STEM School Highlands Ranch security guard detained 1 suspect

The armed security guard who apprehended one of two students accused in the suburban Denver school shooting was employed by a security company started by a SWAT team leader who responded to the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.

The company’s owner, Grant Whitus, told The Associated Press the security guard is a former Marine who was on duty inside the STEM School Highlands Ranch when the emergency call went out on Tuesday.

He declined to identify the guard but said the guard ran to the area of the shootings and confronted one of the armed students in a hallway. He says the guard drew his weapon and apprehended the person.

Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock previously said that he believed one of the suspects was detained by the school’s security guard.