Colo. School Shooting Victim Has Died

Claire Davis, the suburban Denver high school student who was shot in the head by a classmate, died this afternoon, hospital officials said in a statement. Davis, 17, was in critical condition after being shot at point-blank range at Arapahoe High School on Dec. 13. "It is with heavy hearts that we share that at 4:29pm this afternoon, Claire Davis passed away, with her family at her side," the statement from Littleton Adventist Hospital. "Despite the best efforts of our physicians and nursing staff, and Claire's fighting spirit, her injuries were too severe and the most advanced medical treatments could not prevent this tragic loss of life."

Karl Pierson, 18, shot Davis, who just happened to be sitting nearby with a friend as Pierson, armed with a shotgun, ammunition strapped to his body, Molotov cocktails, and a machete, entered the school and headed toward the library. Davis appeared to be a random target, Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson has said. Pierson set off one of the incendiary devices and fired five shots before killing himself just one minute and 20 seconds after entering the building. (More Claire Davis stories.)