One of the first reasons involved the "Trench Coat Mafia", many believed this group of teenagers promoted lashing out against others that ostracized them because of their different social habits. Another variable in the motivation is believed to be the groups support of Neo Nazi beliefs by wearing Nazi crosses, they often re-enacted WWII battles and the shooting was believed to be scheduled on Adolf Hitler's Birthday.( Robinson, B.A) There is another reason that is closely related to the Neo-Nazism which is the Satanism and Witchcraft that they practiced. Satanism promotes retaliation against those that strike at you whether it be physically or emotionally. Witchcraft while by nature is not always a violent practice, when misinterpreted and used with violence and anger in mind it can be a very dangerous thing. Whether or not it is real is irrelevant, it made the participants feel powerful and very likely to strike out at others.( Robinson, B.A).
The two also gave hints that precluded the events that were ignored by those that could have done something about it. "The first hint came a year before the shooting when Eric Harris told his probation officer that he suffered from both homicidal and suicidal thoughts."( Did Columbine Killer ) Eric told his counselor "he has problems with anxiety and allows his anger to build up until it explodes, punches walls, and has thoughts about suicide."( Did Columbine Killer ). Other reasons include Randy and Judy Brown filing a report with the Jefferson County Sheriffs office in March 1998 alleging Harris had threatened to kill there son, Brooks, and had written of pipe bombs and mass murder on the internet. The report was investigated but no action was taken. The authorities had tips such as to the gunmen bragging about their collection of pipe bombs and that they were looking for a "ground zero." Also Deputy John Harris was given information in 1997 about a website that included the boasting and the ground zero reference.