For more than a quarter of a century, the death toll in the mass shooting at Columbine High School, a statistics intertwined with US gun violence, has stood at 13 casualties.
However, another name has been added to the list. Anne Marie Hochhalter was a student at the time and was paralyzed from her waist as a result of the shooting. Her death on February 16 was officially classified as murder by the Colorado coroner, bringing the number of casualties to 14.
In the 13-page autopsy report, Dr. Dawn B. Holmes, a forensic pathologist with the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, linked Hochhalter's death to an injury he suffered as a 17-year-old high school middle school student.
“The paraplegia complications caused by two gunshot wounds are important contributors,” wrote Dr. Holmes.
The report, obtained Thursday by the New York Times, said Hochhalter had died of sepsis, an extreme immune response to the infection.
On April 20, 1999, 12 students and teachers were killed after two heavily armed students fired fire at a school in Littleton, Colorado, taking their own lives. At the time, it was the deadliest school shooting in American history. Also, 21 other people were injured.
Hochhalter was having lunch with his friends when the shooting erupted. She was hit twice on her chest and back. Despite experiencing lifelong medical challenges as a result of her injuries and having to use a wheelchair, Hochhalter maintained her independence and spoke frequently about gun violence.
Her brother, Nathan, who was a Columbine freshman at the time of the shooting but was not injured, said Thursday it didn't make sense to include her sister among the others killed that day.
“She won the extra 26 years,” Hochhalter said. “She was very independent, but 26 years wasn't easy.”
Hochhalter, 40, said his sister considered herself a survivor in place of the victim.
Officers discovered Hochhalter's body while conducting welfare checks on February 16th at their home in Westminster, Colorado.
Sue Townsend has been close to Hochhalter after her stepdaughter, Lauren Townsend, was killed in a shooting, but last month Hochhalter said she was dealing with prolonged effects from injuries, including pressure pain and infection.
Over the years, trauma has manifested on numerous levels for Hochhalter and her brother.
Six months after the shooting, her mother, Carla June Hochhalter, stepped into a pawnshop, asked her to look at the gun, loaded it and killed her herself. Elder Hochhalter, 48, suffered from depression and other mental health issues before the Columbine shooting, her daughter said.
In 2016, when Sue Klebold, the mother of one of the Columbine shooters, released her memoir, “The Maternal Morning,” Hochhalter wrote a note on Facebook to Klebold, saying she had no bad intentions.
“I hold you in the same way as I don't want to be judged by the sin of my family,” writes Hochhalter. “It's been a tough road for me, with many medical issues due to spinal cord injuries and severe nerve pain, but I choose not to bitter to you. A good friend told me, “Bitter taste is like swallowing poison and hoping that others will die.” It only harms itself. I have forgiven you and I wish you the best. ”
Michael Levenson Reports of contributions.
