The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has identified the Evergreen High School shooter as 16 year-old Desmond Holly. (Image courtesy of Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
The boy who shot two schoolmates and himself at Evergreen High School was identified Thursday as 16-year-old Desmond Holly.
Desmond lived with his family in a sprawling mountain home tucked away on a private lane near Kittridge, property records show. His parents did not immediately return requests for comment Thursday.
Investigators believe Holly shot two of his classmates at the Jefferson County high school on Wednesday before shooting himself, according to the sheriff’s office. He later died from his injuries at the CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood.
One victim remains in critical condition at St. Anthony Hospital, Dr. Brian Blackwood said in a Thursday morning news briefing. A second victim was transferred to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, where that student remains in critical condition, hospital officials said.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers responded Wednesday to Evergreen High School at 29300 Buffalo Park Road, after a 911 caller reported an active school shooting at 12:24 p.m., Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jacki Kelley said.
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The first sheriff’s deputies were on the scene in minutes, Jefferson County Sheriff Reggie Marinelli said.
Sheriff’s officials are still investigating the events leading up to the shooting and where in the school the shooting took place.
It’s unknown what law enforcement found inside the home.
Kelley said Wednesday that investigators would also examine the suspect’s locker, car and social media.
Evergreen High School will be closed the rest of the week, Jefferson County Public Schools announced. Another eight schools in the Conifer and Evergreen areas were also closed Thursday.
A resource and information center will operate for two days out of Bergen Meadow Elementary’s old building at 1928 S. Hiwan Drive, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. That building was the reunification point for families and Evergreen students on Wednesday.
The center will host victim advocates, mental health professionals, victim compensation representatives and school personnel from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, sheriff’s officials said. It’s open to all students, faculty, families and community members.
It’s unclear when students will be able to re-enter the high school to retrieve their personal belongings, but that information will be available at the elementary school, sheriff’s officials said.
Anyone who witnessed the shooting and hasn’t yet spoken with investigators is asked to come to the resource center to do so, according to the sheriff’s office.