Criminal Profiling
Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold
On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold carried out one of the deadliest school shootings in American history at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. The two teens killed 12 students and 1 teacher before taking their own lives in an act of premeditated violence. Their attack was carefully planned over months, and they left behind a trail of journals and videos that explained their motives. Harris and Klebold’s claim their actions were fueled by feelings of rejection, anger, and a desire for revenge, and their shooting spree became a symbol of the darker side of adolescent rage and alienation. The case continues to provoke discussions on gun violence, mental health, and the influence of media on violent acts.
Criminal Profiles of the Columbine Shooters
Background:
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were both Caucasian males who attended Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Harris, 18, and Klebold, 17, had a history of feeling alienated and ostracized by their peers, leading to their growing resentment toward the school and those they felt had rejected them. They meticulously planned their attack over several months, with Harris acting as the more dominant and controlling figure in the duo. Their goal was to cause maximum destruction, using firearms and explosives to kill as many people as possible. However, the attack was partially thwarted when some of their explosives malfunctioned, preventing them from carrying out an even larger massacre.
The shooters targeted students and faculty they felt had either rejected or ridiculed them. Their attack was not random but a deliberate act of revenge against those they believed had made their lives miserable. Their journals and videos, which were discovered after their deaths, revealed a deep anger and disdain for society, particularly for their peers. These revelations painted a picture of two teenagers who had become consumed by their own feelings of powerlessness and rage, using violence as a way to exert control and force attention to their suffering.
Behavioral Patterns:
Harris and Klebold’s attack on April 20, 1999, was meticulously planned, with both shooters showing a clear desire for revenge and destruction. They targeted their classmates—individuals who they felt had ostracized them, making the attack a personalized act of vengeance. Harris was the more dominant figure, often taking charge of the planning and dictating the course of action, while Klebold was more emotionally unstable and prone to depression. Together, they formed a deadly pair, with their combined rage driving the attack.
Their weapon of choice was a combination of firearms and explosives, which they intended to use to cause widespread carnage. While their firearms were effective in killing their victims, their explosives malfunctioned, which prevented them from achieving the scale of destruction they had hoped for. Nevertheless, the shooters killed 12 students and a teacher, injuring many more, before turning the guns on themselves in a final act of violence. This methodical attack was not just about physical destruction—it was about making a statement and forcing others to take notice of their anger.
Psychological Profile:
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold exhibited two distinct but complementary psychological profiles. Harris, the more dominant figure, showed clear signs of psychopathy, characterized by a lack of empathy, a disregard for human life, and a desire for control. Harris’s journals and videos revealed a deep-seated need to inflict pain and suffering on others, which he saw as a means of gaining power and recognition. His personality was marked by traits of narcissism and sadism, with an overwhelming desire to prove his superiority and exact revenge on those who he believed had wronged him.
In contrast, Klebold exhibited signs of depression, emotional instability, and feelings of rejection. While Harris acted as the dominant and driving force behind the attack, Klebold’s motivations were more emotionally driven. Klebold struggled with feelings of alienation and worthlessness, which ultimately contributed to his involvement in the killings. His emotional vulnerability made him more susceptible to Harris's manipulative influence, and he seemed to see the violence as a way to escape his pain.
Together, Harris and Klebold’s psychological profiles demonstrate how psychopathy, depression, and feelings of rejection can combine to fuel deadly acts of violence. Harris’s lack of empathy and need for control paired with Klebold’s emotional instability and desire for belonging created a volatile combination that resulted in one of the most tragic school shootings in history.
Profiling Harris and Klebold:
Profiling Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold required understanding their distinct but interconnected psychological traits. Harris's behavior pointed to a narcissistic, psychopathic personality, driven by a need for power, control, and revenge. Klebold, on the other hand, exhibited traits of emotional instability, depression, and rejection, making him highly susceptible to Harris’s influence. The combination of these traits led to the tragic events at Columbine, as Harris's psychopathy and Klebold’s emotional distress created the perfect storm for violence.