By Colleen Slevin
The Associated Press
D E N V E R, Oct. 22 — The mother of a student wounded in the Columbine High School massacre walked into a suburban pawn shop today, asked to see a handgun, loaded it and killed herself with a shot to the head. Anne Marie Hochalter
Carla June Hochhalter’s suicide occurred about six months after her 17-year-old daughter, Anne Marie, was critically wounded in the April 20 tragedy and left partially paralyzed.
It was not immediately known what other factors might have contributed to Hochhalter’s suicide.
Hochhalter, 48, entered the Alpha Pawn Shop in Englewood this morning and asked to see a handgun.
When a clerk turned around to fill out paperwork, Hochhalter loaded the weapon with bullets that she brought, then fired one round that hit the wall and a second round into her head, Englewood police spokeswoman Leticia Castillo said.
The suicide was the latest shock for students and families in the Columbine area. Jefferson County School District officials planned to have grief counselors available this weekend to help deal with any trauma.
A student was arrested this week for allegedly threatening “to finish the job” begun by two student gunmen at Columbine.
In addition, CBS-TV was criticized by some in the community for broadcasting a snippet of the security camera videotape that was taken in the school cafeteria as the massacre unfolded.
Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, scattered gunfire and bombs at the school near Englewood, killing 12 students and a teacher and wounding about 26 others. Then they committed suicide.
Anne Marie Hochhalter suffered injuries to her spinal cord, back and chest when the gunmen fired at her in the parking lot. She moved her legs for the first time last week. Now a senior, she is taking a physics class at Columbine while a tutor teaches the rest of her courses at home.
The Associated Press
D E N V E R, Oct. 22 — The mother of a student wounded in the Columbine High School massacre walked into a suburban pawn shop today, asked to see a handgun, loaded it and killed herself with a shot to the head. Anne Marie Hochalter
Carla June Hochhalter’s suicide occurred about six months after her 17-year-old daughter, Anne Marie, was critically wounded in the April 20 tragedy and left partially paralyzed.
It was not immediately known what other factors might have contributed to Hochhalter’s suicide.
Hochhalter, 48, entered the Alpha Pawn Shop in Englewood this morning and asked to see a handgun.
When a clerk turned around to fill out paperwork, Hochhalter loaded the weapon with bullets that she brought, then fired one round that hit the wall and a second round into her head, Englewood police spokeswoman Leticia Castillo said.
The suicide was the latest shock for students and families in the Columbine area. Jefferson County School District officials planned to have grief counselors available this weekend to help deal with any trauma.
A student was arrested this week for allegedly threatening “to finish the job” begun by two student gunmen at Columbine.
In addition, CBS-TV was criticized by some in the community for broadcasting a snippet of the security camera videotape that was taken in the school cafeteria as the massacre unfolded.
Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, scattered gunfire and bombs at the school near Englewood, killing 12 students and a teacher and wounding about 26 others. Then they committed suicide.
Anne Marie Hochhalter suffered injuries to her spinal cord, back and chest when the gunmen fired at her in the parking lot. She moved her legs for the first time last week. Now a senior, she is taking a physics class at Columbine while a tutor teaches the rest of her courses at home.