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Mother of Columbine shooter finally recognises son's involvement in massacre

The mother of Dylan Klebold, one of the two teens responsible for the horrific Columbine massacre, has finally recognised her son’s involvement in the sickening slaughter.

Nearly 17 years after the killings, Sue Klebold has talked to the media for the first time, telling ABC’s 20/20 that she was ‘so sorry’ for what her son did on April 20, 1999.

Sue Klebold, mother of Dylan Klebold, has broken her silence and talked publicly of the chilling massacre, which took place almost 17 years ago. Photo: ABC
Sue Klebold, mother of Dylan Klebold, has broken her silence and talked publicly of the chilling massacre, which took place almost 17 years ago. Photo: ABC

In the months following the massacre, she denied her son’s deliberate involvement, passing it off as ‘a moment of madness’.

“I believed this was a moment of madness,” she said.

“I believed this was some impulsive fluke that happened suddenly.”

17-year-old Dylan and his best friend Eric Harris planned the massacre months in advance. Photo: ABC
17-year-old Dylan and his best friend Eric Harris planned the massacre months in advance. Photo: ABC

She questioned whether 17-year-old Dylan was under the influence of drugs or if he had been forced into the situation.


Dealing with her guilt, she wrote letters to the families of the 13 victims.

Disturbing drawings by Klebold demonstrate the planning he put into the tragedy. Photo: ABC
Disturbing drawings by Klebold demonstrate the planning he put into the tragedy. Photo: ABC

When investigators called six months later, they exposed the hard-hitting truth, that Dylan and his best friend Eric Harris, 18, had spent months carefully and meticulously planning the mass murders at their high school.

They revealed Dylan had played a part in purchasing guns.

He had built 99 explosive devices intended to kill hundreds of his fellow students.

Klebold made this chilling picture, depicting one of his 99 bombs exploding in the school's cafeteria. Photo: ABC
Klebold made this chilling picture, depicting one of his 99 bombs exploding in the school's cafeteria. Photo: ABC

He also filmed a three-hour video with Eric, documenting a twisted countdown before they took over the school, filled with their peers.

Sue said she forced herself to watch the tapes, which have since been destroyed.

"They were acting tough; they were talking about all the horrible things they wanted to do."

Klebold attended his high school prom, knowing that only four days later he would orchestrate the deadliest high school shooting in US history. Photo: ABC
Klebold attended his high school prom, knowing that only four days later he would orchestrate the deadliest high school shooting in US history. Photo: ABC

“I thought I was going to be ill.”

After struggling with guilt for almost two decades, she said to finally grew to accept that the massacre wasn’t her fauilt.

“I can’t stay with this level of intensity, I have to let some of it rest,” she told ABC tearfully.

“I didn’t kill these people, Dylan did. It wasn’t me.”

Police keep the guns used by Klebold and Harris as evidence. Photo: ABC
Police keep the guns used by Klebold and Harris as evidence. Photo: ABC

The interview coincides with the release of her first book, titled "A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy’.

Sue said she will donate profits from the book to metal health organisations.

270 school shootings have occurred since the Columbine massacre, according to the ABC.

For the full interview, check out these videos: