Rachel Joy Scott was the first victim of the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999.
Rachel Joy Scott, born on August 5, 1981, was a 17-year-old student at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. She was known for her kindness and compassion towards others, characteristics that were widely remembered after her death. On April 20, 1999, Rachel became the first person to be killed in what would become one of the deadliest school shootings in United States history.
The massacre was carried out by two students of the school, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who were armed with firearms and homemade bombs. They began their attack outside the school, where Rachel was sitting on a bench eating lunch with a friend. She was shot multiple times and succumbed to her injuries on the scene.
Rachel’s life and the manner of her death had a profound impact on the community and the nation. Her parents, Darrell Scott and Beth Nimmo, have honored her legacy by establishing Rachel’s Challenge, a program that promotes kindness, compassion, and anti-bullying in schools across the United States. Her story has been shared in various books, documentaries, and speaking events, inspiring many to live their lives with a similar spirit of love and forgiveness.