Eric Harris is known as one of the gunmen who entered Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 and opened fire on staff and students. The other guman was Dylan Klebold.
Eric David Harris was born on April 9, 1981 in Plattsburgh, New York. Son of Mr. Dwayne Harris and Mrs. Katherine
Harris, younger brother to Kevin Harris.
While in the Air Force, Eric's father Dwayne Harris held 11 different positions at 6 different bases from Oklahoma to
New York. New York was the last place they moved before his forced retirement from the military due to cutbacks.
The Harris family moved to Littleton, Colorado in 1996 from Plattsburgh, NY.
Eric was described as a motivated young man who wanted to join the Marines although his application was rejected 5 days
before the shootings due to his anger management issues and the drug Luvox which he was required to take because of this. Eric's bedroom was in the basement of his parents house. His shelves were lined with boxes of old firecrackers and a collection of miniature cars. A poster with one of his favorite musical groups, KMFDM, was taped to the ceiling. Another band Eric liked was Rammstein, a German band. Eric studied German, and used to translate the songs to his friends.
During the Columbine shootings Eric wore black fatigue-style pants, a white T-shirt on which was written 'Natural
Selection' and a black trench coat. He wore the matching black fingerless glove (the left was worn by Dylan Klebold) on
his right hand. He also wore a utility belt and carried numerous bombs. Eric carried a Hi-Point 9mm carbine rifle on a
strap and a Savage-Springfield 12-gauge pump shotgun which had been sawed off reducing the entire gun to 26 inches.
Eric had fired a total of 96 9mm rounds: 47 outside the school, 36 inside the school, 13 in the library. He had fired a total of 25 shotgun rounds: 4 inside the school and 21 in the library. Eric died when he took his own life by firing his shotgun which he had placed in his mouth.
Eric Harris' supposed suicide note has been discounted as fake by the authorities.
Eric's autopsy summary is as follows:
Final Anatomic Diagnoses:
1. Through and through high energy contact gunshot wound involving the roof of the mouth associated with:
A. Extensive lacerations of the scalp and soft tissues of the face
B. Massive fracturing of the skull
C. Evacuation of the brain - cerebral cortex and brain stem
D. Extensive fracturing of the facial bones
COMMENT: The autopsy findings in this case reveal that the cause of death is due to massive head injury secondary to a
high energy gunshot wound involving the roof of the mouth, consistent with a shotgun. This wound is consistent with
self-infliction.
Signed,
Ben Galloway, M.D.
Forensic Pathologist