Tragedy Strikes Evergreen High School as Student Opens Fire on Peers and Takes His Own Life

Incident Unfolds in Suburban Colorado

A devastating shooting occurred on Wednesday afternoon at Evergreen High School, located about 30 miles west of Denver in the Rocky Mountain foothills. According to officials, a student shot two fellow classmates before turning the gun on himself. The shooter later died from his injuries.

The incident was reported at approximately 12:30 p.m. Shots rang out both inside and outside the school building, creating panic among students and staff. Law enforcement officers arrived on the scene within minutes and quickly located the student responsible. Authorities confirmed that none of the responding officers fired their weapons during the incident.

Swift Law Enforcement Response

More than 100 officers from surrounding jurisdictions rushed to the high school to secure the area and assist those affected. The tragedy drew somber reminders of past school shootings in Jefferson County, including the Columbine High School attack in 1999 that claimed 14 lives.

Condition of the Injured Students

Two students were initially listed in critical condition following the attack. By early evening, hospital officials reported that one teen was stable with non-life-threatening injuries. The identities and ages of the injured students have not been released, and doctors declined to provide further details.

A Community in Shock

Evergreen High School, home to more than 900 students, is nestled in a wooded area just a mile from the town center. The town of Evergreen has a population of roughly 9,300 and is often seen as a quiet, close-knit community.

After the shooting, worried parents gathered outside a nearby elementary school, waiting to be reunited with their children. Among them was Wendy Nueman, whose 15-year-old daughter is a sophomore at the high school. She described the agonizing wait after her daughter did not answer her phone right away. When contact was finally made, her daughter called from a borrowed phone and assured her mother she was safe, though shaken and barely able to speak.

“It’s super scary,” Nueman said, her voice heavy with emotion. “We feel like we live in a little bubble here. Obviously, no one is immune.”

Students Find Refuge Nearby

As chaos unfolded, several students fled the school and sought refuge at a nearby home. Resident Don Cygan recounted how a group of terrified teenagers knocked on his door, seeking shelter. In total, 18 students gathered at his house for safety.

Cygan, a retired educator experienced with school lockdown drills, made sure to write down the names of the students and later recorded the names of parents who came to pick them up. His wife, a retired nurse, helped calm the students and provided care for shock.

“I hope they feel like they ran to the right house,” Cygan said.

Evergreen Community Faces Heartbreak

The shooting has left the Evergreen community reeling. What was once considered a safe and quiet town is now grappling with the aftermath of an unthinkable tragedy. Parents, students, and residents alike are struggling to come to terms with the violence that disrupted their sense of security.