LITTLETON, Colo. - A suburban Denver high school student who was shot in the head by a classmate died Saturday afternoon, hospital officials said in a statement.
Claire Davis, 17, was in critical condition after being shot at point-blank range at Arapahoe High School on Dec. 13. Friends and well-wishers had posted prayers online and raised money to help pay for her medical care.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share that at 4:29 p.m. this afternoon, Claire Davis passed away, with her family at her side,” according to the statement from Littleton Adventist Hospital.
“Despite the best efforts of our physicians and nursing staff, and Claire’s fighting spirit, her injuries were too severe and the most advanced medical treatments could not prevent this tragic loss of life. Claire’s death is immensely heartbreaking for our entire community, our staff and our families.”
Karl Pierson, 18, shot Davis, who just happened to be sitting nearby with a friend as Pierson, armed with a shotgun, ammunition, Molotov cocktails and a machete, entered the school and headed toward the library.
Davis appeared to be a random target, Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson has said.
Pierson likely intended to track down a librarian who had disciplined him, but Robinson said Pierson’s arsenal suggested Pierson intended to hurt many others at the school just 8 miles from Columbine High School, the site of a 1999 massacre.
Pierson set off one of the incendiary devices and fired five shots before killing himself just one minute and 20 seconds after entering the building. He knew a sheriff’s deputy assigned to the school was closing in, Robinson said at a news conference.
Senior Chris Davis, who is not related to Claire Davis, said she loved horses, had a lot of friends and always seemed happy. Chris Davis, whose locker is next to Claire’s, helped organize a fundraising effort for her family.
Students held vigils for Davis after the shooting.
Gov. John Hickenlooper visited Davis and her family at the hospital and had asked for prayers.
Robinson called Davis “a young woman of principle” and “an innocent young lady.”
Front Section, Pages 8 on 12/22/2013