WESTMINSTER, Colo. – The Jefferson County Coroner's Office has confirmed that the death of Anne Marie Hochhalter, a survivor of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, has been classified as a homicide. Hochhalter, 43, was found dead in her apartment in Westminster, Colorado, on February 16, 2025.
According to the autopsy report released on March 12, Hochhalter died from sepsis, a life-threatening infection, which was linked to complications arising from the gunshot wounds she sustained during the Columbine shooting more than two decades ago.
Columbine shooting survivor Anne Marie Hochhalter dies after years in wheelchair
Hochhalter was one of the many victims of the Columbine High School shooting that occurred on April 20, 1999. She was shot in the chest and spine, which left her paralyzed for the rest of her life. Despite these traumatic injuries, Hochhalter became an advocate for victims of mass violence and used her voice to speak out about the long-lasting effects of such tragedies.
The homicide classification of her death is due to the long-term impact of her injuries, which ultimately led to sepsis and her passing. The autopsy report states that her paralysis and the related complications played a major role in her untimely death.
After the Columbine attack, Hochhalter spent 25 years in a wheelchair, facing both physical and emotional challenges. Despite her injuries, she was known for her remarkable resilience and positive outlook. Over the years, Hochhalter became close friends with Rick Townsend, whose daughter Lauren was one of the victims killed in the shooting. The two shared a bond forged through their shared trauma.
Rick Townsend spoke to CBS Colorado after Hochhalter’s death, saying, “She was never bitter, or angry because of her injuries. She never let what happened to her define her life.”
Hochhalter’s advocacy work focused on helping others affected by mass violence. Her ability to push forward with such purpose, despite the odds, made her a symbol of hope and courage.
To date, the Columbine shooting remains one of the most devastating school shootings in U.S. history, having claimed the lives of 12 students and one teacher. The two teenage gunmen who perpetrated the attack took their own lives, leaving behind a legacy of pain and loss that continues to affect the survivors.
Hochhalter’s death, tied to the Columbine tragedy, adds another chapter to the enduring legacy of that horrific day. While the shooting itself ended in 1999, its effects continue to ripple through the lives of survivors and their families, as evidenced by Hochhalter's passing.
Anne Marie Hochhalter’s life and death remind us of the profound impact of mass violence. Her strength in the face of adversity and her dedication to helping others make her story one of both tragedy and triumph.
The Columbine High School shooting will never be forgotten, and neither will the survivors like Anne Marie Hochhalter, whose courage continues to inspire.
The Columbine High School Shooting: A Pivotal Moment in the Gun Control Debate
On April 20, 1999, the world witnessed one of the most devastating and shocking school shootings in U.S. history at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. This tragic event, in which two teenagers, Eric Harris (18) and Dylan Klebold (17), killed 13 people and injured over 20 others, is often seen as a turning point in the conversation around gun control and school safety in America.
On the morning of April 20, Harris and Klebold arrived at Columbine High School in separate cars and began their attack at approximately 11:19 a.m. After gunning down several students outside the school, they moved inside and continued their rampage, killing 12 students and 1 teacher, while injuring more than 20 others.
By 12 p.m., both shooters turned their guns on themselves, ending the shooting spree. Investigators later revealed that Harris and Klebold had originally planned to detonate two propane bombs in the school cafeteria. The bombs, however, failed to go off, and the two shooters resorted to a shooting spree instead.
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, murdered thirteen students and one teacher; ten were killed in the school library, where Harris and Klebold subsequently died by suicide.
This horrifying attack remains one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history and has since become a tragic symbol of the ongoing issue of gun violence in the country.
The Columbine shooting took the lives of 13 individuals, including 12 students and 1 teacher. Some of the victims included:
In the aftermath of the shooting, media outlets reported a now-infamous moment: Cassie Bernall, when asked by one of the shooters if she believed in God, allegedly said "Yes" before being shot. Though initially reported as a martyrdom, it was later revealed that the question was posed to another student, not Bernall. This incident nonetheless became symbolic of the attack's impact on public consciousness.
Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. School Shooting Victims.
The Columbine shooting prompted an intense investigation into the motivations of Harris and Klebold. Initially, there was speculation that the teens targeted athletes, minorities, and Christians. Some also pointed to their affiliation with a social group called the Trenchcoat Mafia, which was linked to Goth culture. However, investigators later found that their motives were more complex and did not necessarily fit into these labels.
Through journals and personal writings left behind by the shooters, authorities learned that the pair had planned their attack for over a year, with the goal of causing mass casualties in a manner similar to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Despite media narratives about bullying or violent video games influencing the shooters, there was no clear-cut explanation for their actions.
Journalist Dave Cullen, in his 2009 book Columbine, described Harris as the "callously brutal mastermind" of the attack, and Klebold as a more emotionally troubled figure, obsessed with love and despair. Their journals shed light on the planning that went into this horrifying act of violence.
Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, United States
The Columbine shooting was a pivotal moment in the gun control debate. In the years following the attack, questions surrounding gun access, background checks, and school safety became central to public discourse. While some blamed the violent nature of video games and media for influencing the shooters, others pointed to the easy access to firearms as a critical factor in the tragedy.
The shooters acquired their weapons legally, raising significant concerns about the need for stricter gun control laws. Mark Manes, the man who sold Harris a gun and ammunition, was sentenced to six years in prison, but the broader issue of gun regulation remained unresolved.
The tragedy prompted several reforms in the U.S., such as zero-tolerance policies for weapons in schools and increased attention on the Second Amendment. However, these measures have not been enough to prevent the continued rise in school shootings and gun violence across the nation.
Sadly, the Columbine shooting was not an isolated event. The Virginia Tech shooting (2007), Sandy Hook Elementary (2012), Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (2018), and Uvalde, Texas (2022) are just a few examples of the countless school shootings that followed. Despite widespread public outcry and calls for gun control, the U.S. continues to grapple with gun violence at epidemic levels.
Each year, approximately 45,000 people die from gun-related injuries in the United States. The tragic loss of life and the emotional toll on affected communities has only intensified the national conversation about gun control.
While Columbine was a defining moment for those who lived through it, its legacy has far-reaching consequences. Gun control advocates continue to call for stronger laws to prevent future tragedies, pushing for changes such as:
