It is now known that fifteen people were killed when two teenagers ran amok with guns and bombs at a high school in Denver, Colorado. More than twenty people were taken to hospital, most with gunshot wounds. The two teenagers killed themselves. Four people who police say were friends of the gunmen were taken in for questioning. The killings took place at Columbine High School in Littleton shortly before midday local time yesterday.
A police follow-up search of the high school building has been hampered by the discovery of about a dozen bombs, which were left by the attackers, who the local sheriff said were on "on a suicide mission." Police have not named the killers, but classmates and the Denver media have identified the pair as Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Other pupils at the school said that the two belonged to a gang who called themselves the "Trench Coat Mafia" who wore long black coats, boasted of owning guns, and had racist tendencies.
Reacting to the killings President Clinton said that he was shocked and saddened. He said that he deplored the killings and that the federal government would provide any assistance needed to deal with the tragedy. He also said that perhaps now America would wake up to the challenge facing young people in the nation's schools.
It is the worst massacre of its kind in the history of the US. The previous worst school shooting in the United States was in March of last year in Jonesboro, Arkansas, when two boys, aged 11 and 13, shot and killed a teacher and four girls. It was one of a series of similar incidents over the past two years in which 14 people died and more than 40 were wounded.
