DENVER – The death of a woman who was partially paralyzed within the Columbine High School shooting has been dominated a murder, elevating the loss of life toll of the 1999 assault to 14.
Anne Marie Hochhalter died Feb. 16 of sepsis — a response to an infection — and issues from her paralysis had been a “important contributing issue” in her loss of life, the Jefferson County Coroner’s Workplace mentioned in an post-mortem report obtained Thursday. She was 43.
On the time, her household and buddies suspected her loss of life was as a consequence of pure causes associated to her accidents within the taking pictures, which instantly led to the deaths of 12 college students and a instructor. The 2 pupil gunmen killed themselves. Because of the function her paralysis was suspected of taking part in in her loss of life, the investigation was transferred to the workplace that additionally reviewed the deaths within the faculty taking pictures.
Hochhalter struggled with intense ache from her gunshot wounds within the years following the taking pictures, however fought laborious to to beat the issues of her accidents and stay optimistic, household and buddies mentioned. She was tireless in her drive to assist others, together with folks with disabilities and members of her household, and he or she liked canine, they mentioned.
Hochhalter selected to forgive the mom of one of many gunmen, writing in a 2016 letter to Sue Klebold: “’A great buddy as soon as informed me, ‘Bitterness is like swallowing a poison tablet and anticipating the opposite particular person to die.’ It solely harms your self. I’ve forgiven you and solely want you the most effective.”
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