The Columbine High School shooting in 1999 remains one of the most referenced shooting ’s in US history , with studies indicating that an estimated10 ,000 articles were published following the incident . Another study found that in the year that the Columbine shooting occurred , approximately 319 stories about the incident were aired in evening news broadcasts . The Columbine shooters , Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold , expressed their desire for worldwide recognition in ‘ basement tapes ’ recorded prior to the mass homicide , stating that they aimed for “ The most deaths in U.S. history … We ’re hoping . We ’re hoping . ” These tapes circulated numerous media outlets , with stations such as CNN airing coverage of the aftermath of the incident for over a 6 hour period . A study conducted in 2015 suggest that the Columbine shooters inspired a minimum of 21 mimicked shooting and 53 attempted plans to commit such an act in the U.S. over a 15-year period
Columbine High School shooting
Columbine High School massacre
Mass shooting contagion