Anne Marie Hochhalter, a survivor of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, passed away on Sunday due to natural causes. She was left paralyzed after being shot during the tragic event.
Hochhalter was in the cafeteria with friends when the shooting began. She was hit in the back and chest, injuries that forced her to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life. The attack at Columbine High School in Colorado claimed the lives of 12 students and one teacher after shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold opened fire.
Despite her injuries, Hochhalter refused to be called a victim. She saw herself as a survivor. Sue Townsend, who lost her stepdaughter Lauren in the shooting, became close to Hochhalter over the years. The two families often spent holidays and vacations together, bonded by their shared loss.
Frank De Angelis, the former Columbine principal, confirmed her passing and remembered her as a symbol of strength. “Anne Marie was a 2000 graduate. She inspired so many people by never giving up. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. She will be missed but never forgotten. Rebels for Life. We love you, Anne Marie Hochhalter,” he wrote in a statement. No memorial date has been set yet.
Hochhalter avoided the spotlight for years after the tragedy, preferring to focus on her personal healing. However, she remained connected to the Columbine community and attended events honoring those who lost their lives.
Last year, she attended a memorial for the 25th anniversary of the shooting. In a Facebook post, she expressed that she had finally found peace. “I’ve truly been able to heal my soul since that awful day in 1999,” she wrote.
In the past, she also spoke openly about her survivor’s guilt. “Why did I survive when so many others didn’t?” she once questioned. “I think about that often and try to live my life in a way that honors the 12 students and one teacher we lost.”
Hochhalter’s legacy is one of resilience and courage. She supported her community, shared her journey, and found healing despite the pain of the past. Her story will continue to inspire those who remember the tragedy of Columbine and the strength of its survivors.
