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Wednesday 8 May 2019

SCHOOL SHOOTING KMGH that he was in study copters landed on a grassy
Continued from Previous Page hall when he saw kids run- field.
"I have to believe that the ning and shouting, "School The sheriff's office directed
quick response of the of- shooter!" parents to a nearby recre-
ficers that got inside that "And I'm like, what? Is this ational center to pick up
school helped save lives," real or fake? And then I just their children. A fleet of
Spurlock said. He did not went after them," Christian school buses arrived and
identify the suspects, but Paulson said. "And appar- dropped off students, some
said they are an adult and ently, this is all real. And I of whom were crying and
a minor who were not pre- tried to run with my life, but holding hands with their
viously known to authori- I'm out of breath." classmates as they were
ties. Authorities planned to Rocco DeChalk, who lives helped off. An ambulance
search their homes and a near the school, told tele- also pulled up and let out a
vehicle at the school, he vision station KUSA that he half-dozen children, none
said. saw so many students run- of whom appeared to be
The shooting comes nearly ning past his house that at physically injured.
three weeks after neigh- first he thought it was a gym "We know this is a very wor-
boring Littleton marked the class. He went outside and risome situation for par-
grim 20th anniversary of saw a teenage boy who ents," Nicholson-Kluth said.
A man carries a child out of a recreation center set up for stu-
dents to get reunited with their parents after a shooting at a sub- the Columbine school mas- had been shot in the back "Relatives are worried, and
urban Denver middle school Tuesday, May 7, 2019, in Highlands sacre that killed 13 people. being helped by a teacher we are trying to get them
Ranch, Colo. The two schools are sepa- and another student. back together as soon as
Associated Press rated by about 7 miles (11 They brought the boy into possible."
kilometers) in adjacent his kitchen and alerted a Gov. Jared Polis said in
communities south of Den- police officer, who sent for a statement that he was
ver. an ambulance. making state public-safety
"Tragically, this commu- "He made a comment, resources available to help
nity and those surrounding 'Oh, I'm starting to feel it secure the site and evacu-
it know all too well these now,'" DeChalk said. "I told ate students.
hateful and horrible acts him that was probably the "The heart of all Colorado
of violence," White House adrenaline kicking in and is with the victims and their
spokesman Judd Deere he was going into shock." families," he said.
said in a statement. Presi- Three area hospitals report- Democratic Rep. Jason
dent Donald Trump had ed treating eight people Crow, a gun-control sup-
been briefed on the shoot- in connection with the at- porter whose congressional
ing and was in touch with tack. Two were listed in se- district includes STEM, said
state and local officials, rious condition, two were the gun violence cannot
Deere said. listed as stable, one was in continue.
The STEM School Highlands good condition and three "It is not enough to send
Ranch is a public char- were released. thoughts and prayers. It
ter school with more than Lines of firetrucks, ambu- is empty. It is weak, and it
1,850 students in kindergar- lances and law enforce- does an injustice to our chil-
ten through 12th grades. ment vehicles from mul- dren who are on the front
Student Christian Paul- tiple agencies were at the lines of this violence," he
son told television station school, and medical heli- said.q