LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado hospital says a suburban Denver high school student has died more than a week after being shot by a classmate who then killed himself.
Seventeen-year-old Claire Davis had been in critical condition after being shot at point-blank range at Arapahoe High School on Dec. 13. Friends and well-wishers had been posting prayers online and raising money to help pay for her medical care.
Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson says Davis appeared to be a random target.
Authorities say 18-year-old Karl Pierson was likely targeting a librarian who had disciplined him when he entered the school with a shotgun, a machete and three Molotov cocktails. Robinson says Pierson shot Davis before killing himself. The librarian escaped the school unharmed.
Statement from the Davis Family on Littleton Adventist Hospital Facebook Page:
It is with unspeakable sadness that we write and say that Claire has passed away from the gunshot wound she received at Arapahoe High School on December 13, 2013. Although we have lost our precious daughter, we will always be grateful for the indelible journey she took us on over the last 17 years—we were truly blessed to be Claire’s parents. The grace, laughter and light she brought to this world will not be extinguished by her death; to the contrary, it will only get stronger.
Last week was truly a paradox in that we lost our daughter, yet we witnessed the wonderful love that exists in the world through the tremendous outpouring of support we received. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the first responders, the school resource officer, security guard and vice principal at Arapahoe High School, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office, and the physicians, nurses and staff at Littleton Adventist Hospital. Each played a significant role in giving Claire a chance to live, and demonstrated extreme amounts of professionalism, courage and love. Please know that we will never forget the extraordinary work you did on Claire’s behalf.
We ask that you give us time to grieve the death of our daughter by respecting our wishes for privacy.
With much loving-kindness,
The Davis Family