A 16-year-old student opened fire Wednesday at Evergreen High School in the Denver suburbs, wounding two students before taking his own life, and authorities said Thursday the suspect had been radicalized by an "extremist network." The shooting occurred around 12:30 p.m. at the school in Evergreen, Colorado, which enrolls more than 900 students.
One of the injured students was identified by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office as 18-year-old Matthew Silverstone. Both victims were being treated in critical condition at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood. Silverstone's family issued a statement thanking the community for its concern and requesting privacy as their loved one recovers.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jacki Kelley said at a news conference that investigators concluded the suspect had been "radicalized by some extremist network" after searching the teen's home and phone. Kelley said the shooter, named by the office as student Desmond Holly, fired a revolver, reloaded repeatedly and tried to find additional targets as the attack continued.
"He would fire and reload, fire and reload, fire reload," Kelley said. She said the attacker had substantial ammunition but was unable to enter areas of the school where students had sheltered because secured doors blocked his access.
More than 100 police officers from the Denver area responded to the incident, Kelley said, and officers located the shooter within five minutes of arriving. Authorities said one victim was struck inside the school and the other outside. It was not yet clear Thursday whether the victims were specifically targeted or shot at random.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the Denver field office was coordinating with partner agencies on the investigation. "Most importantly, our thoughts continue to be with the two victims injured in the shooting and all those who have been impacted by this horrific attack," Patel said Thursday. He said the bureau would provide more information as it becomes available.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was the primary agency that responded to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, a reference underscoring the agency's experience with school shootings in the region. Authorities on Thursday declined to provide additional details about the alleged extremist network or any potential affiliations as the probe continued.
Investigators have described the weapon as a revolver and noted significant ammunition was recovered at the scene and in searches of the suspect's residence. Emergency responders and law enforcement secured the campus and conducted a room-to-room search before the scene was cleared.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for further comment Thursday. Local officials asked the public to avoid speculation as investigators work to establish a timeline, identify any network connections and determine the motive. The FBI and local law enforcement said they would share additional findings when available.
School officials and first responders did not release the names of the suspect's family members or others connected to the case. Counseling and support services were made available to students and staff in the wake of the shooting, and the district said it was cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation proceeds.
As federal and local authorities continue their investigation, the community and the families of the injured have been urged to respect privacy while officials gather evidence and review digital and physical materials seized from the suspect's residence and devices.