One person was killed and two others were in a critical condition after they were shot at a Colorado school, police have said.  

A shooting occurred at Evergreen High School, situated 28 miles southwest of Denver, with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reporting that a gunman opened fire shortly after noon local time.

JeffCo emergency communications said there were reports of ‘an active assailant in the area’ at 12.40pm MST. 

Officials issued an alert on X, advising parents not to head directly to the school due to the ongoing active scene.

The sheriff’s office later said that ‘three people were transported to the hospital from Evergreen High School, all in critical condition’. 

According to Jacki Kelley, a spokesperson for the office, among the three individuals involved was the gunman. Additionally, a fourth juvenile, who was not attending the school, was transported to the hospital.

According to local media, the shooter was another student, and they were also wounded amid the chaos. It’s unclear whether they were shot or injured in another way. Kelley said police did not fire any rounds.  

‘This incident occurred on school property but potentially outside of the school,’ she told a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. 

‘We have a lot of kids that heard it, saw it, indicated that they were shot at, so we have a lot of interviews to do.’

‘This is the scariest thing that you could ever think that would happen. These parents were really frightened, and so were the kids.’ 

Three people are in a critical condition after they were shot at a Colorado school, police said. JeffCo emergency communications said there were reports of ‘an active assailant in the area’ at 12.40pm MST. The sheriff later said that ‘three people were transported to the hospital’

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said a gunman opened fire at Evergreen High School, located 28 miles southwest of Denver, just after noon local time. Photographs showed by police show several officers and sheriffs running towards the school wearing bulletproof vests

JeffCo emergency communications said there were reports of ‘an active assailant in the area of Evergreen High School’ at 12.40pm MST. ‘If you have children who attend the school, please do not go directly to the school as it is still an active scene,’ they wrote on X

Kelley did not disclose any information about the identity of the gunman. She said they used a handgun in the attack.  

Photographs showed by police show several officers and sheriffs running towards the school wearing bulletproof vests. 

Several emergency vehicles could also be seen lining the streets close to the school.  

Later on Wednesday, Jefferson County Sheriff said ‘parent student reunification’ had begun at a nearby elementary school, suggesting the gunman was no longer active. 

The Daily Mail has contacted the sheriff’s office for more information.  

Colorado Governor Jared Polis said he was praying for the victims. 

‘I am closely monitoring the situation at Evergreen High School, and am getting live updates,’ he wrote on X. 

‘State Troopers are supporting local law enforcement in responding to this situation. 

‘Students should be able to attend school safely and without fear across our state and nation. We are all praying for the victims and the entire community.’

The Jefferson County Sheriff earlier said that at least two of the victims were students. They did not disclose whether the gunman had been arrested or identified

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said a gunman opened fire at Evergreen High School (pictured from above), 28 miles southwest of Denver, just after noon local time

Colorado Governor Jared Polis said he was praying for the victims in a statement on X

Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper said that his office was ‘closely monitoring the shooting at Evergreen High School’. 

‘We’re grateful for the ongoing response of law enforcement,’ he wrote on X. 

‘Our hearts are with the students, teachers, and families affected. Violence has no place in our communities.’

Senator Michael Bennet said his office was also monitoring the situation, adding that he was ‘horrified’ to hear about the violence. 

Evergreen High School is a public school with around 900 students in grades nine through 12. 

It is located in Evergreen, a leafy town on the southwest outskirts of Denver.