Colorado (BN24) – Authorities in Colorado said Thursday that a 16-year-old student who opened fire at Evergreen High School, wounding two classmates before killing himself, had been “radicalized by some extremist network” and appeared to be on a self-declared mission.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Desmond Holly, a sophomore at the school. Officials confirmed Holly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the attack, which erupted around 12:24 p.m. Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain foothills community about 30 miles west of Denver.
Sheriff’s officials said Holly was armed with a revolver that “was fired a lot” during the rampage. Shots shattered windows and tore through lockers as the teenager moved through the school searching for new targets, but he was blocked from reaching more victims by locked classroom doors.
Three students were transported to the hospital in critical condition, including the shooter. As of Thursday, none of the wounded had been released, despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise. Authorities clarified that a fourth student taken to the hospital Wednesday had not been struck by gunfire.
One victim, 18-year-old Matthew Silverstone, remains hospitalized. His family issued a statement thanking the community for its support and asking for privacy as they focus on his recovery.
Investigators said Holly’s actions were likely influenced by an extremist network that he had been communicating with online. Authorities are searching his phone, home, and school locker to determine the nature of those connections. “We believe he was radicalized, and he had a mission,” the sheriff’s department said.
The FBI confirmed Thursday it had deployed an evidence response team and other resources to assist with 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,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.
Gov. Jared Polis said he was “devastated” by the violence. “My heart goes out to the victims and their families as they grapple with this senseless act of violence,” he said in a statement.
Following the shooting, Evergreen High School was locked down as heavily armed police officers swept the campus room by room. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said more than 100 officers responded, with assistance from the FBI and NCIS to process multiple crime scenes inside the school and on a nearby street.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Jacki Kelley credited lockdown drills with preventing further casualties. “Students and staff were amazing. They did their job and they did it well. Lives were saved yesterday,” Kelley said.
Officials said they are still working to determine whether the attack was targeted or random and are investigating the ownership of the weapon Holly used.
The shooting drew grim reminders of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, also in Jefferson County, where 14 people were killed. Authorities said Evergreen students’ quick response to lockdown training underscored how lessons from Columbine continue to shape school safety protocols more than two decades later.
