Tragedy Strikes Arapahoe High School
Unfortunately for Colorado, another shooting has made the news. Our neighbor in Denver, Arapahoe High School, suffered this heartbreak on December 13th, 2013. The shooting resulted in the death of Claire Davis, a 17 year old senior at Arapahoe. Also, a 15-year-old girl was reported in critical condition after undergoing surgery. Two other students were treated and released from a hospital for non-gunshot injuries.
Karl Pierson, a senior of Arapahoe, played the role of the shooter and was originally targeting the librarian of the school. The librarian was the coach of the speech and debate team and had kicked Pierson off the team. Karl Pierson was said to have threatened the coach.
Pierson asked where he was and the coach quickly left the school after being notified. He left with hopes that the shooter would follow him. Unfortunately, Pierson did not follow and decided to unleash his wrath upon the school. Claire Davis was in the wrong place and the wrong time and was tragically shot in the hallway for no reason. Pierson continued as he threw a Molotov cocktail (a homemade incendiary device) and then eventually died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
This left a total of two people dead, Claire Davis and Karl Pierson, and three more students were injured. On January first, a memorial for Davis called Celebration of Life was held in Denver’s National Western complex.
This shooting has brought up unfortunate memories as Colorado has been the victim of many similar shootings. The gunfire erupted a few miles away from Columbine High School, the Colorado high school where two students killed 13 classmates and themselves on April 20, 1999.
This is a life changing event and we need to support our fellow students. Colorado has fallen victim to more and more tragic events and we need to band together to help prevent them. At AAHS, the student body has signed a banner to help show our support to Arapahoe.
Claire Davis’ death has paid a toll on Colorado. The death of a daughter, friend, or sister is one that can never be forgotten and the family should be helped in every way possible.
Works Cited
“Arapahoe High School Shooting in Centennial, Colo.” Fox News. FOX News Network, n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.
“Arapahoe Students Go Back to School after Shooting.” USA Today. Gannett, n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.
Hanson, Hilary. “Arapahoe High School Shooting Leaves Student Injured, 1 Dead [UPDATE].” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 13 Dec. 2013. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.
“Shooting at Arapahoe High School, 1 Girl in Critical Condition, Gunman Dead.” – The Denver Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.
Watkins, Tom. “Colorado High School Shooting Victim Dies at Hospital.” CNN. Cable News Network, 22 Dec. 2013. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.
