Parents of Arapahoe High School shooting victim 'forgive' daughter's killer

KUSA

Michael Davis tried to hold back tears during the service for his daughter, killed last month by deranged school shooter Karl Pierson.

They forgive their daughter's murderer.

Michael and Desiree Davis said at a memorial service Wednesday that Karl Pierson, 18, 'was so blinded by his emotions he didn't know what he was doing' when the unhinged school shooter killed their daughter, Claire Davis, with a single shotgun blast.

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The 17-year-old Davis's last words were, 'Oh my gosh, Karl, what are you doing?' Michael Davis said through tears at a New Year's Day memorial service in front of thousands in Denver.

The teen equestrian was the lone victim when Pierson barged into Arapahoe High School on Dec. 13 in search of school librarian and debate team coach Tracy Murphy. Pierson shot his classmate before killing himself. Davis died eight days after the shooting.

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'My wife and I forgive Karl Pierson for what he did,' Michael Davis said during the emotional ceremony. 'We would ask all of you here and all of you watching to forgive Karl Pierson. He didn't know what he was doing.'

Pierson - who believed that Murphy crushed his dreams of joining the Air Force with the punishment - entered the high school armed to the teeth with a shotgun, explosives and a machete.

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He set off a Molotov cocktail and fired a few rounds, including the one which killed Davis, before his suicide.

'As each of us will do one day, Karl has faced the infinite alone,' Michael Davis said.

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With News Wire Services

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