The suspected gunman who shot two students before shooting himself yesterday at Evergreen High School has died, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office confirmed last night.

The big picture: The shooting happened just before 12:30pm on campus grounds, both in and outside the school — which has over 900 students and is about 30 miles southwest of Denver, according to authorities.

• The three students, including the suspected gunman, were taken to CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood.
• As of yesterday evening, one remained in serious condition, and another was upgraded to stable condition and transferred to a different facility, spokesperson Lindsay Radford told Axios Denver.
• A fourth person was injured, though that individual was not shot, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jacki Kelley told reporters.

Zoom in: The suspected shooter — a juvenile male armed with a handgun — fired on schoolmates before sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities confirmed last night.

• Federal law enforcement, including the FBI, responded to the incident. Local authorities arrived within two minutes of being alerted, officials said.

What they're saying: "Students should be able to attend school safely and without fear across our state and nation," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement.

Zoom out: The Evergreen tragedy unfolded just two weeks after a shooter opened fire at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, killing two children and injuring more than a dozen others.

Flashback: Colorado has a tragic legacy of school shootings, with the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Littleton becoming a national flashpoint for school safety.

• Two students died after a shooting at Arapahoe High School in 2013, and another student was fatally shot at STEM School Highlands Ranch in 2019.

Full story

Students and parents at the scene of the Evergreen High School shooting described terror, disbelief and the frantic search for safety in interviews with the Denver Post.

Sixteen-year-old Ethan Ramirez was in the cafeteria when the commotion broke out.

• "He was walking, he wasn't running," Ramirez said, recalling the moment he saw a figure firing toward fleeing students. "…I saw him shooting right at us."
• Ramirez and several schoolmates ran into a neighborhood and hid in the bathroom of a stranger's home, who protected them armed with two guns. "I'm pretty scared," Ramirez admitted. "I'm paranoid now that something is going to happen" at school.

Senior Emily Heidarsson, 17, had gone home for lunch minutes earlier. At the reunification site, she hugged friends through tears.

• Had she not left campus, she said, "I could have died."

Panicked parents rushed toward the foothills as news spread.

• "I always taught them ... if you hear anything, get down and pretend you are dead," said mother Tasha Williams. "I shouldn't have to do that. But that is the world we live in."

Go deeper with the Denver Post

Local officials wasted no time praising the Broncos' Denver stadium deal, saying it sets the stage for the city to see "unprecedented" development.

Why it matters: Keeping the Broncos in Denver isn't just a win for diehard fans — it's an economic lighting strike for a city in the middle of a financial crisis.

State of play: The state-owned 58-acre Burnham Yard, a historic former railyard, will host the team's new stadium — a development its ownership group says will be privately funded.

What they're saying: "It's vital to Denver that our sports teams stay downtown — and Burnham Yard is the perfect location," former Mayor Wellington Webb said in a statement.

• Jackie Bouvier, executive director of the Santa Fe Business Improvement District, lauded the decision for its potential to spark growth in the corridor.
• Community members gave mixed reviews to the Denver Post. Some residents celebrated the potential for new amenities, while others raised concerns about being priced out.

📣 We asked Axios Denver readers to weigh in, and most of you celebrated the announcement.

• "So pumped to hear the Broncos are staying in town. And the owners paying for it is amazing. We Denverites got it good when it comes to sports!" reader Will A. tells us.
• "I'm ecstatic ...! Our teams should be in the heart of our city," adds Elizabeth L.

The other side: Reader Grant B., a Broncos season ticketholder, said a new stadium is unnecessary: They "seek to separate fans from each other in mini suites and extract more money."

What's next: The Broncos (1-0) travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts Sunday.

Share the excitement

🍺 Westbound & Down Brewing is growing to a new tasting room with a full kitchen on 5540 W. 29th Ave., in Wheat Ridge. It's expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, John reports.

🥊 U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert's (R-Colo.) call on the House floor yesterday for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk devolved into a partisan shouting match, with Democrats invoking the school shooting in Evergreen. (Axios)

⛑️ Anthem and Rocky Mountain Health Plans will not withdraw coverage from Front Range counties after all. The companies said new incentives from state officials will help blunt price increases. (Colorado Sun)

🛒 Safeway announced it will shutter 10 Colorado stores by November. The locations include 1653 S. Colorado Blvd., in Denver.

We're back from a few days in D.C., where we gathered with amazing colleagues from all 34 Axios Local cities.

Why it matters: We talked about how to serve readers and the community better — and are bringing home some big, bright ideas.

What's next: We may have some exciting news on the horizon. Stay tuned.