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Where'd They Get Their Guns?

An Analysis of the Firearms Used in High-Profile Shootings, 1963 to 2001

Date: April 20, 1999

Location: Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado

Alleged Shooters: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold

People Killed: 15 (shooters committed suicide)

People Injured: 23

Firearm(s): Intratec TEC-DC9 assault pistol, Hi-Point 9mm Carbine, Savage 67H pump-action shotgun, and a Savage 311-D 12-gauge shotgun


Circumstances

The two students walked through their high school at lunchtime on April 20, 1999, shooting at classmates and teachers before killing themselves. Twelve students and one teacher were killed. In addition to their firearms, they had scattered an assortment of explosive devices throughout the school, many of which did not detonate.


How Firearm(s) Acquired

Robyn Anderson, a friend of Klebold and Harris, bought the shotguns and the Hi-Point 9mm Carbine at The Tanner Gun Show in December of 1998 from unlicensed sellers. Because Anderson purchased the guns for someone else, the transition constituted an illegal "straw purchase." Klebold and Harris bought the TEC-DC9 from a pizza shop employee named Mark Manes, who knew they were too young to purchase the assault pistol, but nevertheless sold it to them for $500.

 
  1. David Olinger, "Following the Guns," The Denver Post Online, 1 August 1999.
  2. David Olinger et al., "Arrests Possible in Pistol Sale; Authorities to Interview Suspected Gun Provider," The Denver Post, 30 April 1999, sec. A, p. 1.
  3. Mark Obmascik et al., "Tracing a Deadly Trail; Officials Say Girlfriend Bought Guns," The Denver Post, 27 April 1999, sec. A, p. 1.
  4. David Ottaway, "With Often Arcane Tools, U.S. Agency Traces Littleton Guns," The Washington Post, 30 April 1999, sec. A, p. 6.
  5. David Olinger and Peter Chronis, "Guns Used in Attack Believed Bought Through Private Deals," The Denver Post, 24 April 1999, sec. A, p. 13.

 

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 All contents � 2001 Violence Policy Center

 


The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit educational foundation that conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related death and injury.