Homeless Vet Finds Columbine Shooting Victim's Football Championship Ring
LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) – A homeless veteran found a championship ring from the Columbine Rebels football team that won the Class 5A title in 1999.
That ring belonged to Evan Todd. Todd was one of the first shot and wounded in the library at Columbine High School during the massacre on April 20, 1999.
At the time, it was the worst shooting in the history of the American school system. One teacher and 12 students lost their lives. Todd was shot in the back.
"I definitely thought it was a hoax because I've had some interesting situations over the years, and I'll leave it at that," Todd told The Denver Post.
Todd quickly realized it was not a hoax.
"He started describing the ring. There are so many small details about it that unless you're actually holding it, you wouldn't know. So I was like, 'He's got my ring!' " Todd continued telling the Denver Post.
Bobby Smith, a former U.S. Army gunner during the Vietnam War who had been living out of his car or in low-income housing, contacted Todd about the ring.
Smith told Todd that he found the ring in either 2003 or 2004 "while looking for arrowheads" in a creek in San Luis Obispo, California. Todd realized that may have been correct as he traveled a lot after Columbine.
"It's bizarre," Todd told the Denver Post. "He found it in some river, and I know I was on that trip. We were doing two to three high schools per day, one- to two-hour presentations. Then we'd go back to the hotel and it was exhausting. Emotionally. Mentally. So I have no idea how I lost it. I was pretty cavalier with the ring when I had it. People would ask about it, I would take it off and pass it around. But I would never take it off at a restaurant. … I just don't know what happened to it."
Todd thought about replacing the ring, but just never got around to it.
"You'd have to be from Mars not to know Columbine High School," Smith told the newspaper. "I instantly recognized the name of it."
Todd sent Smith money to have the ring shipped back to him.
"I was thrilled, but because it was something I do wish I had over the years, a reminder of that season, Todd told the Post. "And that season was, I think, obviously from a personal perspective with my teammates, unparalleled to any other championship."
Todd was a junior during that school year and started at defensive tackle on the championship team.
Smith just wanted to do the right thing.
"It's a simple act of doing the right thing, nothing really special," Smith added. "You never know what you'll do in life. You learn a lot about yourself. I'm just glad he got it back."
Todd and Smith eventually met for the first time. As a way of saying thanks, Todd set up a fund for Smith. Over $100,000 has been pledged.
Smith has had issues getting his VA vouchers cashed and has concerns he may lose his military disability as well as other benefits if he accepts the donations.
Todd wanted to help Smith after Smith helped him.
