New Columbine Outrage

By Stephen M. Silverman

09/25/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

A graphic, 30-minute videotape showing bullet-riddled classroom walls, pools of blood and murdered and injured students being removed from Columbine High School is outraging the families of victims of last year's deadly school shooting in Littleton, Colo. "It hurts," Connie Michalik, whose son, Richard Castaldo, was left paralyzed after the April 20 incident, told the Associated Press. "They have pictures from the helicopter of dragging Richard by his feet." A Jefferson County District Attorney released the tapes to the victims' families on Tuesday. Copies are also being made available to the public for $25 apiece. (A Littleton spokesperson said the tape, filmed by an off-duty firefighter, is useful in safety training seminars.) It is not clear why pop music was added to the soundtrack or who would benefit from the sale of the tape.