Columbine Survivor Foreclosure: Richard Castaldo Joins Occupy LA, Man Shot 8 Times During School Massacre Risks Losing Home 13 Years Later

Richard Castaldo was one of the young Colorado high school students who survived the tragic Columbine Massacre of 1999 - he was shot eight times during one of the nation's worst and horrific school shootings in history. Now 13 years later, the Columbine survivor has attempted to move on from the tragedy, but currently faces foreclosure and is at risk of losing his Southern California home. After turning to many different organizations for help since running behind on his mortgage payments last February, Castaldo has finally found a supportive and inspirational force behind Occupy Las Angeles. Castaldo doesn't plan on leaving California anytime soon, and will continue to rely on the hope and support offered through the Occupy L.A. movement.

Castaldo explains that after surviving the devastating school massacre, he turned to music and eventually wished to pursue a career in that industry. He purchased a condominium in Hollywood five years ago to help make his dreams a reality - but now he faces the possibility of getting kicked to the curb. Castaldo has been behind on his mortgage payments since last February and now may face foreclosure.

"I feel kind of stupid, honestly, because I should have known better," Castaldo explains. "I kind of bought into the notion that of course the condo was going to go up in value, which, of course, obviously it hasn't."

17-year-old Castaldo was eating lunch at Columbine High School when the shooting broke out on April 20, 1999. He was shot eight times in the arm, chest, back, and abdomen,becoming permanently paralyzed from the chest down. He witnessed the death of the first victim Rachel Scott, and has since appeared in many documentaries about the tragic school shooting and its connections to youth gun violence and its influences on gun control laws. 

Castaldo has met with a number of organizations to try and save his home - he recently talked with a lawyer, but things don't look too promising since his condo is being put up for auction in December. Castaldo began to lose hope, considering many of the organizations that he turned to simply wanted some money upfront. That's when he turned to Occupy L.A.

According to NBC Los Angeles, Occupy L.A. has transformed into a movement that now focuses much of its efforts in helping struggling residents in local areas keep their homes. And considering Castaldo's property goes up for auction in just a few days, the Columbine survivor needs all the help he can get.

"I feel like they're really the only group that doesn't have an ulterior motive. It's nerve racking for sure," Castaldo admits. Even so, he doesn't plan on returning to Colorado anytime soon, and hopes that Occupy L.A. can help him in his efforts to save his Hollywood home.