So Sad: Shooting At Denver STEM School Leaves 1 Dead, 8 Injured

Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock said 18-year-old Devon Erickson and the unnamed girl opened fire in two classrooms on Tuesday at STEM School Highland Ranch, causing students to hide in closets and under desks.

Spurlock said deputies from a nearby substation were on the scene within two minutes. “They immediately engaged the suspects and started rescuing the children who were injured,” he revealed at an early morning news conference.

According to the Sheriff, investigators have not yet determined the motive for the attack that happened shortly before 2 p.m. The shooters–armed with at least two handguns–entered through a middle-school entrance at the K-12 school specializing in math and science. Authorities did not exchange gunshots with the suspects before taking them into custody.

The public charter school has more than 1,850 students and no metal detectors, Spurlock said, also adding that an armed security guard contracted by the school was on the campus at the time.  According to Spurlock, all of the shooting victims are students ages 15 and older. The male student who died was 18 years old. Three of the eight wounded remained hospitalized Wednesday.

13-year-old Robert Helfer was in math class when he heard a disturbance. “Everyone thought it was a theater play at first. Then when we just started hearing banging and gunshots and cursing,” the seventh-grader recalled. “There was a body by the door when the police officer came to get us.”

A court hearing for Erickson was scheduled for later Wednesday, but according to District Attorney George Brauchler, a hearing for the female suspect had not been set.

This assault comes less than three weeks after the 20th anniversary of the shooting at nearby Columbine High School, where two teenagers fatally shot 12 students and a teacher. Tuesday’s incident was the fourth school shooting in Colorado since then.

The STEM school is set to be closed for the remainder of the week, Superintendent Thomas S. Tucker said in a letter to parents which was also posted on the district’s Twitter account. “We are a united family. We are here to support each and every one of you – students, parents and staff – and will continue to do so as long as needed. Together, we will get through this difficult time.”