COLUMBIN MASSACRE 'I FORGIVE MY FATHER'S KILLERS'

CYNTHIA IS KEEPING THE MEMORY OF HER MURDERED DAD ALIVE

-  Jasmine Kazlauskas

Tears trickle down Cynthia Smith's cheek as she clutches a faded photo of her late stepfather, Dave Sanders. Even though 24 years have passed since she lost the man she affectionately called 'Dad', Cynthia, 50, vividly recalls the very last time she kissed him goodbye, oblivious to the horror that was to come.

On the morning of April 20, 1999, Dave, RS a teacher and coach, strolled into Columbine High School, in Littleton, Colorado, USA, as he did each day. Tragically, he and 12 students never made it home.

At 11.19 am, Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, began gunning down their fellow students and teachers at random.

The twisted attack left 13 people dead and 24 others wounded, while the gunmen took their own lives.

During the violent massacre, 47-year-old Dave courageously stayed behind to help get his students to safety a decision that ultimately cost him his life.

"The morning of the shooting, I drove over to my mum's house and was watching the live coverage on television in shock," Cynthia tells New Idea.