EVERGREEN, Colo. — A student opened fire at Evergreen High School on Wednesday, injuring two classmates before turning the gun on himself. The tragic event unfolded at approximately 12:24 p.m., according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect, described as a 16-year-old male student, has succumbed to his self-inflicted injuries. The authorities have not yet released his identity. The two wounded students were taken to a local hospital, where one remains in critical condition while the other was discharged with non-life-threatening injuries on Wednesday night.
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Additionally, a fourth student was reported to have self-transported to the hospital after sustaining injuries while fleeing to a nearby elementary school.
Police Quickly Respond, Evergreen High School Goes Into Lockdown
Law enforcement officers responded swiftly to the shooting, arriving at the scene within two minutes after receiving the alert and confronting the gunman within five minutes, reports CPR. The officers, however, did not discharge their weapons during their response.
In the immediate aftermath, Evergreen High School was placed on lockdown as officials conducted a thorough sweep of the campus to ensure safety.
By late Wednesday, students were reunited with their families, and the school was closed for the remainder of the week. Evergreen High School, which is located about 28 miles southwest of Denver, enrolls roughly 900 students.
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Investigators are still working to determine the motive behind the shooting and whether the victims were specifically targeted.
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