- The Washington Times - Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Denver police are searching for a student accused of shooting two school administrators Wednesday at East High School in the city.

The victims were taken to area hospitals. One is in serious condition and stable while the other is in critical condition and in surgery, police said.

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said at a press conference that the suspect is a juvenile who, under a safety plan, is supposed to be patted down in a school office each day.

The student decided to pull a gun Wednesday morning and shoot the two adult faculty members, he said.

Police know who the suspect is and they are searching for him after he fled the scene.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said paramedics were inside the school for another matter and helped the injured administrators right away.

“That hopefully will help in the recovery,” Mr. Hancock said.

He also said a separate student had to be treated for what he described as an allergic reaction due to the “tension of the moment.”

“We are looking for the suspect, we will find that suspect and will hold that suspect accountable for his actions this morning,” Mr. Hancock said.

The school went into a lockdown but students were released home later in the day and classes for Thursday and Friday were canceled.

There is growing impatience with gun violence in the city.

Students recently protested at a city council meeting to demand action on gun violence after a 16-year-old student was killed in a shooting near the school in mid-February.

The mayor said parents were also “frustrated and they’re angry, as they should be.”

“We certainly understand their frustration, and the faculty and staff are concerned,” Mr. Hancock said Wednesday. “We must continue to work on addressing safety in our school buildings and in our city in general.”

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.

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