SAEDNEWS: A 16-year-old student opened fire at Evergreen High School in Colorado, injuring two classmates before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The tragedy has reignited grief and debate in a state still scarred by Columbine.
According to Saed News; A 16-year-old male student who opened fire Wednesday at Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, injuring two classmates, has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.
The shooting, which took place just after noon on September 10, sent shockwaves through a community still living with the legacy of past school shootings in Colorado.
According to Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, calls of an active shooter came in around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Officers were at the school within two minutes and encountered the shooter within five minutes.
The student, armed with a revolver, opened fire at 12:24 p.m., striking two fellow students. One victim remains in critical condition while the other sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Three students — including the shooter — were taken to CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital. A fourth student sought medical treatment after being injured while fleeing the scene.
Despite confronting the armed suspect, deputies did not fire their weapons, officials confirmed.
“This is the scariest thing you could ever think could happen,” said Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jacki Kelley. “Honestly, I don’t know if our suspect is old enough to even drive.”
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as security guards urged students to run for safety. Cameron Jones, a ninth grader, said he was eating lunch when he heard three gunshots.
“I thought this was like a one-in-a-million thing,” he said. “It still feels surreal that it happened here in Evergreen.”
Parents rushed to Bergen Meadow Elementary School, where authorities set up a reunification point. Hundreds of families waited anxiously until they were reunited with their children later that evening.
The shooting immediately evoked painful memories for many in Jefferson County — the same district that endured the Columbine High School massacre in 1999.
The Jefferson County Education Association issued a statement saying:
“Colorado has lived through this pain too many times. We cannot become numb. We cannot accept this as normal. We demand real, meaningful action to end the epidemic of gun violence in our schools.”
Governor Jared Polis also expressed condolences, saying:
“My heart goes out to the victims and their families as they grapple with this senseless act of violence… No family should ever fear for their child’s life as they send them to school.”
Authorities said search warrants would be sought for the shooter’s home and school locker. Federal agents are assisting with forensic work, while officers are interviewing “hundreds” of witnesses.
It is still unclear whether the victims were specifically targeted.
All Jefferson County school athletics and activities were canceled Wednesday evening. The Flatirons Community Church in Golden held a vigil at 7 p.m. to honor the victims and support grieving families.
For parents and students, the tragedy has fueled a grim realization about the state of school safety.
Jen Weber, a parent, recalled receiving a chilling text from her son while washing her car: “I always knew it was ‘When, not if?’ But I never thought it would happen here in Evergreen.”
Evergreen High School, which serves about 900 students and sits 28 miles southwest of Denver, is now shuttered as investigators piece together the events.
As families gather for vigils and support groups, the community is left to grapple with a familiar yet devastating question: how to stop the cycle of gun violence in America’s schools.
