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Dave Cullen: The Lessons Of Columbine
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Ten years ago Monday, news started trickling out of Colorado about a shooting at a high school called Columbine. It didn't take long for the news media to descend, and reporter Dave Cullen was one of the first journalists on the story.
Cullen would go on to spend another nine years delving deeper into the massacre than perhaps any other journalist. He presents his account of the tragedy — and examines some of the myths and mistakes surrounding the shootings — in his new book, Columbine.
The book walks readers through the events of that day, laying out Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold's murderous plan, which left 15 people dead (including the killers) and 23 injured.
Cullen says early reports that the shootings were a reaction to bullying and that the boys were part of a "trench coat mafia" proved to be more of a distraction than an explanation for the killings. In the end, Cullen believes the explanation for the tragedy lies in Harris and Klebold's very different personalities.
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"Eric looks like a killer from the start. He [was] a cruel kid. He [wanted] to kill people," says Cullen. "Dylan was completely the opposite. ... For two years, he wrote about comitting suicide, but I think he lacked the nerve to even commit suicide by himself. He needed somebody there with him."
Cullen says a lot of lessons were learned from Columbine that have changed the way such shootings are handled. But he believes the biggest lesson is to take all such threats seriously, so that plans like the one Harris and Klebold hatched can be uncovered before they are acted on.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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