A high school in Evergreen, Colorado, just outside of Denver, was the scene of a tragic shooting on Wednesday afternoon. Two students were injured before the young shooter turned the gun on himself, according to local authorities. The incident occurred around noon at Evergreen High School, located approximately 30 miles west of Denver, as reported by Jacki Kelley, a spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
The three individuals involved, two students and the juvenile shooter, all sustained gunshot wounds and were immediately transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital in serious condition. The shooter, a male juvenile, later succumbed to his self-inflicted injuries, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.
One of the students remains in critical condition, while the other is recovering from injuries that are not life-threatening. The shooter, whose age was not disclosed, used a revolver to carry out the attack outside the school. Some of the shots, however, penetrated the school building, according to the sheriff’s spokesperson.
Kelley noted that the shooter may not have been “even old enough to drive,” and that she believes no shots were fired by law enforcement during the incident. A fourth individual was also injured, but it is still unclear whether they were involved in the incident.
Evergreen High School, which has a student population of approximately 900, was put on lockdown following reports of an “active assailant” on campus. The shooting occurred on school grounds but outside the school building. Authorities are still working to determine the exact locations of the primary crime scenes.
Parents were reunited with their children at a nearby elementary school after the high school students were safely evacuated. Kelley assured the community that there is no longer an “active threat” and that authorities are working diligently to obtain a search warrant for the shooter’s home.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has been informed of the situation and is “closely monitoring” it. In a statement, he said, “State Troopers are supporting local law enforcement in responding to this situation. Students should be able to attend school safely and without fear across our state and nation. We are all praying for the victims and the entire community.”