1 Student Dead, 8 Injured in Shooting at Colorado STEM School Highlands Ranch

1 Student Dead, 8 Injured in Shooting at Colorado STEM School Highlands Ranch

One student is dead and eight others were injured after a shooting Tuesday at the STEM School Highlands Ranch in Highlands Ranch, Colo., the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said. Two suspects are in custody.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • May 09, 2019

One student is dead and eight others were injured after a shooting at the STEM School Highlands Ranch in Highlands Ranch, Colo., the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said. Two suspects are in custody.

According to Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock, two shooters walked into the campus’s high school at about 1:50 p.m. Tuesday and opened fire in “two separate locations.”

Spurlock said that administrators called the dispatch center as soon as gunfire was heard in the school, and the campus was placed on lockdown.

Deputies arrived two minutes later and found the two suspects, continuing to shoot, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The suspects were taken into custody separately.

Spurlock said no gunfire was exchanged between deputies and the suspects, and no law enforcement members were injured.

"I have to believe that the quick response of the officers that got inside that school helped save lives," he said.

Agents from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and ATF also responded to the incident to help with the investigation.

The sheriff’s office initially said both suspects were male, but said Wednesday morning that the second suspect is a female. Spurlock said the suspects were believed to be students at the school.

According to Spurlock, the STEM School Highlands Ranch does not have a dedicated school resource officer, instead contracting out its security staff.

Class will be canceled at the campus through the end of the week. All other schools in Douglas County will remain open, with heightened security.

"This is a terrible event," Spurlock said. "This is something that no one wants to have happen in their community ... and we will get to the bottom of it to figure out how and what has occurred."

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.