25 years after Columbine, trauma shadows survivors of the school shooting

A rose stands at the plaque for Corey DePooter, one of the 12 student victims in the massacre at Columbine High School nearly 25 years ago, at the Columbine Memorial, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Littleton, Colo. Trauma still shadows the survivors of the horrific Columbine High School shooting as the attack's 25th anniversary approaches. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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By Associated Press

April 18, 2024 at 2:48 AM UTC

Updated on

April 18, 2024 at 2:56 AM UTC

DENVER (AP) — Hours after she escaped the Columbine High School shooting, 14-year-old Missy Mendo slept between her parents in bed, still wearing the shoes she had on when she fled her math class. She wanted to be ready to run.

Twenty-five years later, and with Mendo now a mother herself, the trauma from that horrific day remains close on her heels.