U.S. school shootings over past twenty years
The recent incident at Chardon High School in Ohio is just one of many middle and high school shootings in our recent history. Most remember the Columbine killings in 1999 because of the number of lives lost and the media attention it garnered. Each is a tragedy for everyone involved including family, friends and the general public. A 2002 study by the Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education found that in 81% of cases, at least one friend was told of the shooter’s plans. Evidence indicates that most school shooters don’t just snap – they plan carefully and tell others either directly or in less subtle ways. What follows is a list of school incidents with three or more fatalities.
February 27, 2012: Chardon High School, Ohio Three killed and two injured T.J. Lane, age 18, sentenced in March, 2013 to three life sentences with no possibility of parole
October 2, 2006: Amish school in Pennsylvania Five killed and five injured Charles Carl Roberts committed suicide
March 21, 2005: Red Lake High School, Minnesota Nine killed and five injured Jeff Weise, age 16 committed suicide
April 20, 1999: Columbine High School, Colorado Thirteen killed and twenty-three injured Eric Harris, age 18 and Dylan Klebold, age 17 committed suicide
March 24, 1998: Westside Middle School, Arkansas Five killed and ten wounded Andrew Golden, age 11 and Mitchell Johnson, age 13 sentenced to prison until age 21
December 1, 1997: Heath High School, Kentucky Three killed and five wounded Michael Carneal, age 14 sentenced to life in prison
February 2, 1996: Frontier Junior High School, Washington Three killed, one wounded Barry Loukaitis, age 16 sentenced to life in prison
Columbine Memorial
