Columbine updates | 2008
January 29, 2008 -- Mitchell Johnson, one of two child gunmen who shot up their school (offsite link) in Jonesboro, AK, was pulled over and found in possession of marijuana. He had a 9mm pistol with him when the pot was found, as well as a 20-gauge shotgun. Friends said Johnson had the guns with him because he felt like there were people after him (which, considering his past, is probably true), despite the fact that by law he was not allowed to have even one. Johnson - who was released from detention just 2 years prior - would serve 7 years in prison.

April 6, 2008 -- Charlton Heston passed away in his home. Heston was demonized in Michael Moore's fakeumentary Bowling for Columbine when that director used statements made by Heston at an NRA meeting in Denver out of context to support the opinions the film tries to pound home. The most memorable: "..from my cold dead hands."

April 9, 2008 -- A band of six cheerleaders ruthlessly and remorselessly beat a girl they don't like after inviting her to the house where the beating occurred. The teens recorded themselves taking turns abusing the girl for the purpose of putting the video on the internet. They beat her until she lost consciousness then woke her up and beat her again.

June 12, 2008 -- Patrick Ireland is doing well for himself employed as a financial rep and has a wife, Kacie.

September 20, 2008 -- A friend of Brian Anderson's, Dewayne Johnson, sent this update on Brian:

Being trapped in the library and shot in the chest, 26 yr old Brian Anderson has moved on with his life, now owning his own trucking company in the Littleton Colorado area. Brian says he still tries to make sense of that fateful day at Columbine High School. To this day he has not stepped one foot into any library nor does he like the sound of helicopters or fire alarms. Brian also lost his good friend and classmate "Corey Depooter" in the shooting at Columbine and said there are times when he thinks of him and all the fun times they had in school. Recently Brian said he would like to go back to Columbine and see the new library and there he hopes to find more closure. Brian still lives in the Jefferson County area. He would like to thank all those who pitched in with a helping hand during the whole ordeal at Columbine. Brian also states that there is one person that means a lot to him and will always have a place in his heart because in his eyes she is a HERO and that is teacher Patti Nielson.