DENVER — The 16-year-old who shot and wounded two students at his high school in Evergreen, Colorado, before turning the gun on himself was "radicalized by an extremist network," the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.
The office did not provide details on the so-called radicalization of the shooter, identified as Desmond Holly. A spokesperson for the office, Jacki Kelley, said authorities were “looking for a motive but still don’t have one yet.”
Officials said details about the revolver used in the shooting and how Holly obtained it were unclear.
The shooting, which occurred inside and outside the school, broke out shortly after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, authorities said.
The two injured students were taken to nearby St. Anthony Hospital. One was released and the other was in critical condition, the sheriff's office said.
Authorities identified one of the victims as 18-year-old Matthew Silverstone. His family thanked the community for its support before asking for privacy.
“The family appreciates the community’s concern and support, but as we remain focused on our loved one’s recovery, we respectfully request privacy as we continue to heal and navigate the road ahead,” the family statement read.
The shooting occurred in the same county, Jefferson, as the 1999 Columbine High School shooting that left 12 students and a teacher dead. More than 20 people were injured. The shootings were carried out by two Columbine students.
An additional victim, Anne Marie Hochhalter, 43, died earlier this year, partly from injuries she suffered in the shooting that left her paralyzed, according to forensic pathologist Dr. Dawn B. Holmes. Her death, which was ruled a homicide, brought the death total to 14.
“We are heartbroken at the news of yet another shooting in our community,” Jefferson County Commissioners wrote in a statement. “We need to lean on each other.”
More than 900 students attend Evergreen, a rural school about 30 miles west of Denver.
