Suspect identified in Evergreen High School shooting

EVERGREEN, Colo. — Multiple law enforcement sources have identified the student suspected of shooting two students and himself on Wednesday at Evergreen High School.

The student suspected of shooting those students around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday died of his self-inflicted injuries, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said. Multiple law enforcement sources identified the suspect as 16-year-old Desmond Holly.

One of the two students shot at Evergreen High School on Wednesday has been released from the hospital while the other victim remains in critical condition, according to an update from hospital staff.

Dr. Brian Blackwood with St. Anthony’s Hospital initially said that one of the students had injuries that were not life-threatening, and the other two were in critical condition. Blackwood said Thursday morning that the student with non-life-threatening injuries was released some time Wednesday evening.

He said another one of the victims died Wednesday evening. The sheriff’s office identified that person as the suspect, his name has not been officially released. The other victim remains in the hospital with critical injuries.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jacki Kelley said the school had no school resource officer there at the time of the shooting, but deputies were on scene in two minutes and had contacted the shooter within five minutes.

She said there were scenes inside and outside of the school and that the weapon used was a handgun.

The sheriff’s office said Evergreen High School was cleared, but it and multiple other schools will be closed Thursday.

The reunification center for families was Bergen Meadow Elementary School. Hundreds of parents went to the reunification site, standing in lines and waiting to talk to their children. In a 5 p.m. update, Kelley described the process as “bumpy” because students ran from the shooting to many locations, but she said reunification between students and parents was almost complete.

The reunification center closed around 7 p.m.

Jefferson County Sheriff Reggie Marinelli said at a news briefing that the investigation into the shooting will likely continue for several days and that the sheriff’s office will release “what we can, when we can.”

“This was our people. This was our kids,” Marinelli said. “We work with our citizens each and every day. We work with the kids in our schools each and every day. This affects us.”

Both Marinelli and Evergreen Fire Chief Mike Weege said their agencies had trained and prepared for this, and everyone came together to do their jobs. Many other law enforcement jurisdictions reached out to assist, Marinelli said.

“Evergreen is a strong, resilient community,” Weege said. “I know we’re all going to pull together.”

Evergreen High School, which is in the Jeffco Public Schools district, is in the foothills west of Denver. It has about 900 students, according to state data.

Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that he’s monitoring the situation.

“State Troopers are supporting local law enforcement in responding to this situation,” Polis said. “Students should be able to attend school safely and without fear across our state and nation. We are all praying for the victims and the entire community.”

 People who have vehicles in the west lot at Evergreen High School will be able to retrieve their vehicles Thursday.

They must go to Bergen Meadows Elementary School between the hours of 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and provide their own keys, according to the sheriff’s office. From there they will be taken by bus to the school and then escorted to their vehicle. Anyone who arrives at the school on their own will be turned away.

If your keys are somewhere within the school, you will not be provided access at this time. The sheriff’s office said they’re asking for just one driver to come.

The sheriff’s office said its Victim Services Unit will operate a resource and information center at Bergen Meadow Elementary from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. 

“The center is open to students, faculty, families, and community members. Staff will include victim advocates, mental health professionals, victim compensation representatives, and school personnel,” the sheriff’s office posted on X.

Information about retrieving vehicles and personal items from the school will be available. People who witnessed the shooting and have not spoken with an investigator are asked to go to the resource and information center to do so. 

Bergen Meadow Elementary School is located at 1928 S. Hiwan Dr. in Evergreen.