Shooting at Evergreen High School in Colorado leaves several students hurt; suspect among those injured

Three students were critically wounded on Wednesday in a shooting at Evergreen High School in the Colorado foothills. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says one of those students is the shooting suspect.

The shooting took place just after noon at the school located at 29300 Buffalo Park Road in Evergreen, which is 28 miles southwest of Denver.

Jacki Kelley, the Public Information Officer for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said they began receiving numerous calls about a shooting at the school at 12:24 p.m. Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the Denver metro area responded to help with the situation. Kelley said they formed multiple teams and cleared the school room by room.

Nearby Wilmot Elementary School was also placed on lockdown just after 1:50 p.m.

St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood said there are three Evergreen High School students at the hospital who suffered gunshot wounds; all are in critical condition.

“We’ve received three victims, all minors from Evergreen High School. They are currently being actively treated at St. Anthony Hospital. We are a Level 1 Trauma Center and prepared for situations like this,” said Kevin Cullinan, President, CEO of CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital. “Each of the victims that we have sustained gunshot wounds. They are all, all three victims are all either in the Emergency Department or operating rooms at this time.” 

Law enforcement later confirmed that one of those three students is the suspect, and the scene at the school is now safe. They said a fourth student was also sent to the hospital with unknown injuries.

The school district announced that a reunification center is located at Bergen Meadow Elementary School, located at 1928 South Hiwan Drive. Those with students at Evergreen High School are encouraged to go to the reunification center, not the high school.

Shortly following the shooting, an Evergreen High School teacher told CBS Colorado that they were on lockdown with some students inside a game room in the school. Just after 1:30 p.m., people could be seen exiting the school single file.

Authorities have Highway 73 closed in the area near Evergreen Lake. Access to the lake remains open.

A mother who spoke with CBS Colorado said her son was near a door when the shooting happened. The Evergreen High School freshman was in the lunchroom when he said he heard 15 to 30 gunshots.

“I know they’ve done drills at school in classrooms, but they were at lunch,” the woman explained. “So that’s what, something that many students have said is that they just didn’t even know what to do, like a lockdown drill, with this happening at lunch.”

She suggested that parents talk to their students about this kind of scenario and what actions they should take. “Obviously, you don’t think it’s gonna happen at your school or to your child, then it happens in your backyard and you’re shocked. But it seems to be happening so much that we shouldn’t be shocked, I guess.”

Her son said he wants the victims to know that everyone is thinking of them and hoping they will be okay.

Gov. Jared Polis and several other elected leaders in Colorado issued statements after the shooting expressing deep concern. “We are all praying for the victims and the entire community,” Polis said.