2 Gunmen Kill 1 Student, Injure 8 Others at School Just Miles From Columbine

One student was killed and eight others were injured when two fellow students opened fire at STEM School Highlands Ranch, a Denver area school just miles from Columbine High School.

Two students were arrested in the shooting. One of the suspects was identified as 18-year-old Devon Erickson, The New York Times reported. The other student is a juvenile.

One student, an 18-year-old male, was killed. Eight other students were injured.

“We know two individuals walked into the STEM school, got deep inside the school and engaged students in two separate locations,” Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock told reporters.

Spurlock said the two suspects were armed with a handgun and other weapons. The two confronted law enforcement officers when they arrived but were not injured.

“I can tell you that there were shots fired,” he said. “Our officers went in and engaged the suspects. We did struggle with the suspects to take them into custody.”

Motive unknown:

Spurlock said that the motive for the shooting remains unknown and that neither suspect was on police radar prior to the shooting. Spurlock said all of the students injured were 15 or older.

Two of the injured students remain in serious condition.

Spurlock said the school did not have a police officer assigned to it and used a private security guard instead. It’s unclear what actions security took during the shooting.

Spurlock said sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene within two minutes of getting a call of shots fired.

“I have to believe that the quick response of officers that got inside that school helped save lives,” the sheriff said.

Seniors tried to tackle the gunman:

Brad Bialy, the parent of senior Brendan Bialy, told reporters that his son and two friends tried to tackle the gunman after he entered their classroom and pulled a gun out of a guitar case. One of the teens was shot in the chest the process.

Fernando Montoya told reporters that his 17-year-old son was shot three times.

“Thank God he’s fine,” Montoya said, adding that he was treated at a hospital and is going to be released.

“We are so lucky,” Montoya said.

 

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