Student opens fire at US school, kills self after injuring two classmates

A student opened fire on Wednesday at Evergreen High School in Colorado, United States, shooting two of his classmates before turning the gun on himself.

According to the Jefferson county sheriff’s office, the incident occurred around 12:30pm at the school located about 30 miles west of Denver in the Rocky Mountain foothills.

Jacki Kelley, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said shots were fired within and outside the school building.

He said law enforcement arrived within five minutes and found the suspected shooter, who later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Kelley said more than 100 police officers from surrounding jurisdictions were deployed to secure the area. He added that none of the officers discharged their weapons during the response.

Two teenage victims were transported to St. Anthony Hospital in critical condition.

Brian Blackwood, the hospital’s trauma director, said one had been “stabilised with non-life-threatening injuries” by evening.

In a statement, Jefferson county officials described the attack as a tragedy.

“Just before 1 p.m., shots were fired at Evergreen High School and three minors were transported to the hospital. One of those minors has been confirmed as the shooter and all three are in critical condition,” the statement reads.

“We are so grateful to our first responders and their immediate action to ensure the safety of our students.

“As parents and caregivers continue to reunite with their children, our hearts are with the families of the victims and the students impacted by this tragic event.

“No child should ever have to experience the fear of a violent threat at school. No parent should have to worry about the safety of their children while they are meant to be learning.”

Evergreen High School, which has more than 900 students, is located about a mile from the centre of Evergreen, a town of 9,300 residents.

School shootings are a recurring decimal in the United States.

In 1999, a shooting in Columbine High School in Jefferson county claimed 14 lives, including a survivor who later died from complications of her injuries earlier this year.