Remembering The Stories Of 13 Columbine Shooting Victims

By Kaleena Fraga | Edited By Jaclyn Anglis

Published December 2, 2024

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.

author

A senior staff writer for All That's Interesting since 2021 and co-host of the History Uncovered Podcast, Kaleena Fraga graduated with a dual degree in American History and French Language and Literature from Oberlin College. She previously ran the presidential history blog History First, and has had work published in The Washington Post, Gastro Obscura, and elsewhere. She has published more than 1,200 pieces on topics including history and archaeology. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.

editor

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Jaclyn Anglis is the senior managing editor at All That's Interesting, where she has worked since 2019. She holds a Master's degree in journalism from the City University of New York and a dual Bachelor's degree in English writing and history from DePauw University. In a career that spans 11 years, she has also worked with the New York Daily News, Bustle, and Bauer Xcel Media. Her interests include American history, true crime, modern history, and science.

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Fraga, Kaleena. "The Columbine Shooters Murdered 13 People — These Are The Victims’ Tragic Stories." AllThatsInteresting.com, December 2, 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/columbine-shooting-victims. Accessed July 16, 2025.