Police searching for 17-year-old Denver East High student accused of shooting two staff members
DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- Police are searching for a student accused of shooting two faculty members at Denver East High School Wednesday morning.
According to the Denver Police Department (DPS), 17-year-old Austin Lyle is the suspect in the shooting. DPD said he's believed to be associated with a 2005 Red Volvo XC90 with Colorado license BSCW10. He was last seen wearing a hoodie with an astronaut on it.
9News reports Lyle was possibly "pinged" near Conifer, which prompted some schools in that area to be placed on "secure status." This data was based on cellphone data.
The superintendent of park County Schools said they were alerted of this. Then, just before 5 p.m., there was police activity near Bailey related to the investigation.
The car associated with Lyle was reportedly found on County Road 68, just outside of Bailey. Park County issued an emergency alert for the town of Bailey and the surrounding area due to the investigation. Residents were asked to shelter in place and call 911 if they see anything unusual.
Timeline of the shooting
According to DPD, Lyle agreed to a daily search every day at the beginning of the day.
During the search Wednesday, DPD said Lyle had a handgun and shot two dean administrators.
During the search, DPD said that Lyle was just with the two faculty members, no other staff or students were with him.
Our Denver news partners identified them as Jerald Mason and Eric Sinclair. Both are listed as deans at East High School and Denver Health confirmed both are current patients with 9News.
Law enforcement received the call at 9:50 a.m. of the shooting. Paramedics at East High School for an unrelated reason responded and administered aid to those faculty members.
Police said Lyle left the scene and the weapon has not been recovered. Investigators say he is considered armed. Anyone who knows his whereabouts is asked to contact law enforcement.
During the press conference, DPD said police were executing a search warrant at his house.
One of the victims was in serious but stable condition, the other was in surgery as of 11 a.m. A student not involved in the shooting was taken to a hospital too due to having an allergic reaction around the time of the incident.
Denver Police provided an update on the shooting in a press conference, watch below:
Denver Public Schools announced at 10 a.m. the school was on lockdown before announcing students were being held in their third-period class.
As of 10:30 a.m., the school plans on doing a controlled release once DPD allows it. Parents can pick their children up at 17th and Esplanade. Students who drove will be escorted to their cars in the parking lot to lead.
Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero said there will not be classes at the school for the rest of the week. Once classes resume, there will be two armed officers for the remainder of the school year.
Denver Mayor Hancock thanked first responders in the press conference.
Below is a look at the scene at East High School through our Denver news partners following the shooting:
This shooting comes a little over a month after a 16-year-old student was shot while sitting in his car near East High. Luis Garcia died two weeks later on March 1 surrounded by family and friends.
