Columbine Offers Help To California School

Also Suggests Students, Staff Seek Help If Needed

LITTLETON, Colo., 11:32 p.m. EST March 5, 2001 -- District officials encouraged Columbine High School students and staff to seek help if news of Monday's school shooting in California proved disturbing.

SANTEE, CALIF., SCHOOL SHOOTING DEADLY MARCH 5 The 911 Calls The Victims Timeline Video Montage Slideshow Video Archive MEMORIAL FUND To help victims of the shooting, send checks to: "Santana High School Memorial Fund," Cuyamaca Bank, 9955 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, CA 92071 THE SUSPECT Charles Andrew Williams, 15 Classmates Knew Friend: Shooting Was Planned 'Thought He Was Joking' Friends, Kin Describe Suspect Death Penalty? Video Archive THE SCHOOL Web Site REACTION Mourners Gather At Vigil Movie Delayed Victim Doesn't Blame Suspect Parents, Students Columbine Offers Help POST YOUR VIEWS Share Your Sympathies What Can Be Done? Should Teens Be Tried As Adults? AMERICA'S RECURRING NIGHTMARE In-Depth: Past School Shootings Warning Signs Why? When Are Threats Serious? Expert: School Evacuation Plans Unsafe March 5: Philly Child Threatens 'Bloodbath' WHAT'S BEING DONE National Campaign To End School Violence Feds' Efforts To Improve School Safety 1998 Report On School Safety

The officials notified students and staff of the shooting at Santana High School in Santee, Calif., that left two people dead and 13 wounded. A 15-year-old freshman was arrested.

It was the largest number of dead and wounded in a school shooting since the Columbine tragedy in Littleton, Colo., nearly two years ago.

Jefferson County, Colo., School District spokesman Rick Kaufman said that the district faxed its crisis-planning data, including the response in the first 24 hours after the Columbine shootings, counseling information and sample media statements, to the California school district, which is about 10 miles northeast of San Diego.

"We also said that if there's anything else we can provide to them, we're simply a phone call away," Kaufman said.

"Our hearts go out to the Santee community and to the high school staff and students. The school district is offering its assistance to Santana High School as other districts offered us help during our time of need," the press release stated. "We have informed our students and staff of the shooting, and we encourage them to seek professional support in Columbine's counseling center if word of this event impacts them emotionally."

Columbine has become synonymous with school shootings in many people's minds after the April 20, 1999, rampage that left 15 dead, including student gunmen Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris. Twenty-three were injured.

Since then, students have been arrested across the country for allegedly planning Columbine-style attacks. Three junior high students in Fort Collins, about 60 miles north of Denver, were arrested in February for allegedly planning an attack on their school.

Jefferson Center for Mental Health representatives were prepared for an increase in calls as news of the California assault spread.

"Are we anticipating there may be some reaction? Probably," said Jeanne Oliver, spokeswoman for the mental health center. "I think any time that you have an event such as this, especially one so similar to the Columbine shootings, with the media coverage, there may be reaction."

Oliver was concerned that media reports, especially television footage, might upset people who lived through Columbine.

"That in itself can traumatize someone, or retraumatize people, or bring back memories or bad feelings from the original event," she said. "I would explain to people that that's a really normal reaction."

Symptoms of re-traumatization include renewed feelings of fear or sadness, eating behavior changes, irritability, and inattentiveness, according to Jefferson Mental Health.

Oliver offered advice to those disturbed by the media coverage: "Turn the TV off and don't read the newspaper."

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