Mothers Describe Teenagers' Involvement in Online Community Obsessed with Columbine Shooters

Mothers described their daughters' involvement in an online group known as the true crime community, focused on mass shootings and perpetrators. One mother's daughter died by suicide after showing interest in the Columbine killers. Another mother's daughter was hospitalized after expressing plans to commit violence at her school.

Mothers stated that they did not recognize warning signs when their teenage daughters developed an interest in the Columbine High School shooters. This event marked the beginning of increased public attention to school mass shootings in the United States.

One mother made customized T-shirts for her 13-year-old daughter at the daughter's request. The shirts featured phrases worn by the Columbine shooters. The daughter, who performed well in school and enjoyed music as well as dirt biking, died by suicide.

After the daughter's death, the mother learned the significance of the phrases on the shirts. The mother believes the daughter was involved in an online network called the true crime community, or TCC, where participants discuss mass shootings and the individuals responsible.

Community Details A report indicated that the TCC consists of unregulated online spaces where children and adults share content about mass shootings.

Participants in the TCC include individuals who are lonely or depressed and seek a sense of belonging, as well as those with academic interests in researching cases. A report spoke with current or former TCC members, all of whom stated they did not condone violence and that their parents were unaware of their online activities.

One mother's daughter also became involved in the TCC, where she idolized killers, wrote a manifesto expressing hate, and compiled a list of individuals she wanted to target at her school.