PHOTOS: The Columbine High School shooting and the community that came together in its wake

Shaun Stanley, The Denver Post

One of the first students to escape from Columbine High School is questioned by police.

Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post

A Columbine High School shooting victim is brought to St. Anthony Central hospital by helicopter.

Shaun Stanley, The Denver Post

Students are bused away from Columbine High School after they escaped from the school with police assistance.

Shaun Stanley, The Denver Post

Swat team members move towards Columbine High School near Littleton Colorado on April 20, 1999.

Craig Walker, The Denver Post

A parent is reunited with his daughter at a house where more than 25 students had found shelter when shooting broke out at Columbine High School near Littleton.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

A Colorado State trooper escorts two students from a house where more than 25 students found shelter after shooting broke out at Columbine High School in Littleton.

Shaun Stanley, The Denver Post

Teacher Judy Greco is overcome with emotion as she describes the events at Columbine High School to a police officer. She was among the first to be rescued.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

Tim Grams climbs out a window of his Polk Ave home to talk with a swat team member who was working the scene at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999.

KCNC-TV Denver, The Associated Press

In this image from television, a Columbine High School student is rescued through a window by emergency personnel during the shooting spree at the school in the southwest Denver suburb of Littleton, Colo., Tuesday, April 20, 1999.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

Columbine Sophomore Megan Coxey is comforted by junior Ara Maranian. Coxey was in class when shooting broke out at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, but managed to escape.

John Prieto, The Denver Post

Just north of Columbine High School two students cried together on April 20, 1999.

Brian Brainerd, The Denver Post

At Leawood Elementary School, parents were reunited with their children April 20, 1999.

Brian Brainerd, The Denver Post

At Leawood Elementary School worried parents Marcel and Cathy Savoi wait for word of their son, Justin, 15. After four long hours, they were reunited.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

A rescue worker rests on the back of an ambulance on while working the scene at Columbine High School in Littleton on April 20, 1999.

Karl Gehring, The Denver Post

Columbine High School students grieve together at Clement Park Wednesday afternoon, April 21, 1999, just up the street from the school. Clement Park became an unofficial area of remembrance as thousands of people brought flowers and notes to leave as close to the scene of the shooting as authorities would allow.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

Jenny Webb and Mary Wood both of Littleton Middle School comfort one another during the vigil at Civic Center Park on April 21, 1999, in downtown Denver. The vigil was held to honor victims in the Columbine High School shooting.

Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post

Natasha Cordova, 17, of Montbello High School, who holds balloons, and Vernon Jones, 18, of East High School, pray for Columbine High School victims during the vigil at Civic Center Park on Wednesday, April 21, 1999 in downtown Denver.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

Columbine High School students continued Thursday, April 22, 1999 to add flowers to the shrines at Clement Park in Littleton. Shrines include flowers, notes, signs, teddy bears and sports jerseys.

Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post

Darcy Craig, age 15, right, and Molly Byrne, age 16, left, of Colorado Academy High School hug each other after they prayed for Columbine High School students at Clement Park on Thursday, April 22, 1999.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

Members of the news media prepare for a press briefing from Steve Davis of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department at Clement Park, April 22, 1999, in Littleton. Media from all over the world has descended on Littleton after Tuesday's shooting at Columbine High School.

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Jared Anderson, a 1995 Columbine Alumni, grieves after giving a speech and prayer in memory of Lauren Townsend who was shot and killed in the Columbine High School shooting. Anderson gathered 20-30 Columbine alumni at Clement Park on April 22, 1999. Anderson is best friends with Josh Townsend, the brother of the deceased.

Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post

Columbine Principal Frank DeAngelis at the Littleton Public Library Friday afternoon, April 23, 1999.

John Epperson, The Denver Post

Crowd is sent into the memorial area at the parking lot of Mann Theatres Sunday morning, April 25, 1999, before the start of the Columbine Memorial service.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Nicole Archuletta, a junior from Kennedy High School, holds a banner and flowers as the Kennedy students attend the memorial service for Columbine High School on April 25, 1999 in Littleton.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

A member of the estimated 70,000 person crowd raises a sign with the message 'There Are Angles Among US' during the Memorial Service for the victims of the Columbine High School shooting, April 25, 1999, at the Mann Theatre on Bowles Ave. in Littleton.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

A group of students embrace as they say a prayer during the conclusion of the Memorial Service for Columbine High School on April 25, 1999, in Littleton. An estimated crowd of 70,000 were on hand for the event.

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Vice President Al Gore along with his wife Tipper, place flowers at a memorial at Clement Park Sunday afternoon, April 25, 1999, to honor the families and victims of the Columbine shooting.

Brian Brainerd, The Denver Post

The family of Daniel Conner Mauser, foreground, and Kelly Ann Fleming, rear left, stand together as their loved ones are brought to the altar of the church at the start of a funeral mass at St Frances Cabrini Catholic Church on April 25, 1999, in Littleton.

Karl Gehring, The Denver Post

Friends and family of Laura Townsend used markers to cover her casket with handwitten memories before her funeral service Monday afternoon, April 26, 1999. Between tears and hugs of comfort, friends remembered Lauren as a perfect student and fun-loving young woman.

Crissy Pascual, The Denver Post

The casket for Cassie Bernall is carried out of West Bowles Community Church after the funeral on April 26, 1999. Friends and family of the victim of the Columbine High School massacre signed the white casket.

Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post

Michael and Vonda Shoels, parents of slain student Isaiah Shoels, weep at their son's funeral Thursday, April 29, 1999, in Aurora, Colo. Shoels was killed in the shooting rampage at Columbine High School last week and was the last of the victims to be buried. The funeral was held at Heritage Christian Center.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

A cross for Isaiah Shoels is one of 15 honoring all that died in the Columbine shooting, on a hill at Cement Park, April 30, 1999.

Lyn Alweis, The Denver Post

About 500 students from Dakota Ridge, Chatfield and Bear Creek high schools walked Wednesday, April 30, 1999, from Dakota Ridge High to Clement Park to show their support and sympathy for the students of Columbine High School.

Lyn Alweis, The Denver Post

Many people have come to Clement Park to place flowers at the many memorial sites in the park, April 28, 1999. On top of one of the two hills are 15 crosses with the names of the 13 victims and the shooters, Harris and Klebold. Columbine High School teacher Sue Caruthers placed carnations at each cross. This was the first time, emotionally, she has been able to come to Clement Park. She was near the cafeteria when the shooting began. Here she is placing a flower at Rachel Scott's cross. She was Rachel's teacher.

Lyn Alweis, The Denver Post

A memorial on the top of one of the hills in Clement Park for the victims of the Columbine Tragedy, April 28, 1999. This memorial has 15 crosses, one each for the 13 victims and two more for the shooters, Harris and Klebold. Ellie Elmore, age 21, a CCU (Denver) student, writes a positive message on Klebold's cross. Other messages on his cross: 'Hate Breeds Hate' 'May God Bless and Keep Your Family' 'May God Have Mercy On Your Soul...Sorry We All Failed You'

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, visited the makeshift memorial in Clement Park on April 27, 1999, which has grown to at least a city block in size after the shooting rampage at Columbine High School that left 15 dead.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

15 crosses honoring those that died in the Columbine High School shooting rest on a hill at Clement Park, April 30, 1999. They are from left to right, Rachel Scott, John Tomlin, Steve Curnow, Lauren Townsend, Isaiah Shoels, Eric Harris, William Dave Sanders, Kelly Flemming, Matthew Kechter, Corey DePooter, Dylan Klebold, Kyle Valasquez, Daniel Mauser and Daniel Rohrbough. Both Klebold' s and Harris's cross have been covered with black plastic. Daniel Bateman, pictured at far left, viewing the crosses is a former Lakewood resident that had many friends that attended Columbine High. He now lives in Hutchinson, Kan.

J. Scott Applewhite, The Associated Press

President Bill Clinton and students applaud as Columbine High School Principal Frank DeAngelis, left, is introduced at Dakota Ridge High School in Littleton, Colo., Thursday, May 20, 1999.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Columbine High School seniors toss their hats up in the air after graduation in Greenwood Village, Colo. on Saturday, May 22, 1999. It was tradition that the seniors form a half moon stretching from one side of the amphitheater to the other and toss their hats up.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Columbine High School senior Lisa Kreutz, in wheelchair, is hugged and presented her diploma by school administrator Barb Monseu, left, during graduation in Greenwood Village, Colo. on Saturday, May 22, 1999. Kreutz was shot during the shooting rampage at the school on April 20 that left a total of 15 dead.

Karl Gehring, The Denver Post

Mark Taylor checked out a new, extra soft mattress in his bedroom Friday, June 11, 1999. The bed was donated by American Furniture Warehouse in order to provide a more comfortable sleeping surface for Mark who has had trouble sleeping. Taylor is fighting a variety of infections as a result of his gunshot wounds from the Columbine High School shooting.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

Columbine shooting victim Richard Castaldo shows fatigue as he reclines in his wheelchair at Craig Hospital, June 17, 1999. Castaldo needs to shift his weight periodically through the day to prevent skins sores and increase circulation. Castaldo's injuries included two 9mm bullets in his left arm, one in his right and at least three others piercing his lungs, kidney and vertebrae.

Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post

Tom Mauser, whose 15-year-old son Daniel was murdered during the Columbine High School shooting, speaks along with other families affected by gun violence, urging Gov. Bill Owens to call special session during a rally on the East Steps of the Colorado Capitol on Tuesday, June 29, 1999.

Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

Columbine survivor Pat Ireland watches from the family car as his father, John, embraces Pat's Physical Therapist, Sarah Gorner, outside Craig Hospital on July 2, 1999. The family held a brief press confernce before leaving for home. Pat will return to Craig for daily outpatient treatment following the Holiday weekend, as he continues with his rehabilitation from the brain injury he sustained in the Columbine shooting.

Lyn Alweis, The Denver Post

The media was allowed inside Columbine High School on Tuesday, June 15, 1999 for the first time since the massacre on April 20. The plans for the renovation were introduced and a tour was conducted. Roy Miller, Jefferson County School Security Patrol Officer, stands guard outside the still sealed off library.

George Kochaniec, Pool, The Associated Press

At Columbine High School, in Littleton, Colo., students smile as they enter the school to begin their new year Monday, Aug. 16, 1999. It was the first time students returned to the school since the April 20 shooting spree that killed 12 students and a teacher, ending with the gunmen, both students, taking their own lives.