On a seemingly ordinary Wednesday afternoon, the tranquility of Evergreen, Colorado—an idyllic mountain town about 30 miles southwest of Denver—was shattered by gunfire at Evergreen High School. At 12:24 p.m. on September 10, 2025, a 16-year-old male student opened fire with a revolver, wounding two classmates before turning the weapon on himself. The shooting left three students hospitalized with gunshot wounds, including the shooter, who later died from a self-inflicted injury, according to statements from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and multiple news outlets including ABC News and Colorado Public Radio.
The chaos unfolded in a matter of minutes. Law enforcement received calls of an active shooter just after noon, and officers arrived on the scene within two minutes. "Officers encountered the shooter within five minutes," said Jacki Kelley, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, at a press conference. Notably, officers did not discharge their firearms during the encounter. "Honestly, I don't know if our suspect is old enough to even drive," Kelley remarked, underscoring the youth of the individual at the center of the tragedy.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and terror. Cameron Jones, a ninth grader at Evergreen High, recounted, "I was eating lunch outside when I heard three gunshots. A security guard then told me to run. I thought this was like a one-in-a-million thing, and it still feels surreal that it happened." For many, the day’s events shattered the illusion that such violence could never touch their community. Jen Weber, a local mother, echoed this sentiment: "I think if I’m being honest with myself, I always knew it was 'When, not if?' But having been born and raised in Evergreen, I didn’t ever really think it would happen here in Evergreen."
Three students—including the shooter—were rushed to CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood for treatment. As of Thursday morning, one of the wounded students remained in critical condition, while another with non-life-threatening injuries had been released. A fourth student was also taken to the hospital, though authorities clarified this individual was injured while fleeing the chaos, not by gunfire.
Authorities quickly locked down Evergreen High School and swept the campus for additional threats. Parents were instructed to reunite with their children at nearby Bergen Meadow Elementary School, where hundreds waited anxiously for word of their loved ones. By late Wednesday, all students had been reunited with their families or friends, and the school was shuttered for the foreseeable future.
The rapid and coordinated response extended beyond local law enforcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were on the scene, assisting with forensic analysis and the interviewing of what the sheriff’s office described as "hundreds" of witnesses. Investigators processed multiple scenes inside and outside the school, and announced plans to search the suspect’s home, car, and locker in an effort to uncover a motive. "Obviously, we’re going to focus on that suspect’s home, his car, his locker. All the things that we need to do to find out more about him and maybe why this happened," Kelley explained, according to Al Jazeera.
In the immediate aftermath, questions swirled about the shooter’s identity and possible motivations, but officials had not released his name or the names of the victims as of Thursday. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the weapon used was a revolver. No law enforcement officers fired their weapons during the incident, and there was no indication that the victims were targeted for a specific reason.
The shock of the Evergreen shooting reverberated throughout Colorado and beyond. Governor Jared Polis issued a heartfelt statement: "My heart goes out to the victims and their families as they grapple with this senseless act of violence. I, the Evergreen Community, and the entire State of Colorado are devastated by this tragedy and will keep the victims, as well as their friends and family, in our thoughts." Polis also noted that state law enforcement was assisting at the scene and pledged continued support for families and the community as they process the trauma.
Other public officials voiced their grief and frustration. State Representative Tammy Story of Conifer said, "I am horrified by the shooting at Evergreen High School, and my heart breaks for the students, educators, families and school personnel whose start to the school year has now been marked by inexplicable violence and harm." Senator Lisa Cutter added, "I am heartbroken by the news of the shooting at Evergreen High School and angered at another senseless act of gun violence in our state. Schools need to be safe places, and this tragedy is yet another reminder that we must do better to protect our kids." U.S. Senator Michael Bennet echoed these sentiments, stating on social media that he was "horrified" by the events.
For many in Colorado, the tragedy at Evergreen High School is a painful reminder of the state’s troubled history with school shootings. The 1999 Columbine High School massacre, which occurred less than 20 miles away, remains etched in the national consciousness. More recently, shootings at Arapahoe High School in 2013 and STEM School Highlands Ranch in 2019 have left communities reeling. The Jefferson County Education Association, representing local teachers, released a statement: "Colorado has lived through this pain too many times. We cannot become numb. We cannot accept this as normal. We demand that our leaders at every level—local, state, and national—take real, meaningful action to end the epidemic of gun violence in our schools."
The Evergreen shooting also came just two weeks after a deadly attack at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, and a mere 20 minutes after a separate shooting incident in Utah on the same day. These events collectively underscore the persistent challenge of ensuring safety in American schools, a challenge that continues to provoke debate, grief, and calls for reform across the political spectrum.
As the Evergreen community begins the difficult process of healing, a vigil was planned at Flatirons Community Church in Golden. School athletics and activities were canceled, and the halls of Evergreen High remained silent as investigators worked to piece together what happened and why. The road to recovery will be long for students, families, and staff—each left grappling with the reality that even in the most peaceful of places, tragedy can strike without warning.
For Evergreen, the events of September 10, 2025, will not soon be forgotten. The scars run deep, but so too does the resolve of a community determined to support one another and demand a safer future for its children.
