The Douglas County, Colo. Sheriff’s Department held a news conference on Wednesday and we learned a little more about the shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch that left one student dead and 8 injured.
First up, deputies who arrived at the scene ran into the building to catch the shooters:
Douglas County Undersheriff Holly Nicholson-Kluth was asked how the shooters were caught. "They were caught by officer's running into the schools." pic.twitter.com/vsOFtwABWv
— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) May 7, 2019
Deputies reportedly arrived at the schooling “within two minutes of gunfire breaking out”:
.@dcsheriff deputies were inside STEM School within two minutes of gunfire breaking out.
— Aaron Katersky (@AaronKatersky) May 8, 2019
And no gunfire was exchanged between deputies and the suspects:
.@dcsheriff: no gunfire was exchanged with suspects.
— Ariel Peele (@Ariel_Peele) May 8, 2019
There are early reports that students inside the school helped subdue one or both suspects:
"There did seem to be some struggle going on" when police arrived at the school, a possible indication some tried to stop the two suspects
— Aaron Katersky (@AaronKatersky) May 7, 2019
"We are going to hear about very heroic things that took place inside the school" – @dcsheriff. No word on motive behind the #STEMshooting. #CBS4Mornings
— Makenzie O'Keefe (@makenziepokeefe) May 8, 2019
Kendrick Castillo, 18, has been identified as the lone fatality in the attack:
Kendrick Castillo, 18 was shot and killed at STEM school in #Colorado yesterday. He was a senior and due to finish school in just 3 days. He was an award-winning member of his school's robotics team. He lunged at one of the shooters to save others. ? #KendrickCastillo pic.twitter.com/CerzBzc74e
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) May 8, 2019
According to one of the students who gave an interview to the “TODAY Show,” Castillo died after tackling one of the suspects. From USA Today:
Three of the eight wounded remained hospitalized Wednesday. The family of Kendrick Castillo confirmed to multiple media outlets that the 18-year-old student was killed.
“I want people to know about him,” Castillo’s father, John Castillo, told ABC News.
Nui Giasolli told NBC’s “Today” show she was in a literature class when fellow student Erickson came in late, walking around the room and opening and closing doors.
“The next thing I know he’s pulling a gun and he is telling nobody to move,” she said. Castillo was among several students who tackled the shooter, she said. The struggle gave “all of us enough time to get underneath our desks, to get ourselves safe and to run across the room to escape,” she said.
“They were very heroic,” she said of the students. “I can’t thank them enough.”
8 other students were shot, some have been discharged:
The eight students shot are 15 and older. Some are undergoing surgery, others have already been discharged.
— Aaron Katersky (@AaronKatersky) May 7, 2019
There was a private guard at the school but we’re not sure if he was armed or not:
.@dcsheriff: School had a private guard. #STEMshooting
— Ariel Peele (@Ariel_Peele) May 8, 2019
There are not metal detectors at the school:
#stemshooting @dcsheriff says Two handguns used during the school shooting, suspects apprehended separately. No metal detectors at the school. #kdvr pic.twitter.com/GK5msO3T8l
— Rob Low (@RobLowTV) May 8, 2019
The Sheriff’s Department is still trying to determine how the two got the guns:
#STEMshooting @dcsheriff says they are still trying to determine how the two suspects obtained their guns. #kdvr pic.twitter.com/g64MqxJnm0
— Rob Low (@RobLowTV) May 8, 2019
And there’s official word word yet on a motive:
.@dcsheriff Tony Spurlock is now answering questions. He says he is not sure of a motive yet @KKTV11News
— Jenna Middaugh (@JennaMiddaugh) May 8, 2019
The next update will be at 2 p.m. Colorado time:
#stemshooting media conference has finished up. We anticipate putting out a media release after 2pm today. No other information will be available until that time. As of right now there are no other scheduled press conferences.
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) May 8, 2019
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Related:
One suspect in the Highlands Ranch shooting is reportedly transgender, possible motive 'involved revenge and anger towards others' https://t.co/jYSzvGD747
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 8, 2019
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