On Wednesday morning there was a shooting at East High School which injured two deans.
The Denver Police Department and Denver Public Schools reported that the student suspected of being responsible for the shooting, 17-year-old Austin Lyle, is currently at large.
The DPD identified Lyle around 2:10 p.m. and provided a description of him as a black male, 5ft 5in tall and weighing around 150lbs.
He wore a green hoodie during the shooting and may have been driving a red 2005 Volvo XC90 with license plate number BSC-W10, according to a bulletin from Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.
At a news conference, DPD Chief Ron Thomas said a shooting was reported at 9:50 a.m. and officers, along with medical and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, firearms and explosives in Denver, had quickly arrived at East High School, which is located at 1600 City Park Esplanade, just south of City Park.
The school has been placed in lockdown. During the press conference, the DPS and DPD identified the two injured adults as deans and confirmed that they had been transported to a local hospital.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said paramedics attended the school and provided immediate medical assistance to injured faculty members. Hancock expressed his belief that this quick response would be a big factor in their recovery.
According to Chief Thomas, one of the Deans injured in the shooting was in serious but stable condition, while the other was in critical condition and undergoing surgery.
Heather Burke of Denver Health confirmed that Jerald Mason and Eric Sinclair, both identified as deans on East High School’s website, were taken to Denver Health Medical Center.
Mayor Hancock said a student was also taken to hospital due to a reaction to the incident, but was not injured. Chief Thomas said the suspect, identified as Austin Lyle, a 17-year-old East High student, was subject to a school security agreement requiring him to be searched every morning at reception, a procedure that had been performed without problems for some. time.
However, on Wednesday, the student pulled out a gun and shot and injured the two deans. The suspect fled, but was later identified by police, who released his name a few hours later. A search is currently underway to locate him.
According to a bulletin from Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, the suspect is wanted for attempted homicide. Although he is a minor, the DPD has identified the suspect as he poses a significant threat to public safety.
Cherry Creek Public Schools reported the suspect was disciplined for violating board policy and later expelled from Overland High School.
Safety plans, like the one the suspect was under, are designed based on past behavior, according to Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero. DPS said all school districts in the state have safety agreements with some students, but the suspect’s specific history is not currently available.
At 11:25 a.m., the DPS began a controlled release after receiving a go-ahead from the police department. Parents were asked to pick up their children at 17th Avenue and the Esplanade, while students driving to school were escorted to parking lots to leave. Students taking the bus have been held until the buses arrive, as per DPS.