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Columbine High School shooting survivor dies nearly 26 years after massacre

Anne Marie Hochhalter, a paralyzed man who was shot dead in a mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, died of natural causes on Sunday, Fox News Digital learned. She was 43 years old.

Hochhalter, one of 23 people who survived injuries in the Littleton, Colorado massacre, has been limited to wheelchairs for the rest of her life due to her injuries, and has been “the pillar of strength” in her community. It is remembered as “.

She was shot in the back and chest when she ate with a friend in the school cafeteria. 12 students and one teacher were killed in the attack when 12th grade students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold fired fire. The archer then committed suicide.

Ann Marie Hochhalter was paralyzed in the 1999 attack at Columbine High School, depicted in April 2024. (Hi Oangchan/Denver Post)

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Her former principal, Frank DeAngelis, announced that Hochhalter had passed away and said she was praised for her resilience and tenacity.

“My Columbine Rebels. I share with you the death of Anne Marie Hochhalter, it's a great sadness and sadness that I share with you, and it's natural causes,” Diangelis wrote in Fox News Digital It was stated in the provided statement.

“Anne Marie was a 2000 graduate. She was a pillar of strength for me and many others. She was an inspiration and exemplified that she never gave up. She made her family a point Put it in your thoughts and prayers. We love you.

Deangelis said details of the funeral arrangements have not been made public yet.

Columbine School Shooting Survivor Ann Marie Hoshhalter

Ann Marie Hochhalter (right), a shooting survivor at Columbine School, is the mother of shooting victim Lauren Townsend at the 25th anniversary of his 25th anniversary at First Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado, on April 19, 2024. I'll talk to a certain Sue Townsend. Hochhalter passed away on Sunday. (Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

Hochhalter's younger brother Nathan was also at school at the time of the shooting. He was locked up in the classroom along with about 30 other students when the shooting rang. Four hours later, SWAT officers rescued them.

Months after the shooting, their mother, Carla Hochhalter, took her own life after suffering from depression, according to reports.

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Anne Marie Hochhalter, in support of Sue Klebold, the mother of shooter Dylan Klebold, who released a book that reflected a massive shooting on the relationship between sadness and shame, particularly in 2016. I spoke in 2019. Fox 21 reported.

Hochhalter wrote a lengthy Facebook post when he said he had forgiven the mass murderer's mother, although he had not known whether he had read the book.

In 2012, Hochhalter also spoke publicly to support families and survivors at Sandy Hook Elementary School, filmed in Newtown, Connecticut.

Last April, an all-nighter was held on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Columbine shooting, attended by Hochhalter. At the time, she said she was unable to attend the 20th anniversary vigil due to suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Since the terrible day of 1999, I have truly been able to heal my soul,” Hochhalter wrote in an April 2024 post, adding that everyone's journeys of sadness and healing are completely different. Ta.

“Scattered by a particular moment, it flows in decline and brings us back to memories that we once thought were frozen in time,” she wrote.

“I had quite a bit of this anniversary, and I thought the memories of that period had been buried forever. I had a sleepover at my friend's house and finally defeated Tetris on my computer (I was extremely proud of the achievements).

“This time, bad memories haven't affected me. It seems my heart wanted to be happy and flooded with my heart instead of trauma.”

Columbine Memorial

People will visit the Columbine Memorial in Littleton, Colorado on April 17, 2024. The 12 students and the teacher killed in the Columbine High School shooting will be remembered on Friday, April 19, 2024, during the 25th anniversary all night. tragedy. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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She continued to write about her sadness about those who lost their lives that day, but she said she felt their presence on the all night.

“When 'Over the Rainbow' started playing, I saw an empty chair and suddenly, all of them sat there with a smile on their faces, and I felt like we wanted to remember a good time. I did.

“They would want to remember and laugh at their stupid goofy attitude when they were alive, rather than focusing on how their lives end. Those 13 are always They are with us. They will never be forgotten. We are Columbine.”

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