For more than a quarter of a century, the number of deaths in the mass shooting of Columbine High School, a statistical element associated with the violence of violence by the weapon in the United States, was at 13 victims.
But another name has now been added to the list: Anne Marie Hochhalter, who was a student at that time and paralyzed from the middle as a result of the shooting. Her death on February 16 has been formally classified by a forensic examination in Colorado as a homicide, bringing the number of victims to 14.
In a 13 -page autopsy report, Dr. Dawn B. Holmes, a forensic doctor at the Office of the Coufferson County Court, linked Ms Hochhalter’s death to injuries suffered as a 17 -year -old high school.
“The complications of paraplegia due to two (2) shooting wounds are an important factor that contributes,” writes Dr. Holmes.
The report, which was acquired on Thursday by the New York Times, said Ms Hochhalter had died of septicemia, extreme immune response to an infection.
Twelve students and a teacher were killed when two highly armed students opened a fire at school at Littleton, Colo, on April 20, 1999, before taking their lives. At that time, it was the most deadly school shooting in US history. He also left 21 other injured.
Ms Hochhalter ate lunch with friends when the shot broke out. Was hit twice, on the chest and back. Despite the appearance of a life of medical challenges as a result of her injuries and the use of a wheelchair, Ms Hochhalter maintained her independence and often talked about the violence of firearms.
Nathan’s brother, who was a freshman at Columbine at the time of taking, but was not injured, said on Thursday that it made no sense to include his sister among other people who were killed that day.
“It took an extra 26 years,” said Hochhalter. “It was very independent but it wasn’t easy 26 years.”
Mr Hochhalter, 40, said that his sister had considered himself a survivor instead of a victim: he was able to drive, go to the store and attend school and lived alone for several years.
Officers discovered Ms Hochhalter’s body at her home at Westminster, Colo, on February 16 during well -being.
Sue Townsend, who took place near Mrs Hochhalter after her daughter, Lauren Townsend, was killed in shooting, she told the Times last month that Mrs Hochhalter had been involved with prolonged results from her injuries, including a pressure and infection.
Over the years, the trauma has occurred at a multitude of levels for Ms Hochhalter and her brother.
Six months after taking, their mother, Carla June Hochhalter, entered a pawnshop, asked to see a weapon, load it and kill herself. Elder Mrs Hochhalter, 48, struggled with depression and other mental health issues before taking Columbine, her daughter later said.
In 2016, when Sue Klebold, the mother of one of Columbine’s shooters, released a memoir, “The Mother’s Back”, Ms Hochhalter wrote a note addressed to Ms Klebold on Facebook saying she had no bad will.
“As I wouldn’t want to judge by the sins of my family members, I keep you in the same opinion,” Mrs Hochhalter wrote. “It was a rough road to me, with many medical issues due to the injury to my spinal cord and the intense nerve pain, but I choose not to be bitter to you. A good friend once said to me,” bitterness is like swallowing a poison pill and waiting for you.
Michael Levenson They contributed reports.
