Denver East High School shooting: 2 staff members shot, alleged gunman found dead

Two school administrators were rushed to the hospital after another shooting at East High School on Wednesday morning, Denver police said.

Later that night, authorities found the suspect dead in Park County.

The shooting happened just after 10 a.m. at the school at 1600 City Park Esplanade Blvd.

Police identified the alleged shooter as Austin Lyle, a 17-year-old student at the school. Police said he fled the scene. Initial word from students is that the shooting happened inside the school.

The East High School shooting suspect was found dead in Park County on Wednesday night, Park County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Emmy Glancy West confirmed to The Denver Gazette.

The Jefferson County SWAT team approached the 2005 red Volvo XC90 "associated" with alleged gunman Lyle. Authorities located the vehicle off Bailey's County Road 68 near Wellington Lake, according to Glancy West.

It was abandoned, but a body was found nearby matching Lyle's description in a "secluded area."

The Park County coroner will perform an autopsy and confirm identification, she said. 

Agencies involved in the manhunt included the FBI and ATF. A shelter-in-place order has since been lifted for Bailey residents.

Police said earlier Wednesday there was a "safe plan" in place for Lyle to check him every day for weapons before allowing him into the school. He was checked Wednesday morning, police said, but he allegedly got a gun into the school and began firing.

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said school administrators were the ones who patted him down and were shot. One of the victims was rushed into surgery and was listed in critical condition. The other victim was in "serious but stable condition," according to Thomas.

Denver Health officials later verified the victims' identifications as Jerald Mason and Eric Sinclair.  

Sinclair's job title is dean of culture. Mason works as the restorative practice coordinator, according to the school's website.

Initially, the suspect was not identified because he is a juvenile. However, as the search stretched on into the afternoon, Denver police identified Lyle and said he is wanted for attempted homicide. 

Authorities had considered him armed and dangerous.

By 7 p.m., the search for Lyle continued. Denver police confirmed on Twitter just before 6 p.m. that the suspect's vehicle was located in Park County. 

Details about Lyle, while remaining scant, began to emerge. A spokeswoman for the Cherry Creek School District confirmed that Lyle had been "removed" from Overland High School in Aurora for "violations" of board policy, according to Denver Gazette news partner 9News. 

Officials said paramedics were at the school at the time of the shooting, treating a student who was having an allergic reaction. They said it was fortunate because the paramedics were able to immediately treat the victims and transport them.

A note home to parents from the school said the students were in their third period classrooms and that the administration was "holding them there until further notice."

Other students told their parents that they were in the auditorium in lockdown. Students were later dismissed in an "organized release."

One senior student who did not want to be named said that she was walking up from the parking lot for class as students were walking toward her. They told her not to go toward the school. She said police cars and ambulances were driving up on Esplanade Boulevard, the street which runs north to south in front of East High School. 

"It's so surreal. My friends and my little brother are inside the building," she said. "I can't even fathom what's happening. This is crazy." 

MEDIA ALERT: Media is being asked to stage at Colfax & Esplanade. PIOs are en route.

— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) March 22, 2023

"I was picking up my son at East High School today for a doc appt, moments before the incident took place and witnessed the alleged gunman fleeing the building," former Denver City Councilman Albus Brooks tweeted. "I am praying for the 2 staff members who were shot. We live in a culture that protects rights and not lives. #Enough."

At 10:40 a.m., the school wrote parents it put into motion a release plan. 

The shooting prompted Hancock and Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero to push for bringing Denver police officers back to DPS schools.

It's been an especially traumatic month since soccer player Luis Garcia was shot while sitting in his car after school. His family said he was getting ready to buy birthday party supplies.

The day of the shooting, two teens were taken into custody in connection with the shooting, but Denver police said no one has been charged, specifically related to Garcia's death.

Two days after the he was shot, a weapon was discovered on campus. The next day, on Feb. 16, students were placed in a “secure perimeter” because of “an unrelated disturbance in the neighborhood,” according to a note home. 

East High freshman Titus Dokes described the disturbance as a violent incident that happened on East Colfax, which runs past the school but is not considered school property.

A week later, several Colorado schools, including East, received false reports of active shooters and other threats.

“It was scary for everyone,” said Dokes, who said he was afraid he was going to die because he didn’t have a cellphone that day to keep up with the situation.

Students later pleaded with Denver City Council members to do something about the rampant gun violence, and urged them to reinstate the school resource officers. Days later, East High students marched from the school to the state capitol building on Broadway and Colfax Avenue for a rally, and to try and persuade legislators to do something. 

"We are devastated to learn that once again East High School has experienced gun violence," the Denver Public Schools Board of Education said in a statement late Wednesday. "We first want to extend our support and care to the two school deans who were shot. We also share concern for the students, staff, and families of East who are once again experiencing a traumatic event due to gun violence. We know this tests all of our resolve to pursue safe and welcoming schools for our students. Please join us in supporting the East community during this difficult time."