Two school administrators shot by student at high school

Parents wait for students to be walked out after two administrators shot and wounded after a handgun was found during a daily search of a student at Denver East High School Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) — Two faculty members were shot by a student at a Colorado high school on Wednesday (Picture: AP)

Two adult faculty members at a Colorado high school were shot by a student who then fled the scene, authorities said.

Police and first responders rushed to the scene after shots were fired at East High School in Denver around 9.50am on Wednesday morning.

The chaos began when a student with past behavioral issues was having his backpack searched by a faculty member before entering school.

‘As part of a safety plan, they were undergoing a search. During that search, a weapon was retrieved and several shots were fired – striking those two individuals,’ Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

Students leave East High School following a school shooting, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver. Two school administrators were shot at the high school Wednesday morning after a handgun was found on a student subjected to daily searches, authorities said. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via AP) — Students leave East High School after the end of the school’s lockdown (Picture: AP)

The suspected shooter was only identified as ‘a male student, who was under certain agreement to be patted down each day here,’ Denver Mayor Michael Hancock confirmed later at a press conference.

The suspect fled the school on foot, Chief Thomas said. ‘But we do know who that individual is and a search is underway.’

The police chief said they believe the shooter still has the weapon used in the shooting.

The victims were identified as two deans at East High School. One was hospitalized in stable condition, and the other was undergoing emergency surgery in critical condition.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, center, walks across 17th Avenue to talk to parents as they wait for their <a href= — Denver Mayor Michael Hancock speaks with parents outside East High School (Picture: AP)

City officials said that paramedics were already at the scene when the shooting happened. They had arrived earlier to treat a student who had an unrelated allergic reaction.

‘They were able to immediately administer support and treatment to the individuals who were wounded, and I think that will play a huge role in their ultimate recovery,’ Mayor Hancock said.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, East High School was put on lockdown. Denver Public Schools Superintendent Dr Alex Marrero said there would be an ‘organized released’ of students from East this afternoon.

The superintendent confirmed that school would be cancelled at East for the rest of the week, during which the school board would discuss implementing additional safety measures. ‘We will have two armed officers here at East until the end of the school year,’ Marrero said.

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