Sep, 11 2025
What we know about the Evergreen High School shooting
Deputies reached the gunman in under five minutes, but the violence had already torn through a school day. Two students were shot at Evergreen High School on Wednesday, and the suspected student shooter died later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The attack unfolded just before 12:30 p.m. in the Colorado foothills, about 28 miles southwest of Denver.
Authorities say the shooter used a handgun and fired both inside and outside the building. Many students saw or heard the gunfire. No law enforcement officers fired their weapons. Spokesperson Jacki Kelley said the first deputies on campus moved fast: "The first on scene — they were at the school — were pretty quick to find our suspect." Investigators have not released the suspect’s name and noted they were unsure if the student was even old enough to drive.
Two students were rushed to CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, a Level I trauma center for adults. One victim remained in critical condition as of Wednesday night. The other had injuries described as non-life-threatening. Officials have not released ages or names of the victims, citing privacy and family notifications.
The school, which serves about 900 students, went into lockdown as deputies and tactical teams moved room to room. Investigators declared the building secure by 2 p.m., but the methodical clearing continued into the evening as students and staff were escorted out and buses and cars were checked. Detectives collected shell casings and surveillance footage, and crime scene technicians mapped the path of shots fired.
For students caught in the open, adrenaline and training kicked in. Cameron Jones, a ninth grader, said he was eating lunch outside when he heard three gunshots. A security guard shouted for him to run. “I thought this was like a one-in-a-million thing, and it still feels surreal that it happened,” he said. His words echoed what so many families in Evergreen voiced later in the day — disbelief colliding with the uneasy feeling that no community is fully insulated from gun violence.
Parents scrambled as the alerts hit their phones. Jen Weber, whose son is a freshman, was washing her car when his text came through. “I think if I’m being honest with myself, I always knew it was ‘When, not if?’” she said. “But having been born and raised in Evergreen, I didn’t ever really think it would happen here in Evergreen.”
Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrived to help trace the handgun and process ballistic evidence. That work typically includes checking serial numbers, running database hits, and matching shell casings to see if the weapon appears linked to other crimes. Detectives also planned to review school camera footage, digital records, and social media to piece together a timeline and possible motive.
- Time and place: Around 12:30 p.m., at Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, Colorado.
- Suspect: Believed to be a student; identity not yet public. Authorities unsure if the student was old enough to drive.
- Weapon: Handgun; shots fired inside and outside the school.
- Victims: Two students injured; one critical, one with non-life-threatening injuries.
- Law enforcement response: Deputies made contact within minutes; no officers fired their weapons.
- Status: Suspect died later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound; campus cleared by mid-afternoon, with evidence work continuing into the evening.
As the shock settles, investigators are following a familiar checklist: recover the firearm and ammunition, determine how the student got the gun, confirm whether the shooter acted alone, and assess any prior warning signs. The coroner will conduct an autopsy and, once next of kin are notified, release the suspect’s identity and cause of death.
Students described a campus that moved quickly into lockdown routines — doors locked, lights off, everyone quiet. Those outside were told to run, then shelter. That’s standard guidance in many districts: create distance first, then secure a safe spot. The security guard’s quick call to move likely kept students from bunching up near the courtyard.
Law enforcement said patrol units were already near the area when the first 911 calls rolled in, a key reason they made contact so fast. In critical incidents like this, the first officers are trained to go toward the sound of gunfire to stop the threat and direct medical crews into safe zones. On Wednesday, deputies did both while keeping the building’s exits covered to prevent confusion and false alarms.
Community response and the larger conversation
The Evergreen area prides itself on quiet trails, mountain views, and a close-knit feel. That made Wednesday’s events hit harder. Parents stood outside the perimeter tape, scanning lines of students leaving the building. Some hugged. Others cried. Many pulled out phones and sent the same text to different people: “Are you okay?”
School officials and the sheriff’s office said they will share updates as they confirm them — names, a clearer timeline, and how students can access counseling. Districts often bring in grief counselors and set up drop-in spaces on campus. Teachers sometimes shift lesson plans for a few days to give students time to talk, write, and process. Expect assemblies or classroom conversations about safety and support in the days ahead.
Colorado has faced school shootings before, and that history shapes every response. Columbine in 1999 changed police tactics nationwide. Arapahoe High School in 2013 and STEM School Highlands Ranch in 2019 brought fresh scrutiny to school security. In 2023, a student at Denver’s East High School shot two staff members during a pat-down, prompting policy changes on searches. Each event left scars and spurred new rules, training, and debates on what prevents the next one.
The law has also shifted. Colorado has universal background checks, a safe storage law, and an Extreme Risk Protection Order process that allows judges to temporarily remove firearms from someone who poses a credible risk. In recent years, lawmakers raised the minimum age to purchase firearms to 21 and added a waiting period for gun purchases. How those rules intersect with a handgun in the hands of a student is now a central question for investigators. The ATF’s trace will aim to answer where the gun came from, who bought it, and how it ended up at school.
Families will want answers that go beyond the weapon. Were there red flags? Did classmates hear or see anything that hinted at a plan? Schools encourage students to report concerns through anonymous tip lines, and districts often review those tips after a violent incident to see what they missed. Detectives will pull attendance records, talk with teachers and friends, and examine the shooter’s digital footprint. That work takes time, even when a case seems straightforward.
Students who were there will replay the sounds and the scramble to get to safety. Research on trauma shows that even those who were not physically injured can feel on edge for weeks — skittish at loud noises, reluctant to return to the building, or exhausted from sleep disruption. Schools often stagger the return to a normal schedule, giving students a choice between a shortened day, quiet rooms, or regular classes.
One hard truth sits in the background: Firearm injuries are now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, according to federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Handguns are the most common weapon in school shootings. That data doesn’t explain why this happened in Evergreen, but it shows the scale of the problem that students and parents carry with them every day.
Evergreen High School will reopen when law enforcement finishes processing the scene and administrators are confident the building is ready. Expect added officers on campus in the short term. That’s as much about reassurance as it is about security. Safety drills may be reviewed. Hallway supervision might be tightened. Teachers will watch students closely for signs they need extra support.
The sheriff’s office urged patience with the investigation. Releasing the suspect’s identity too early can compromise next steps if detectives are still confirming what led up to the attack. The mix of state, county, and federal agencies — from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office to the ATF — means a lot of hands on the case, and that coordination usually slows the public release of details.
For now, the core facts are stark. Two students were shot at a place where they should be safest. A student with a handgun opened fire, and despite a fast police response, lives changed in minutes. The Evergreen High School shooting will force hard conversations in homes, classrooms, and at the statehouse, as this mountain community looks for a path back to something that feels steady again.
