Anne Marie Hochhalter, who was partially paralyzed in the Columbine High School shooting but found strength to forgive and to heal her soul after bonding with another family devastated by the tragedy,

Anne Marie Hochhalter, who spoke publicly about the long-lasting effects of gun violence after she was paralyzed in the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, was found dead on Sunday at her home in Westminster, Colo. She was 43.

The parents of a Columbine shooting victim who was killed shared their story of how survivor Anne Marie Hochhalter -- who died this week -- helped them and became very close with their family.

Hochhalter suffered devastating injuries. She told PEOPLE in 2004 that she had just stepped outside for fresh air when she heard a popping noise and suddenly felt something strike her back, which she initially believed was a paintball. As a friend helped her, she was struck again by a bullet, which this time hit a vein.

Anne Marie Hochhalter, who was shot and paralyzed in the Columbine High School mass shooting in 1999, died on Sunday of natural causes, Fox News Digital has learned. She was 43.

Anne Marie Hochhalter, Columbine survivor, has passed away after nearly 26 years in a wheelchair. Her bravery and resilience inspire others.

Anne Marie Hochhalter, who barely survived the Columbine school shooting and was paralyzed from the waist down, died Sunday, nearly 26 years after the attack. Hochhalter was 43 years old, the Denver Post reported. Her friend Sue Townsend told the paper she was suffering from medical complications caused by the massacre.

One of the survivors of the shooting at Colorado's Columbine High School has died. Anne Marie Hochhalter passed away Sunday. The principal at the time, Frank DeAngelis, confirmed her death with CBS Colorado on Monday.