A student wanted after shooting two staff members at his school in Denver, Colorado (western) has been found dead in a nearby county, US media reported Thursday, citing authorities.
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The suspect has been identified as 17-year-old Austin Lyle, the Park County Coroner’s Office said, according to NBC News.
The student drew a weapon during a search at the entrance to his East High School in Denver early Wednesday morning.
Responding to an emergency call, police and paramedics “resulted quickly on the scene and discovered two adult males with gunshot wounds,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.
The two injured, one seriously, were taken to hospital.
The Denver Police Department announced late Wednesday that a body, which was not initially identified, was found near Austin Lyle’s vehicle in Park County, southwest of Denver.
The county forensics office said an investigation into (the suspect’s) death was ongoing and further details would not be released until an autopsy was performed, NBC reported.
The teenager’s vehicle was found shortly before 4:30 p.m. (2230 GMT), police said, according to the local newspaper The Denver Post.
The body was discovered about four hours later, 320 yards from the vehicle, Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said, quoted in the Post.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Denver Police Department and the FBI have also been involved in the search for Austin Lyle, McGraw said in a statement.
Daily search
The suspect was frisked every morning when he arrived at school, Ron Thomas said, noting that such procedures were usually put in place if there were concerns about past behavior.
Classes have been canceled for the rest of the week and armed police will be stationed at the high school until the end of the school year, Denver Public Schools official Alex Marrero said.
According The Denver Postthe city’s school board decided in 2020 to withdraw the police officers guarding the establishments, in the context of the large demonstrations against racism after the murder of the African American George Floyd by a white police officer.
The presence of the agents was detrimental to the pupils of color, had argued the elected officials of the council.
Gun tragedies are endemic in the United States, where politicians fail to agree on tougher regulation despite broad public support.