Suspect identified in Colorado STEM school shooting which left 1 dead, 8 injured
Update 1:45 a.m ET: School closure announced
Douglas County School District officials made the announcement in an email Tuesday night and said that the school will be closed for the remainder of the week, adding that crisis counselors would be available to all STEM School Highlands Ranch students, staff and families at a nearby church on Wednesday.
Update 11:30 p.m ET: Injured in the attack
Three hospitals reported treating eight people in connection with the attack, including two who were listed in serious condition. At least four others were released by Tuesday night. Two students are listed as stable with injuries that are not life-threatening.
A Colorado man says his 17-year-old son was shot three times at a suburban Denver school but is expected to make a full recovery. Fernando Montoya told KMGH-TV his son said one of the shooters pulled a gun from a guitar case and began firing in a classroom. Montoya says his son doesn't believe he was targeted. "Thank God he is fine," Montoya said. "Even though he got shot, he's OK. He's going to walk out on his feet, so I'm glad. We're so lucky."
Update 11:19 p.m ET: Suspect identified
The DC Sheriff announced that a suspect has been apprehended in the school shooting. He has been identified as an 18-year-old named Devon Erickson. No photos are being released currently until the investigation concludes.
Spurlock said the second suspect is a juvenile and that both attended the school. They were not previously known to authorities, he said.
Update 10 p.m ET: Students recall the moment of attack
As the gunfire rang out, students ran through the halls shouting "School shooter!" Some wondered at first if it was a joke or a drill. "At the moment no one really knew what was going on so I didn't know they were bullets," said seventh-grader Sophia Marks. "I just kind of saw like flashes and we heard bangs."
Chris Elledge, 15, said his teacher told the class to hide behind weight equipment in the room, where they stayed until police arrived. "They busted in the room, and they were asking if there was any suspects in the room, if we were OK, and they escorted us out to go out to the front of the building," Elledge said, according to Associated Press.
Update 8:45 p.m ET: Police confirm death of 1 student
Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirmed that one student at the STEM School was killed in Tuesday's shooting. The immediate family has been notified. Douglas County Coroner Jill Romann has not officially identified the student, stating it’s an 18-year-old male. The death appears to be separate from the eight people who were treated at hospitals.
The sheriff's office also revealed the two suspects in custody include an adult male and a juvenile male. Both are thought to be STEM students. "Sheriff, states suspects are students of STEM and were confronted by DCSO right away. This quick response helped save lives," the office revealed in a tweet. No staff or officers were injured.
Update: 6:08 p.m. ET - 7 people or possibly 8 injured
An update from Douglas County Sheriff’s Office revealed at least seven people "possibly eight" are injured and two suspects are in custody after a shooting was reported at a Colorado STEM school on Tuesday. "7 possibly 8 students have been injured. Two shooters in custody. SWAT still clearing school. Students being bused to Northridge Rec Center. Parents please have patience with reunification process," the sheriff's office tweeted.
Update: 4:59 p.m. ET - Two suspects in custody
Two suspects are now in custody and multiple victims were shot at a Colorado school, ABC reported. Authorities are currently engaging a third suspect, a law enforcement source told this publication.
“This is still an active shooter situation. We still don’t know whether there is still an active shooter inside,” said a spokeswoman with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office just before 3 p.m. local time. “Two suspects are in custody.”
The sheriff's office said deputies responded around 1:50 p.m. to the school in the Highlands Ranch community about 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of Denver. Lines of firetrucks, ambulances and law enforcement vehicles are at the scene and a medical helicopter landed on a grassy field. The sheriff directed parents to a recreational center to pick up their children.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis released a statement at 3:05 p.m. local time: “We are making all of our public safety resources available to assist the Douglas County Sheriff's Department in their effort to secure the site and evacuate the students. We are monitoring the situation in real time. The heart of all Colorado is with the victims and their families.”
Original story
Douglas County sheriff’s officials put out an alert at around 2 p.m. as they believe two people are injured from shots fired at the STEM School in Highlands Ranch, Denver, Colorado.
The sheriff’s office is warning people to stay away from the school at 8773 S. Ridgeline Blvd and an investigation is ongoing. The sheriff's office said this is an "unstable situation," as they stated two people were shot.
The STEM School is on lockdown, according to the Douglas County School District and all other Highlands Ranch schools are on lockdown too, the district said. Authorities have asked the public to avoid the area.
A ranking law enforcement source told ABC affiliate Denver7 that at least one victim was shot and that one suspect was taken down. Authorities were looking for two other suspects. The school is located off South Ridgeline Road and Plaza Drive.
The shooting happened at the STEM school at Ridgeline and Plaza in Highlands Ranch. The school has classes from kindergarten through 12th grade and has more than 1,800 students. More than 500 of those students are in elementary.
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