A 16-year-old student who opened fire Wednesday at Evergreen High School, near Denver, died Wednesday night from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Jefferson County authorities announced — an attack that wounded multiple students and left a tight-knit mountain community scrambling for answers.
A shooting at Evergreen High School on Wednesday afternoon left the teen suspect dead of a self-inflicted wound and at least three other students treated for injuries, Jefferson County authorities said, plunging the suburban Denver community into grief and confusion.
Law enforcement received calls reporting an active shooter at roughly 12:30 p.m. Officials said officers arrived on campus within two minutes and encountered the 16-year-old male shooter within five minutes. Authorities said no shots were fired by responding officers.
Three students — including the shooter — were treated at CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital for gunshot wounds. One student remained in critical condition Wednesday night, while another sustained injuries not believed to be life-threatening. A fourth student went to a hospital after being hurt while fleeing the campus, the sheriff’s office said.
“This is the scariest thing you could ever think could happen,” Jacki Kelley, public information officer for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, told reporters at a Wednesday press conference. She added that investigators were still determining whether the victims had been specifically targeted.
Sheriff Reggie Marinelli said local, state and federal agencies were assisting with witness interviews and forensic work at two crime scenes — one inside and one outside the school. Authorities said they planned to seek search warrants for the shooter’s home and locker.
Evergreen High School, about 28 miles southwest of Denver and home to roughly 900 students, was locked down while parents waited for updates at a predetermined reunification point at nearby Bergen Meadow Elementary School. Video and images from the scene showed long lines of anxious family members and a heavy presence of emergency vehicles.
“We are devastated by this tragic event in our community,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement, offering condolences to victims and families and pledging state assistance. A local church scheduled a vigil for Wednesday evening.
The Jefferson County Education Association urged authorities and elected leaders to take meaningful action on gun violence, noting the trauma of previous school shootings in Colorado — including Columbine — and warning against becoming numb to recurrence.
Students and parents described moments of terror and disbelief. Cameron Jones, a ninth-grader, said he heard three gunshots while eating lunch outside and was told by a security guard to run. “I thought this was like a one-in-a-million thing,” he said. “It still feels surreal.”
School officials confirmed that classes were canceled for the remainder of the day and that counseling services would be made available. Jefferson County Public Schools said students had been reunited with family or friends by late Wednesday.
Investigators urged anyone with information or footage to come forward as they continued to piece together the motive and timeline. As the community begins the long process of grieving and recovery, officials emphasized support resources for students, staff and families affected by the violence.
