Football player was sweet, shy, friends recall

By Sue Lindsay
Scripps Howard News Service

Matthew Kechter

Friends described Matthew Kechter as a sweet, shy guy who played football.

He was in the library with friends at Columbine High School when he was gunned down Tuesday.

"He's just a really nice kid," said classmate Alayna Muscolino. "He's not an outspoken jock kind of guy. He's really subdued. He's just a really sweet guy, kind of shy."

Muscolino said Kechter, a sophomore, was well-liked, was close friends with members of the football team and worked at a pizza place.

"He's a wonderful, wonderful young man. One of the best," said a neighbor who asked that her name not be used. "You couldn't have asked for a nicer child."

Neighbors frequently saw Matthew and his younger brother playing basketball in their driveway.

"I understand he was a straight-A student," the neighbor said. "His parents had nothing but good words to say about him. This is just a horrible, horrible loss."

"He was a fantastic kid," said another neighbor, Carol Harding. "He had tons of friends. Everyone loved him."

Dan Riecks, a sophomore, sat in front of Matthew in math class.

"He was just a nice guy. Nobody disliked him. He seemed pretty popular. He was pretty studious."