Chilling Tales From Survivors

Six teenagers who witnessed shootings last year at their high schools in Springfield, Ore., and Littleton, Colo., retold their stories Friday at a Cal State Fullerton conference and expressed hope that sharing their experiences will bring about change.

Called “Safe Start 2000,” the two-day conference drew hundreds of students, teachers, parents, politicians and law-enforcement officers from across Southern California.

Amber Hensley, 19, was a senior at Thurston High School in Springfield when student Kip Kinkel shot and killed two classmates. Apologizing for being so graphic, Hensley told how she held a classmate in her arms as he died. She recalled the smell of gunpowder and blood: “It was so strong that till this day it triggers thoughts,” she said. “Children aren’t trained in combat to go to school.”

Courtney Herivel, 16, a student at Columbine High School in Littleton, sobbed as she spoke. She was in science class when students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold began a rampage during which they killed 13 people, then themselves. “The bodies we had to jump over. . . . Pools of blood. . . . You don’t really know how lucky you are.”

Detective Byron Lee of the Ontario Police Department said he attended because “it’s up to us to take responsibility to first, find out why, and second, not drop the ball.”

Lee said that having the youngsters describe their experiences might be the best way to prevent school shootings.