1 Student Dead, 8 Injured in Shooting at Colorado STEM School Highlands Ranch

1 Student Dead, 8 Injured in Shooting at Colorado STEM School Highlands Ranch

One student is dead and eight others were injured after a shooting at the STEM School Highlands Ranch in Highlands Ranch, Colo., the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said. Two suspects are in custody.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • May 08, 2019

One student is dead and eight others were injured after a shooting at the STEM School Highlands Ranch in Highlands Ranch, Colo., the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said. Two suspects are in custody.

According to Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock, two shooters walked into the campus’s high school at about 1:50 p.m. Tuesday and opened fire in “two separate locations.”

Spurlock said that administrators called the dispatch center as soon as gunfire was heard in the school, and the campus was placed on lockdown.

Deputies arrived two minutes later and found the two suspects, continuing to shoot, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The suspects were taken into custody separately.

Spurlock said no gunfire was exchanged between deputies and the suspects, and no law enforcement members were injured.

"I have to believe that the quick response of the officers that got inside that school helped save lives," he said.

Agents from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and ATF also responded to the incident to help with the investigation.

The sheriff’s office initially said both suspects were male, but said Wednesday morning that the second suspect is a female. Spurlock said the suspects were believed to be students at the school.

According to Spurlock, the STEM School Highlands Ranch does not have a dedicated school resource officer, instead contracting out its security staff.

Class will be canceled at the campus through the end of the week. All other schools in Douglas County will remain open, with heightened security.

"This is a terrible event," Spurlock said. "This is something that no one wants to have happen in their community ... and we will get to the bottom of it to figure out how and what has occurred."

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now

  • Turning Surveillance Into Strategy: AI’s Role in Driving Proactive Security

    Video surveillance has long been part of the campus safety toolkit, indispensable for investigating security incidents after they occur and a valuable tool for proactive deterrent. Read Now

  • A.C. Camargo Cancer Center Enhances Security, Patient Care with Help from Advanced Video Surveillance

    A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, a leading oncology treatment center in São Paulo, Brazil recognized for its history of innovation, today announced that its partnership with Axis Communications has produced savings of more than $2 million over its first two years, all of which will be reinvested in patient care. A.C. Camargo has deployed more than 2,000 state-of-the-art video surveillance cameras throughout the Center’s corridors, complex care units, and parking lots, embracing a more holistic approach to security that emphasizes patient and employee safety along with improved quality of service. Read Now

  • 2025 Secure Campus Award Winners Announced

    Campus Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 Secure Campus Award winners. Twenty companies are being recognized this year for products that help keep education and business campuses safe. Read Now

Most   Popular