This paper will explore the events that lead up to the fatal shootings, committed by high school students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. To find out why these boys committed these horrific crimes, we need to examine not only the events of April 20, 1999, we also need to examine the events which lead up to this fatal day. .
In this research essay I will examine the many influences and environmental forces that may have contributed to the planning and execution of this mass murder and suicide. We will look at where and why Eric and Dylan's friendship began. We will also examine the various theories reported by the media as to why Eric and Dylan, individually, would kill 13 people and wound over twenty others. Individuals have many different theories as to why the boys committed this crime: Was it revenge, suicide, fame, anger, or maybe depression? .
Also, I would like to examine these events from the killers" point of view instead of the victims. It seems to me that everyone wants to believe the boys were just sick and twisted. I believe differently. I will be arguing in this essay that Eric and Dylan were not just hateful people from the beginning. The torment and bullying that these teenagers went through is more than most people could handle and, in the end, Eric and Dylan got what they wanted, they made a statement.
Eric Harris was born in Kansas. According to an article called Fatal Friendship, Eric Harris" father was in the military and Eric's family was constantly moving until his father retired and moved them to Littleton, Colorado. Eric was always looked at as cute and smart. Eric's parents always made him and his brother work hard in school and do all of their homework.
Dylan Klebold seemed to have a wonderful childhood. All the kids loved his parents, Tom and Sue. All in all, Dylan seemed to grow up much more normally than Eric, which is probably why everyone labels Dylan as only a follower of Eric.