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December 26, 2013 Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 27, Issue 6 A publication of
highlandsranchherald.net
Shooting prompts outpouring of support Connections to Arapahoe High lead Douglas County schools to acts of compassion By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Arapahoe High School’s location across a county line and in another school district matters little to Douglas County School District staff and students. In the wake of the Dec. 13 shooting that has left two students dead, one of whom spent nine days in critical condition, members of DCSD reached out to the AHS community through many compassionate acts. It started the Monday after the tragedy, when students throughout DCSD reported to school wearing AHS’ black-andgold colors. From there, students and staff launched a variety of projects. At Mountain Vista High School, stu-
dents are making and collecting homemade wind chimes to hang in the trees around AHS. A ThunderRidge High School teacher helped design a “Colorado Strong” T-shirt whose sales so far have generated more than $44,000 in donations. At Highlands Ranch and Rock Canyon high schools, teenagers signed studentmade banners with messages of support. Acres Green Elementary held a pajama-day fundraiser. And dozens of DCSD schools started collections to help offset shooting victim Claire Davis’ medical costs. AHS, located mere minutes from many DCSD facilities, shares much more than a common boundary with the district. Hundreds of DCSD students previously shared classes and friendships with the shooter, Karl Pierson, and his sister Kristen, Highlands Ranch residents who attended both Acres Green Elementary and Support continues on Page 7
Highlands Ranch High School student Alex Macre signs a banner Dec. 18 that HRHS students planned to deliver to Arapahoe High School later that day. Photo by Jane Reuter
Local mom tried to kill her children, sheriff says She faces attempted murder charges By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@ coloradocommunitymedia.com
“I still don’t believe it happened,” said Arapahoe junior Tessa Serano (right, in white T-shirt) who, along with her twin sister Cheyenne (left) and fellow Arapahoe junior Caroline Powell (center), visited the memorial to Claire Davis on Dec. 19 after picking up their personal belongings inside the high school. “There’s a lot of love here,” said Cheyenne Serano. Photo by George Lurie
`Heaven has gained an angel’ Arapahoe High shooting victim Claire Davis dies By Chris Rotar
crotar@coloradocommunitymedia. com The list of items, each one dropped off as a gesture of hope and support, continued to grow. The flowers, the candles, the cards, the teddy bears, the balloons, the banners urging strength. Since Dec. 13, they piled up outside a fence at Arapahoe High School in Centennial. Claire Davis — and all of Arapahoe High — was tight within an extended community’s embrace. Nine days after Davis was shot in the head, one item, a yellow poster board, spelled out the heartbreaking conclu-
sion of her fight for life. “Heaven has gained an angel.” Davis had died the previous day, at 4:29 p.m. Dec. 21, at Littleton Adventist Hospital, her family by her side. The 17-year-old had been in critical condition since fellow Arapahoe High student Karl Pierson shot her at the school around 12:30 p.m. Dec. 13. A statement posted on the hospital’s Facebook page announced the news to the community and to those around the nation and world who spent more than a week praying for Davis to recover. The hospital’s message seemed to indicate that Davis was indeed “Warrior Strong” — a mantra built on the school’s nickname and the need to rebound from a nightmare — until the end.
Davis continues on Page 7
Claire Davis died Dec. 21 from the gunshot wound she sustained more than a week earlier. Courtesy photo
A Highlands Ranch mother faces attempted first-degree murder charges after she tried to kill her two young children, police say. Erin Giberti, 37, was found unconscious in a running vehicle in a garage Dec. 9, with her two children standing outside the home in the 4900 block of Laurelglen Lane, near Southridge Recreation Center. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is not releasing any other details about the incident, other than to say the “kids were initially in the car,” said spokesman Ron HanGiberti avan. The sheriff’s office recommended four felony charges against Giberti on Dec. 19, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a child under 12 by a person in a position of trust. Hanavan said he believes the children did not sustain injuries. Giberti, who was hospitalized after the incident, is in custody on a $250,000 bond. Her Facebook page provides a glimpse into the life of someone who appears to be a typical Highlands Ranch mother. Friends and family gushed about photos Giberti posted of herself with two young boys. In a section that enables Facebook users to talk about their personal life, Giberti encouraged readers to “spend quality time with family.” Her LinkedIn profile says she works for RE/MAX as a broker and relocation specialist.
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