Lance Kirklin

Lance Kirklin and two friends (Sean Graves and Dan Rohbough) were leaving their high school cafeteria when they noticed fellow student Dylan Klebold standing on the stairs with a gun, laughing. Next to Dylan was another student, Eric Harris. The two gunmen turned on the three boys and started shooting.

As one of Lance's friends, Dan, took a bullet in the back and fell into his arms a bullet struck Lance in the foot. Another round struck Lance in the leg, another his groin he collapsed as a forth bullet pierced his chest. He remembered seeing his other friend, Sean, running and watched as Sean was shot in the back by one of the gunmen. He could hear Sean yelling that he couldn't feel his legs.

Consciousness came and went for Lance. He awoke and turned his head towards the sky becoming aware of someone standing over him he mouthed a single word: Help. "Sure, I'll help you," a voice replied. One of the gunmen who was now standing over Lance, looked down at him and calmly, deliberately shot Lance in the face with a sawed-off shotgun.

Lance Kirklin was critically injured during the April 20th shooting rampage at Columbine High School, in Littleton Colorado. The carnage left 15 dead and 23 wounded. Lance was not expected to live after being shot 5 times in the chest, legs and face. Miraculously he survived.

While in the hospital Lance learned of Rashad Williams and his crusade to help him. Over come with emotion Lance stated. "I'm at a loss for words right now. It's overwhelming and breathtaking that someone would do that for me."

From the moment Rashad and Lance met and Rashad handed him the check for $40,000 they became friends. Lance and Rashad stay in touch by phone and e-mail and have seen each other several times in the last year.

Special Days:

• San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown proclaimed it Lance Kirklin Day

Appearances:

• Interview with 20/20's Barbara Walters. Sept. 29, 1999
• Good Morning America April 17, 2000

Visited by:

• Aerosmith May 1, 1999