link
| |
bookmark
|
|
Matthew Joseph Kechter
 Born February 19, 1983
16 years old
Matt Kechter was a 210 pound Sophomore: He played on both the offensive and defensive lines of the football team. He's remembered for his ready laugh. He was a weight lifter and an 'A' student.
"When I heard he was one of the ones from the library, it only made sense," said sophomore basketball player and friend Greg Barnes. "He was always in the library studying. He always put academics first. He had straight A's but he would never brag about it. I kinda looked up to him because of it. He was never in a bad mood, he was consistenly happy."
Matt was in the library studying when the shooting began. He had been seated at a table with his friend, Craig Scott; when the teacher came in and told everyone to get down, they both hid under the table and were joined by Matt's fellow athlete and friend, Isaiah Shoels. After the shooters entered the library, they shot several people before Dylan Klebold spotted Isaiah and called Eric Harris's attention to their table. The two gunmen made racial slurs toward the black boy and then Harris shot him at close range. Klebold fired on Matt next, hitting him in the chest. He died sometime later, in the library.
"He was a wonderful role model for his little brother," his parents wrote in a statement that was read at his funeral at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church on April 27. "Their brotherhood had just recently developed into a bonding friendship ... In Matt's heart, there was always enough room for everyone to be victorious."
The University of Colorado (where Matt had planned to attend) sent his younger brother Adam one of their jerseys bearing Matt's name and the jersey number he wore, 70, as part of Columbine's football team. The Columbine High School football team all wore ribbons bearing his old jersey number were asked to dedicate the next season to Matt's memory at his funeral service. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Photos:
- Ann and Joe Kechter - parents
- Adam Kechter, Matt's younger brother receiving Columbine's 1999 championship trophy in Matt's honor
- Matt
Documents:
- Autopsy Summary
Links:
- Rocky Mountain News remembers Matt Kechter
- Denver Post Online remembers Matt Kechter
|
|
