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ANDERSON — The sisters of a victim in the Columbine High School shooting told a rally against school violence that they don’t believe their sister died in vain. Rachel Scott, 17, was one of 12 students killed by Columbine seniors Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, who all fatally shot a teacher before killing themselves to end their April 20 attack on the school. Twenty-three people were wounded. Scott’s sister, 2+-year-old Betha nee McChandless, told the crowd gathered at the Anderson Prayer Task Force at the Anderson Civic Center that her sister was among the first to be shot. The shooter came back to Scott after she was wounded and asked if she believed in God. Scott said “yes” and died instantly from a gunshot wound to her head. McChandless told the crowd her sister wasn't a saint, ‘she was simply someone who was outgoing and loving with every one she met, encourage you to walk in love for each other,” she said. “I never knew it could happen to our family I never thought it could happen in Littleton, Colo.” Although school officials attended the prayer rally, many mwore at the civic center were stu dents. Brandon Fischer, a 17-year old at Dixie High School in Abbeville County, said he was inspired by Scott's story. “I think she was a brave woman, for someone to point a gun to her head and for her to say 'yes,’ ” he said. Close to 1,000 people showed up for the rally against violence in schools just as the school year started for many South Carolini ans. Although the event wasn't sponsored by schools, superinten dents or assistant superinten dents from all Anderson County's school districts attended the event, as did representatives from Abbeville County schools. Ander son County legislators included Sen. Bob Waldrep, Rep. Ronnie Townsend, Rep. Becky Martin, Rep. Chuck Allen and Rep. Cordell Maddox. “We're here because kids are killing kids in our schools,” said Elva Martin, an Assembly of God minister and coordinator of the event. “But there is hope for our public schools.” Scott’s other sister, Dana Scott performed a mime called “Watch the Lamb” to music by Ray Boltz. Rachel had performed the mime at school. Dana also had performed the mime at Rachel's funeral, an event broadcast internationally on CNN. AP photoo Dana Scott, 22, of Littleton, Colo., performs a mime act during a school prayer rally in Anderson. Her sister, Rachel Scott, was one of the victims of the massacre at Columbine High School. A crowd estimated at 1,000 attended the rally to call attention to school violence.
Newspaper Details
Aiken Standard
Aiken, South Carolina, US
Tue, Aug 03, 1999
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 01 Aug 2026
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