EVERGREEN, Colo. (Sept. 12, 2025) — Authorities say the 16-year-old student who opened fire at Evergreen High School on Wednesday, critically injuring two classmates, had been “radicalized by some extreme network,” raising further concerns about youth exposure to extremist content online.
The suspect, identified as Desmond Holly, was a current student at the school and arrived that morning via school bus with a significant amount of ammunition, according to Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jacki Kelley. Armed with a handgun, Holly moved through the school, shooting at windows, lockers, and classrooms in what investigators described as a wide-ranging and intentional attack.
“He would fire and reload, fire and reload, fire and reload,” said Kelley at a Thursday news conference. “This went on and on.”
Officials said locked classroom doors likely prevented a greater tragedy, with Holly unable to gain entry into rooms where students were sheltering. He was later found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Two Students Critically Injured, Hundreds on Lockdown
Two students sustained critical injuries in the shooting. One of the victims was identified Thursday as 18-year-old Matthew Silverstone, whose family released a brief statement thanking the community for its support while requesting privacy during his recovery.
Over 100 law enforcement officers responded to the school after the first 911 call was received just before midday. Authorities said they made contact with the shooter within five minutes of arrival, while more than 900 students were placed on lockdown and classrooms were cleared one by one.
Kelley said some students ran to escape the violence, while others remained barricaded inside classrooms. For many, the day ended at a reunification center, waiting anxiously for loved ones.
Motive Under Investigation, Search Warrants Executed
Authorities have executed search warrants for Holly’s phone, home, and school locker. Early findings indicate that he had been “radicalized by some extreme network,” Kelley said. She did not elaborate on the nature of the radicalization, citing the ongoing investigation.
“It’s not clear if this was entirely targeted or random,” Kelley added. “It could be a bit of both.”
Officials have not disclosed how Holly obtained the handgun or who owned it. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and FBI are assisting with crime scene processing.
Security Lapses and Questions Raised
The school’s full-time School Resource Officer (SRO) was not on campus at the time of the shooting due to a medical leave. A part-time SRO, also a sheriff’s deputy, had reportedly left campus earlier that morning to respond to a separate incident. No law enforcement personnel were present at the time of the shooting.
This marks the 47th school shooting in the United States this year, according to CNN data—23 on K-12 campuses and 24 on college campuses.
The incident occurred less than an hour after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot at an event in Utah, though authorities have not indicated any connection between the two events.
A Community in Shock
Among those affected was Mike Webb, whose twin grandsons attend Evergreen High School and were on campus during the shooting. Webb previously lost his ex-wife in the 2021 Atlanta-area spa shootings.
“One of the boys was in the hallway and just ran. The other ran into armed officers,” Webb said. “I thought, at least they’re up in the mountains and it’s unlikely anything like this would happen. And sure enough, it did.”
Webb said he told his grandsons, “None of us should have to go through this. This is the world we live in, and thank God you guys are OK.”
State and Federal Reactions
Colorado Governor Jared Polis condemned the attack, calling it “a terrible act of violence” and saying his office is working to provide support and resources for students and families.
“This kind of violence has absolutely no place in Colorado or anywhere, especially our schools,” Polis said.
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet said he was “horrified” by the shooting and called for action to protect children from gun violence.
“Our children deserve to grow up in a country free from the trauma and terror of senseless gun violence,” Bennet said.
A Familiar Tragedy in Colorado
Wednesday’s shooting joins a tragic list of mass shootings in Colorado, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, the 2012 Aurora movie theater shooting, the 2021 Boulder King Soopers shooting, and the 2022 attack at Club Q in Colorado Springs.
“This is the scariest thing you could ever think that could happen,” Kelley said Thursday. “And I know we always say, ‘Not again,’ and here we are.”
