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Crime & Justice • Mass Shooting

Dylan Klebold

Dylan Bennet Klebold was an American high school student who, with Eric Harris, carried out the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado on April 20, 1999.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Dylan Bennet Klebold was an American high school student who, with Eric Harris, carried out the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado on April 20, 1999. The attack killed 13 people, wounded 23 others, and ended with the perpetrators’ suicides. Klebold remains one of the most widely discussed figures in U.S. school-shooting history.

Early life

Dylan Klebold was born in Lakewood, Colorado, on September 11, 1981. He was an American high school student before the Columbine attack.

Columbine High School massacre

On April 20, 1999, Klebold and Eric Harris attacked Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado. The assault left 13 dead and 23 wounded, and both attackers died by suicide inside the school.

Legacy

Klebold became one of the most studied figures in the Columbine case and is frequently referenced in research and media coverage of school shootings. The Columbine High School massacre also influenced international debate, including in Canada, on school safety, gun violence, and threat assessment in schools.

Public record and portrayals

Klebold appears in biographies, documentary coverage, and reference works focused on the Columbine massacre. These sources generally frame him in relation to the attack rather than any separate public career.

Key facts

  • Dylan Klebold was one of two perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999.
  • The attack killed 13 people and wounded 23 others.
  • Klebold and Harris died by suicide during the attack.
  • Klebold was born in Lakewood, Colorado, in 1981.
  • He remains a prominent figure in discussions of U.S. school shootings and mass violence.
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Canadian context

The Columbine High School massacre influenced international debate, including in Canada, on school safety, gun violence, and threat assessment in schools.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Dylan Klebold?
He was an American high school student and one of the two perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre.
When was Dylan Klebold born?
He was born on September 11, 1981, in Lakewood, Colorado.
What was Dylan Klebold known for?
He is known for co-perpetrating the Columbine High School massacre with Eric Harris.
How many people died in the Columbine attack?
The attack killed 13 people and wounded 23 others.
How did Dylan Klebold die?
He died by suicide during the Columbine attack on April 20, 1999.
Why is Dylan Klebold still discussed today?
He remains a prominent figure in analyses of school violence, mass shootings, and the Columbine case.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Harris_and_Dylan_Klebold
    Supports: Birth date, identity, relationship to Eric Harris, and role in the Columbine High School massacre.
  2. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/crime/dylan-klebold
    Supports: Birth place, basic biographical details, and summary of his role in the attack.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1287666/
    Supports: Basic biographical details including birth and death dates and identification as a Columbine perpetrator.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre
    Supports: Context on the massacre, casualties, and Klebold's role in it.
  5. ITV News — https://www.itv.com/news/2019-04-17/columbine-high-school-massacre-20th-anniversary-dylan-klebold-eric-harris
    Supports: Summary of the attack, casualties, and the attackers’ deaths.