Cassie Bernall
Encyclopedia
Cassie René Bernall was a student killed in the Columbine High School massacre
, at age 17.
Initial reports suggested that one of the assailants, either Eric Harris or Dylan Klebold
, asked Bernall if she believed in God
moments before fatally shooting her. She was reported to have answered "Yes, I believe". This story led to Bernall being presented as a martyr
by some Christian
s, and served as the inspiration for several songs, including Michael W. Smith
's "This Is Your Time" and Flyleaf
's "Cassie
."
In the months following Bernall's death, her mother, Misty Bernall, issued the book She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall. In this book Misty Bernall discusses her daughter's turbulent teenage life, spiritual conversion and martyrdom.
Most examinations of witness testimony state that Cassie was not asked anything before she was shot. According to witness Emily Wyant, who was hiding under a wood table with Cassie, Eric Harris said "peek-a-boo" before shooting Cassie, while Cassie continued to pray silently. However, in her book "Day of Reckoning: Columbine and the Search for America's Soul," reporter Wenday Murray Zoba noted that Cassie's companion misidentified Cassie's shooter, which compromises her account. It has been documented that a similar exchange took place between Klebold and Valeen Schnurr, a student who was wounded in the library that day. Some have speculated that this exchange was mistakenly attributed to Bernall.
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
, at age 17.
Initial reports suggested that one of the assailants, either Eric Harris or Dylan Klebold
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Eric David Harris and Dylan Bennet Klebold were American high school seniors who committed the Columbine High School massacre. They killed 13 people—including teacher Dave Sanders—and injured 24 others, three of whom were injured as they escaped the attack...
, asked Bernall if she believed in God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
moments before fatally shooting her. She was reported to have answered "Yes, I believe". This story led to Bernall being presented as a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
by some Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s, and served as the inspiration for several songs, including Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
's "This Is Your Time" and Flyleaf
Flyleaf
Flyleaf is an American alternative metal band, formed in the Belton and Temple, Texas regions in 2000. The band has charted on mainstream rock, Christian pop and Christian metal genres. They performed around the United States in 2003 until releasing their eponymous debut album, Flyleaf, in 2005....
's "Cassie
Cassie (song)
"Cassie" is a song by Christian alternative metal band Flyleaf. It was first released on their self-titled EP Passerby, when they were still named Passerby...
."
In the months following Bernall's death, her mother, Misty Bernall, issued the book She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall. In this book Misty Bernall discusses her daughter's turbulent teenage life, spiritual conversion and martyrdom.
Most examinations of witness testimony state that Cassie was not asked anything before she was shot. According to witness Emily Wyant, who was hiding under a wood table with Cassie, Eric Harris said "peek-a-boo" before shooting Cassie, while Cassie continued to pray silently. However, in her book "Day of Reckoning: Columbine and the Search for America's Soul," reporter Wenday Murray Zoba noted that Cassie's companion misidentified Cassie's shooter, which compromises her account. It has been documented that a similar exchange took place between Klebold and Valeen Schnurr, a student who was wounded in the library that day. Some have speculated that this exchange was mistakenly attributed to Bernall.