Sheriff: Investigation Ongoing In School Shooting That Killed 1 Student, Injured 8

Updated May 8 at 10:25 a.m. 

The Douglas County Sheriff says Kendrick Ray Castillo, the student killed in the shooting at the STEM School Highlands Ranch yesterday, was a senior who would have finished school on Friday.

Sheriff Tony Spurlock says they don't have information about a possible motive for the shooting at this time.

"We are still actively working the crime scene with our partners from the FBI. We anticipate that's probably going to take at least two more days for us to manage that," he said.

Officials with the Douglas County School District say the STEM school will be closed for the remainder of the week, and that crisis counselors would be available to all students, staff and families today. The public charter school has more than 1,800 students in kindergarten through 12th grades.

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Updated May 8 at 7:01 a.m.

Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock says the two suspects used handguns in the shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch. One of the suspects has been identified as an 18-year-old male.

ATF is currently looking into where the guns were purchased. A security officer at the STEM school was able to detain one of the shooters before the police arrived, and no gunfire was exchanged.

Spurlock says only three shooting victims are still in the hospitals for intensive care; the others have been released.

District Attorney George Brauchler says the 18-year-old suspect is scheduled to appear in court for an advisement hearing at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

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Updated May 7 at 6:52 p.m.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that an 18-year-old male student was killed in a shooting at a suburban Denver school. The death appears to be separate from the eight people who were treated at hospitals.

Two students are listed in serious condition, two are listed as stable with injuries that are not life-threatening, one is in good condition and three have been released.

The STEM School Highlands Ranch is a public charter school with more than 1,850 students in kindergarten through 12th grades.

Student Christian Paulson told television station KMGH that he was in study hall when he saw kids running and shouting, "School shooter!"

"And I'm like, what? Is this real or fake? And then I just went after them," Christian Paulson said. "And apparently, this is all real. And I tried to run with my life, but I'm out of breath."

Rocco DeChalk, who lives near the school, told television station KUSA that he saw so many students running past his house that at first he thought it was a gym class. He went outside and saw a teenage boy who had been shot in the back being helped by a teacher and another student.

They brought the boy into his kitchen and alerted a police officer, who sent for an ambulance.

"He made a comment, 'Oh, I'm starting to feel it now,'" DeChalk said. "I told him that was probably the adrenaline kicking in and he was going into shock."

Three area hospitals reported treating eight people in connection with the attack. Two were listed in serious condition, two were listed as stable, one was in good condition and three were released.

Lines of firetrucks, ambulances and law enforcement vehicles from multiple agencies were at the school, and medical helicopters landed on a grassy field.

The sheriff's office directed parents to a nearby recreational center to pick up their children. A fleet of school buses arrived and dropped off students, some of whom were crying and holding hands with their classmates as they were helped off. An ambulance also pulled up and let out a half-dozen children, none of whom appeared to be physically injured.

"We know this is a very worrisome situation for parents," Nicholson-Kluth said. "Relatives are worried, and we are trying to get them back together as soon as possible."

Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that he was making state public-safety resources available to help secure the site and evacuate students.

"The heart of all Colorado is with the victims and their families," he said.

Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, a gun-control supporter whose congressional district includes STEM, said the gun violence cannot continue.

"It is not enough to send thoughts and prayers. It is empty. It is weak, and it does an injustice to our children who are on the front lines of this violence," he said.

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Updated May 7 at 5 p.m.

Authorities say eight students were injured in a shooting a suburban Denver school, and several are in critical condition.

Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock said at a news conference Tuesday that two shooters walked into the school and opened fire on students in two classrooms.

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He said a number of students were shot and wounded.

"Two individuals walked into the STEM school, got deep inside the school and engaged students in two separate locations," said Spurlock.

The victims are all 15 and older.

Spurlock says the gunmen were both students at STEM School Highlands Ranch and that he had no information about whether anyone was targeted.

The sheriff says the shooters are in custody, believed to be a man and a minor boy.

"We do not have any other suspects, we have all the people who are involved," said Spurlock. "So we're slowing everything down and w're going to try and focus on processing that crime scene, taking care of those who are injured and investigating this case."

Spurlock says at least a handgun was recovered, but he didn't release other information on weapons.

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Updated May 7 at 4:10 p.m.

School buses are delivering young children to a recreation center to be reunited with their parents after a shooting at a suburban Denver middle school injured at least seven people.

Some children were crying and others held hands with schoolmates as police officers, sheriff's deputies and school administrators helped them off the buses in a light rain Tuesday.

Eleven buses carrying children pulled up to the center in a matter of minutes. An ambulance also arrived and dropped off a half-dozen children. None appeared to be physically wounded, but some were crying.

Parents also were streaming into the center, but no reunions with their children occurred outside in public view.

A man who appeared to be a pastor was walking among small groups of parents, praying with them.

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Updated May 7 at 3:40 p.m.

Authorities say at least seven people have been injured in a shooting at a suburban Denver school.

Douglas County Undersheriff Holly Nicholson-Kluth said Tuesday that two suspects have been taken into custody in the shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch.

She says there's a possible eighth injury and doesn't believe there are any other shooters, but tactical teams are still searching room by room.

Nicholson-Kluth didn't know if there are fatalities or other details about the victims or the extent of their injuries.

She said the shooting started in the middle school area and shots were being fired as officers arrived.

The school is near a sheriff's department substation, and authorities responded quickly. Students were being bused to a nearby recreational center to reunite with their families.

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Updated May 7 at 3:10 p.m.

Authorities say two suspects are in custody following a shooting at a suburban Denver school that injured multiple students.

A Douglas County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman told reporters Tuesday that there could be a third suspect in the school, which is still being searched.

Lines of firetrucks, ambulances and law enforcement vehicles are at the scene, and medical helicopters have landed.

The shooting occurred at STEM School Highlands Ranch, a public charter school with more than 1,850 students in kindergarten through 12th grades.

It's near a sheriff's department substation, and authorities responded quickly and in force to the shooting.

Students are being taken from the school to be reunited with their parents at a nearby recreation center.

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Updated May 7 at 2:50 p.m.

Authorities say a shooting at a suburban Denver school has injured two people.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says deputies are trying to find the shooter or shooters, calling it an "active and unstable scene."

The shooting occurred at STEM School Highlands Ranch, a public charter school with more than 1,850 students in kindergarten through 12th grades.

The sheriff's office directed parents to a recreational center to pick up their children.