Austin Lyle: Colorado high school student who had to be patted down every day for safety purposes shoots 2 school staffers
DENVER, COLORADO: Two people were wounded during a shooting that took place at a Denver high school on Wednesday, March 22. A student, identified as Austin Lyle, was under a certain agreement to be patted down every day at East High School, allegedly shot and wounded two school administrators.
The 17-year-old suspect, was armed with a handgun, and he fled the school after the shooting. Denver police have launched a manhunt for him, adding that the gun used in the shooting has not yet been recovered. Both faculty members are in serious condition, according to the hospital where they have been admitted. While one of the victims underwent surgery, the other was able to speak to the authorities, officials said.
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Suspect is an African-American teenager
Denver police posted about the shooting on Twitter. "The Denver police department is responding to a shooting at East High School. Unknown number of victims at this time. Investigators are working to gather information, expect large police presence in the area".
ALERT: #DPD is responding to a shooting at East High School. Unknown number of victims at this time. Investigators are working to gather information, expect large police presence in the area. Updates will be posted to this thread as they are made available. #Denver pic.twitter.com/YkosOOOjmS
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) March 22, 2023
In a follow-up tweet, the department said "two adult victims have been located and transported to area hospitals."
UPDATE: At this time, two adult victims have been located and transported to area hospitals. It is believed the suspect is no longer on scene, and investigators are working to develop additional info. #Denver
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) March 22, 2023
Dever police chief Ron Thomas, during a press briefing at the scene, said, "There was a student as was alluded to. As part of a safety plan, they were undergoing a search. During that search, obviously, a weapon was retrieved, a handgun was retrieved, and several shots were fired, striking those two individuals."
"That individual then fled the school, but we do know who that individual is, and a search is underway to try to locate that particular individual," the chief added. He described the suspect as an African-American teenager wearing an Astronaut hoodie and warned the public not to approach him, calling him 'armed and dangerous.
Police identified the suspect as Lyle on Wednesday, March 22, and posted his picture on social media.
UPDATE: Your #Denver Police Department continues working in conjunction with local, state and federal law enforcement partners to locate the suspect from today’s shooting at Denver East High School. Due to the public safety concern that he poses, the Department is identifying… pic.twitter.com/RmwO940Qug
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) March 22, 2023
Lyle was required to be searched everyday
Austin Lyle was required to be searched at the beginning of each school day, officials said. He allegedly shot the school administrators as they patted him down on Wednesday morning in the school's office area which the officials said was away from other students and staff, according to a report by MSN. The suspect's daily searches were part of a "safety plan" that was a result of "previous behavior," officials said, though they did not elaborate on the previous behavior.
Denver school officials announced at around 10 am that the building had been placed on lockdown, according to a report by the New York Post. About a half-an-hour later, the district announced that students would be taken to a separate location where parents could pick up their children.