APRIL 20, 1999 - LITTLETON, COLO.
Illness to thank for survival
Sophomore who went home sick escaped the killings at Columbine
By Katy Human
Camera Staff Writer
Patrick Ruybal of Littleton fell ill Friday. Bronchitis and pneumonia may have kept the 15-year-old alive.
Patrick spent the weekend and Monday at home, but Tuesday morning, he tried going to school — Columbine High School. By 9 a.m., he felt so miserable that he called his mom, Shawn Hurley, to pick him up.
Three hours later, Patrick and his mother sat in front of the television, astonished to learn that his school was under attack by teen-agers bearing guns and possibly bombs.
"Thank God he was sick today," Hurley said, crying. "It's a horrible thing to be sick, but thank God he was sick today."
Patrick would have been in the school cafeteria at 11:30 a.m., when the gunmen apparently opened fire in the room.
"That was my lunch hour. I would have been right in the middle of it," he said.
"I still can't find two of my friends," Patrick added Tuesday evening. "Their phones just ring, the machines pick up. No one's there."
Patrick normally eats lunch with two friends who told him they were only 10 feet away from the gunmen during an attack in the cafeteria.
"My friend Mike ran and hid in the kitchen," Patrick said. Another friend told Patrick that he heard the gunmen ask students if they played sports and watched as they shot those students who said yes.
Hurley attended Columbine High school as a child. "I never would have thought this kind of thing would happen there," she said.
"All my kids went there. It's just a beautiful school," said Geri Gray, Hurley's mother and Patrick's grandmother. "I just can't understand this.
"You tell me that somebody wasn't looking out for that boy today."
April 22, 1999
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BACKGROUND
Full index of the shooting Reconstruction of the shooting Timeline Location the school Floorplan Weapons used
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AUDIO
'Friend of Mine' Listen to the Columbine Memorial song sung by Columbine students Jonathan and Stephen Cohen.
911 tapes
Interview with Arun Ghandi |
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PHOTOS
A Daily Camera photo essay detailed the tragedy of April 20 and the recovery and remembrance in the following weeks: photo essay
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INTERACT
In light of the shooting on April 20, should the state legislature allow people to carry concealed weapons? vote here
With the recent rise in school violence, do you feel schools are still safe? vote here
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THE INVESTIGATION
Gunmen paid for weapons, teenager claims CHS investigators focus on computers Investigators try to disprove third CHS shooter Man charged with selling handgun to child FBI investigator's son linked to case Agents creating models of Columbine Teen targeted by sheriff denies involvement in school attack Arrest in Columbine shooting Killer reportedly took Luvox antidepressant Officials no closer to arresting suspects Detectives question shooter's girlfriend Security videotapes at school may show whether gunmen had help Bombs found in cafeteria Portraits of the killers Killer's diary describes plot of hate |
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SCHOOL VIOLENCE
Violence in Georgia School violence stuns nation Teen wounds six fellow students Teens charged in alleged school attack plot Michigan teenagers charged in plot Other school shootings 1927 school bombing killed nearly 40 children Suspensions, arrests across country La. school site of another shooting Facts: Death in schools 'Blood in the School Yard', from the Cincinnati Post full series |
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REACTION
High schools' 'cult of the athlete' under scrutiny Parents of Columbine shooters sued Suit planned against parents of Columbine High shooters Columbine spurs interest in home schools Columbine healing fund raises $2.3 million Safe Night aims to curb youth violence CU frat shows support for Columbine 'Healing bear' arrives to help in Littleton Doctors: Guilt a normal reaction for survivors School security business surges Media the message? Broomfield couple campaigns to 'Erase the Hate' Clint Talbott - BVSD rejects dress code What now? Video of Clinton's Wednesday morning speech Video of Clinton's Tuesday speech
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GUNS AND LAW
GOP tinkers further with gun legislation Columbine dad lobbies Washington Group forms to back gun control Poll says two-thirds in U.S. support tougher restrictions on guns Senate passes more gun controls Columbine killers also wounded the NRA Senate rejects any new restrictions on gun-show sales Dems want special session Gun control strife House won't debate gun bill New gun laws on table Leaders scrap gun bills Guns and legislatures |
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HOW TO HELP
- The Denver Rocky Mountain News has established a drive to raise money for a memorial to the victims of the Columbine High School tragedy. Contributions may be mailed to the Columbine Memorial Fund, c/o The Jefferson Foundation, 809 Quail St., Building 1, Lakewood, CO 80215.
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