Cassie- Flyleaf

She listened as each name of the students were called. She kept awaiting for her daughter's name to be yelled as she waited in the gym. She was scared, she knew her daughter must have been too. A school shooting was a terrible thing to witness. 1

The gym was getting pretty empty. She got slightly teary eyed when she saw each set of parents or guardians unite with their child. She just wanted to see her Cassie again, to take her daughter into her arms and tell her everything would be okay and that she was safe now. Her husband took her hand in his, he was scared too.2

There were 14 sets of parents here and one woman left in the gym... waiting. The man that was calling the names of students for parents to claim walked up to her. "Misty Bernall? Brad Bernall?" he asked, making sure she was who he thought she was. "Yes, that's us." she replied. "Your daughter, Cassie Rene Bernall, has been killed in the school shooting. I am sorry." he said, his voice dull and he walked away. Misty's knees get weak and she collapses into the arms of Brad and cries. How could this have happened to them? 3

Earlier that day,
April 20th, 19994

The killers, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, entered Columbine High School. Their first plan of bombing the cafeteria with two propane bombs failed. They had already shot outside, killing Rachel Scott and injured another student as well. No one knew it was coming. Even as they heard the first bullets being shot, the students only thought of it as a senior prank. But they would soon find out that this "prank" would soon become the deadly game of revenge.5

It took the students a little while to figure out that they were all in danger. It did not take long for Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold to enter the library. "Get up!" they yelled. They asked for all of the jocks to stand up, but of course no one did so. The boys just started shooting. After killing and injuring other students under tables one of the boys called out, "Who here believes in God?!"6

For moments passed and only one person stood up. Cassie Bernall rose from the table where she hid. "I believe in God." she answered. The boy took a step forward, pointing the gun at her. Cassie felt fearful, she felt all eyes on her. "Why?" the boy asked, but he shot her before she could answer. She fell to the ground, her words still hanging in the air.7

Back to present time8

Misty and Brad Bernall soon heard that story from the police and soon the story was heard all around the world. Cassie Bernall is a role model for Christians everywhere. She was willing to give up her life for what she believed in. Her story will live on as will others from the Columbine High School Shooting.9


Cassie Bernall (November 6, 1981- April 20, 1999.)