How did the Columbine massacre start?

Answer 1

It started with the personalities of the perpetrators, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

Klebold was a typical underachieving, depressed teen who hated and blamed himself more than he hated or blamed others. Harris was a psychopath who would have eventually, on his own, wreaked havoc on the world he hated and the stupid, worthless people who inhabited it; he enjoyed hating, he enjoyed demeaning, and he enjoyed the idea of inflicting pain and suffering on others. Harris was also an adept liar. His friends and classmates reported that he lied about anything and everything. He enjoyed lying as much as he enjoyed hating and knew that it gave him an advantage. Authorities have gained a lot of insight into these personalities since their deaths because they not only left behind their websites and videos, but also journals chronicling their true feelings.

In January 1998, they were charged with mischief, breaking and entering, trespassing and theft for breaking into a locked van and stealing property. They made such a good impression on the juvenile officers that they were offered to have their records cleared if they promised to stay out of trouble and participate in a diversionary program. The program is for first time offenders who accept responsibility and show remorse for the offense; the offense is non-violent and does not involve the use of a weapon; and the juvenile and his parents want to make reparation to the victims and the community.

Harris and Klebold fulfilled these requirements, including writing a heartfelt apology to the victim of the crime. Harris' journal, however, reflects his derision for the victim and the authorities; and both Harris and Klebold write of their anger at being arrested and how they will make people pay for this indignity.

Over the next year, Harris and Klebold spent most of their free time working on their plan. The only people who were aware of some of their activities were selected friends they allowed to participate in some parts of their activities. There has been no evidence that these friends knew of the actual plan. Then, on April 20, 1999, they put their plan into action.