Columbine victims | Dead | Lauren Townsend
Lauren Townsend
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Lauren Townsend Born January 17, 1981
18 years old

Lauren Townsend was a senior and captain of the girls' varsity volleyball team, which her mother, Dawn Anna, coached. She was a member of the National Honor Society and was a candidate for valedictorian of her graduating class. Lauren was a talented sketch artist as well. Nicknamed "Lulu," she was a straight 'A' student - she never got a 'B'. She volunteered at a local animal shelter and had planned to major in biology at Colorado State University when she graduated from Columbine.

Lauren was in the library with her friends (Lisa Kreutz, Diwata Perez, Valeen Schnurr, and Jeanna Park) when the shooting began. She hid beneath the table with them when the teacher told everyone to get down. Finding herself beside a frightened Val Schnurr, Lauren put her arm around her, drew her closer and told her everything would be okay.

After several minutes of hearing the gunmen taunt and shoot other people hiding in the library, one of the killers - Dylan Klebold - came to Lauren's table. He opened fire, injuring Lisa and Val. He fired again, as fast as his weapon would shoot, hitting Lauren several times. A few minutes later Eric Harris came back around the table and shot beneath it again, hitting Lauren again but she didn't feel it — she was already dead.

She died on the floor of the library from multiple wounds to the head, chest and lower body. Her funeral was held at Foothills Bible Church where her brother Josh played a tribute video filled with moments from her life. Many of her teachers spoke at her funeral, commending her gentle nature and loving spirit as well as her academic excellence. Her coffin was a white one that people attending her funeral could write on, much like one would sign a yearbook. Her father wrote: "Lulu, you'll always be my baby."

She was buried in Littleton Cemetery in Littleton, Colorado.

Lauren Townsend
Lauren Townsend at Columbine prom 1999


Lauren Townsend and mom Dawn Anna
Lauren Townsend scuba diving (HeavensFlower.com)

Photos of Lauren Townsend and Family:
- Misc. photos of Lauren: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Rick Townsend's message to his daughter on Lauren's coffin

Related:
- Lauren Townsend Autopsy Summary
- More about Lauren Townsend

Media:
- Dawn Anna (2005) film starring Debra Winger
- Heaven's Flower by Dawn Anna

Links:
- Denver Post Online remembers Lauren Townsend
- Rocky Mountain News remembers Lauren Townsend