Sheriff: SRO Actions at Colo. High School Saved Lives

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — Two students were shot at Arapahoe High School on Friday by another student, who authorities believe was seeking revenge against a teacher. An SRO is being credited with preventing further bloodshed at the school.

Armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, machete, three incendiary devices and 125 rounds of ammo, Karl Pierson, 18, entered the high school just after 12:30 p.m. wearing a black face cover and a black hoodie. Witnesses said they saw the suspect walking down the hallways, calling out a male teacher’s name, with whom he may have had a recent disagreement. He may have held a grudge against the librarian and head of the debate team who had disciplined the boy, reports Fox News.

Pierson stalked the halls trying to find the teacher, named Tracy Murphy, but was unable to do so because the instructor fled. The school was immediately placed on lockdown once the shots rang out, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Additionally, Pierson set off an explosive device, described as a Molotov cocktail inside the school. Authorities later disabled a second device.

Claire Davis, a 17-year-old girl who confronted the shooter, was shot in the face and is in critical condition. Another student suffered minor injuries. During the incident, Pierson turned the gun on himself and died at the scene as a school resource officer was closing in on him.

The deputy was yelling for people to get down and identified himself as a county deputy sheriff, Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson told CNN. “We know for a fact that the shooter knew that the deputy was in the immediate area and, while the deputy was containing the shooter, the shooter took his own life,” claimed Robinson.

Classes have been cancelled until after the New Year, reports the Denver Post.

Read the full story.

Breaking News from ABC | ABC Sports News

Related Articles:

If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century

This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!

Get Our Newsletters
Campus Safety Conference promo