A 16-year-old student accused of shooting two classmates at Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, posted white supremacist material on TikTok and expressed interest in past mass shootings, the Anti-Defamation League said Friday.
Desmond Holly shot one classmate inside the school and another outside on Wednesday before taking his own life, Jefferson County authorities said. The ADL’s Center on Extremism reported that Holly had an account on the gore forum WatchPeopleDie where he commented on posts about shootings in Parkland, Fla., Buffalo, N.Y., and the 2017 attack at a Quebec City mosque. The group also said Holly posted content emulating past shooters and that his TikTok accounts were filled with white supremacist symbolism.
The ADL said Holly collected tactical gear and adorned it "with extremist symbols." The organization noted that the name on his most recent TikTok account included a reference to a popular white supremacist slogan; the account was unavailable Friday. TikTok told The Associated Press that accounts associated with Holly had been banned.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office officials previously described Holly as having been radicalized by an unspecified "extremist network," though they released few details. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jacki Kelley said during a news conference that it was not yet clear whether Holly selected his victims intentionally or shot at random. Denver-area hospitals treated the two victims, and at least some remained under care, officials said.
The FBI’s Denver field office is coordinating with partner agencies as the investigation continues, FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday. The federal agency did not immediately respond to other inquiries about the probe. Local authorities have said they are examining the suspect’s online activity; the ADL said it reviewed his posts as part of its investigation.
On national television Sunday, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said the internet was "driving extremism in our country," comments made amid growing concern about online radicalization and violent content being accessible to young people. The ADL said such material and graphic depictions of violence can be celebrated by users and may desensitize youth, increasing the risk of ideologically motivated violence.
The Jefferson County community is particularly sensitive to school shootings: Columbine High School is in the same county and was the site of a 1999 massacre that killed 14 people. Local officials and advocacy groups said the Evergreen shooting revived long-standing questions about the role of radicalizing networks, social media platforms and how authorities track concerning online activity.
The investigation into Holly’s online postings and potential ties to extremist networks remains active. Law enforcement officials have asked anyone with information to come forward as they continue to piece together a timeline of the shooter’s activity and influences. The inquiry involves local and federal agencies and, according to authorities, could take time to complete.
Fox News Digital and The Associated Press contributed reporting to the initial coverage of the shooting. Authorities said they will release additional findings as the investigation develops.