was small in stature, but played football, wrestled and could bench-press twice his weight. Shoels transferred from Lakewood High School. He was shot in the head execution-style in the school library specifically because of his race and athletic interests, witnesses said.

John Tomlin, 16, enjoyed driving off-road in his Chevy pickup. He worked after school in a gardening store and belonged to a church youth group. Last year, Tomlin went on a missionary trip to Mexico with his family and helped build a house for low-income people. He planned to enlist in the Army in two years. We never did get to go camping John, I am mad at you for that! I miss you!

Lauren Townsend, 18, was captain of the girls’ varsity basketball team, which was coached by her mother. Fellow players said she was “consumed” by the sport. Townsend was a member of the National Honor Society and wanted to major in biology in college. You were so awsome at basketball it made me jealous, you are the sweetest girl, i know you will always be that way too!

Others Noted:

Steven Cunrow
Daniel Rohrbough
Kyle Velasquez