Cassie Bernall, The Columbine Shooting Victim Who’d Just Gotten Her Life Back On Track
Daniel Mauser Memorial WebsiteColumbine shooting victim Cassie Bernall had just started turning her life around when she was killed.
For 17-year-old Cassie Bernall, the last several years before her murder at Columbine High School had been difficult.
Born on November 6, 1981, Bernall grew up in a Christian household and always struck her parents as the kind of kid who “didn’t seem to have any problems,” according to Star News. But as a teenager, this started to change. Bernall made new friends, started experimenting with drugs and alcohol, and began to have dark, violent thoughts. Her parents intervened and transferred her to a private school and insisted she attend youth programs.
Eventually, Bernall was able to turn over a new leaf. She made new friends, rediscovered her faith in God, and was able to transfer to Columbine High School. “We had gotten our daughter back,” her father recalled.
On April 20, 1999, Bernall was in the Columbine library when Harris and Klebold stormed inside. She hid under a table with another student, Emily Wyant, who recalled that Bernall started to pray, saying, “Dear God. Dear God. Why is this happening? I just want to go home.”
Then, Klebold slammed his hand on the table that Bernall was hiding under. He said, “Peekaboo,” and then shot her in the head.
In the confusion after the shooting, it was reported that Klebold had also demanded to know if Bernall believed in God. When she answered in the affirmative, he purportedly decided to kill her. In fact, Klebold had actually had that exchange with a different student — Valeen Schnurr.
Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty ImagesA memorial to Cassie Bernall on the two-year anniversary of the Columbine massacre. April 20, 2001.
Schnurr, who had been shot and injured, began whispering, “Oh my God, oh my God, don’t let me die.” Klebold approached her and asked if she believed in God. When Schnurr said “yes,” Klebold asked her why.
“Because I believe and my parents brought me up that way,” Schnurr replied.
Though Klebold reloaded his gun, he didn’t shoot. Valeen Schnurr survived.
