Denver school shooting: School board lifts ban on armed guards as students protest at Colorado Capitol

Austin Lyle was the prime suspect in the shooting at East High School in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday morning

Related video: Possible shooting reported at high school in Denver

The Denver school board has lifted its ban on armed guards and police officers in its schools in the wake of this week’s shooting.

On Thursday, the board voted unanimously in favour of temporarily suspending the almost two-year ban which was put in place as part of the racial reckoning after George Floyd’s 2020 murder.

The same day, a crowd of students held a rally at the Colorado state Capitol calling on lawmakers to take greater action on gun control and school safety following Wednesday’s violence.

Austin Lyle, a 17-year-old student, allegedly shot two faculty members at East High School on Wednesday morning while he was being searched for weapons.

The teenager had been required to be patted down each day at school due to his record, police said.

After the shooting, Lyle allegedly killed himself while on the run from police.

His body was found hours later in some woods close to his abandoned red Volvo.

The two victims – Eric Sinclair, a dean of culture, and Jerald Mason, coordinator in restorative practice – were rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds. Mr Sinclair remains in critical condition while Mr Mason was later released after treatment.

Key Points

• Body found in search for suspect
• Denver shooting revives calls for armed officers in school
• Austin Lyle had prior ghost guns arrest
• One faculty member remains critical
• Shooting took place during ‘security search’ of student
• Will more police in schools stop shootings?

[22 March 2023 17:41 · Graig Graziosi]

Two staff members shot in active shooter incident at a Denver high school

A pair of faculty members were shot at a Denver high school, and the suspect — believed to be a student — is still at large.

Police were called to East High School in Denver around 10am on Wednesday to respond to a shooting. The school was placed on lockdown as a result.

It is unclear if the shooting occurred inside or outside the school.

The Denver Public School district revealed that the victims were both adult male facutly members, and they have been transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The suspected shooter is reportedly known to the school’s staff and to police, and had to agree to a pat-down before entering school each day, according to CBS News.

[22 March 2023 17:50 · Gustaf Kilander]

VIDEO: Denver Mayor gives update on victims

[22 March 2023 18:05 · Gustaf Kilander]

Congressman alerted to shooting while introducing legislation to combat gun violence

Florida Democratic Representative Maxwell Frost tweeted that he was walking to introduce a bill aimed at fighting gun violence when the news broke of the Denver shooting.

“Ran into students from @NewtownAction as I was walking to introduce my first bill to tackle gun violence. During my walk, news broke of a school shooting in Denver, CO at East High School. We really are #GenerationLockdown,” he wrote.

“What the hell. Kids are literally on the frontlines of this crisis. I won’t rest until we #EndGunViolence,” he added.

[22 March 2023 18:20 · Gustaf Kilander]

Colorado Democrat responds after learning of shooting

Colorado Representative Jason Crow tweeted that he was “shocked to hear that 2 faculty members were shot outside Denver’s East High School. Our thoughts are with the victim’s families and the entire East High community — my team & I will be monitoring the situation as we learn more”.

[22 March 2023 18:35 · AP]

Police: 2 school administrators shot at Denver high school

Two school administrators were shot at a Denver high school Wednesday morning after a handgun was found during a search of a student, authorities said.

The juvenile suspect remained at large and the gun was not immediately recovered following the shooting at East High School, Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

The shooting happened at around 10 a.m. in an area away from classrooms as the student was undergoing a daily search as part of a “safety plan,” officials said. One of the administrators was critically injured and is undergoing surgery. The second victim was in stable condition, Thomas said.

[22 March 2023 18:50 · Gustaf.Kilander]

Police know who shooter is and is confident of possible arrest

Police know the identity of the suspect and were confident they would apprehend him, Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

“He obviously is armed and dangerous and willing to use the weapon, as we’ve learned this morning,” said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, warning the community as they search for the suspect.

Earlier this month students from the school skipped class and marched to Colorado’s state Capitol to demand stricter gun laws, following the death of a fellow student who was shot while sitting in a car near the school.

[22 March 2023 19:05 · AP]

Suspect subject to daily searches after recently transferring from other school district

The suspect in Wednesday’s shooting had transferred to East High School from another district, Denver Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero said. Officials did not reveal why the student was subject to daily searches.

The school, not far from downtown near a busy street that cuts through the city, was placed on lockdown as police investigated the shooting.

Denver Public School confirmed the victims were administrators. Hundreds of parents lined up along a road near the school, with the scene sealed off by police.

Wednesday was the second anniversary of 10 people being shot and killed at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

[22 March 2023 19:20 · Gustaf Kilander]

Shooting took place during 'security search’

The shooting took place during a “security search,” Denver police Chief Ron Thomas said, according to The Denver Post.

This was “a regular protocol with this student” based on previous actions. During the search, a gun was located.

The student fired the gun at about 9.50am “and was able to get out of the school”.

“We don’t have any sense of where he is. We know where he lives,” the chief said, adding that it was “a very troubling situation”.

[22 March 2023 19:40 · Gustaf Kilander]

‘We know who the suspect is. We will find him. We will hold him accountable'

DPS Superintendent Alex Marrero said at a press briefing on Wednesday that when school starts again, “we will have two armed officers here at East until the end of the school year. We’re looking forward to expanding that conversation to see how we can reestablish a relationship” with the police.

“We know who the suspect is. We will find him. We will hold him accountable,” Mayor Michael Hancock said, according to The Denver Post.

[22 March 2023 20:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Denver Schools releases statement

Denver Schools released a statement following the shooting.

“We are working with the Denver Police Department to ensure the safety and security of our students. Additional communications will be shared with students and families as we know more. We cannot provide further comments at this time,” the school said.