A student wanted after shooting two staff members at his school in Denver, Colorado (west) has been found dead in a nearby county, US media reported Thursday, citing authorities.
• Read more: A high school student considered dangerous shot and killed two staff members at his school in Denver
NBC News reports that the Parke County Coroner’s Office has identified the suspect as 17-year-old Austin Lyle.
The student drew a weapon during a search of the entrance to his East High School in Denver early Wednesday morning.
Police and paramedics responding to the emergency call “quickly rushed to the scene and found a two-year-old male with gunshot wounds,” Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said.
Both of them were critically injured, one of whom was seriously injured and was admitted to the hospital.
The Denver Police Department announced late Wednesday that an initially unidentified body was found near Austin Lyle’s vehicle in Park County, southwest of Denver.
The county coroner’s office is investigating the death (of the suspect) and will not release further details pending an autopsy, NBC reported.
The teenager’s vehicle was found shortly before 4:30 pm (2230 GMT), a local newspaper reported. The Denver Post.
Parke County Sheriff Tom McGraw said the body was found about four hours later, about 320 yards from the vehicle. Mail.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Denver Police Department and FBI are also involved in the search for Austin Lyle, McGraw said in a statement.
Daily search
The suspect was tested every morning when he arrived at school, Ron Thomas said, noting that such procedures are routinely put in place if there are concerns about past behavior.
Classes have been canceled for the rest of the week, and armed police will be stationed at the high school through the end of the school year, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero said.
According to The Denver PostThe city’s school board decided in 2020 to withdraw police officers from guarding the institutions in the wake of major anti-racism protests after African-American George Floyd was killed by a white police officer.
The council’s elected officials argued that the agents’ presence would harm students of color.
Gun tragedies are widespread in the United States, where politicians disagree on tougher regulation despite broad public support.
