Colorado school shooting: Two students open fire on classes killing one and injuring eight in Denver

A teenage boy has been killed and eight people have been injured after two students opened fire at a school in Denver, Colorado.

Officers arriving at the scene could still hear gunfire as the pair stormed around shooting students in classrooms on Tuesday, police said.

STEM School Highlands Ranch, which serves kindergarten through to twelfth grade, was placed on lockdown and students were evacuated.

People described how they were forced to run for their life as the gunmen entered campus and began shooting.

Police vehicles line the street outside a recreation centre where students were reunited with their parents after the shooting
AP

One student died in the attack on the school, which is located seven miles from Columbine High School where 13 people were killed in 1999.

The victim killed was not named by authorities but it has been confirmed he was 18 years old.

Text messages circulating on social media reportedly from a student at the school claimed "some seniors tackled the gunmen".

Pupils step off a bus and head into a recreation centre where they were reunited with their parents
AP

Crying children were seen being guided by officials to be reunited with their parents at a nearby recreation centre.

The shooting comes a week after a gunman killed two students and wounded four at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

It also comes nearly three weeks after neighbouring Littleton marked the 20th anniversary of the Columbine massacre.

Lines of ambulances and police cars were at the scene of Tuesday’s attack and a medical helicopter landed on a nearby field.

Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock said the gunmen walked into the school and began shooting students in two classrooms.

School shooting: Armed police officers approach the scene at STEM School Highlands Ranch
AP

Within minutes, deputies at a nearby sheriff's department substation arrived and arrested the two suspects after a struggle.

"As officers were arriving at the school, they could still hear gunshots," Douglas County Undersheriff Holly Nicholson-Kluth said.

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

Aftermath: Fire and police officers gather at the recreation centre where students were reunited with their parents
AP

He did not identify the suspects, but said they were not previously known to authorities.

Authorities planned to search their homes and a vehicle at the school, he said.

"Tragically, this community and those surrounding it know all too well these hateful and horrible acts of violence," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.

School buses arrive at the recreation centre set up for students
AP

President Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting and was in touch with state and local officials, Deere said.

Student Christian Paulson told television station KMGH that he was in study hall when he saw kids running and shouting, "School shooter!"

"And I'm like, what? Is this real or fake? And then I just went after them," Christian Paulson said.

Officials guide students off a bus and into a recreation center where they were reunited with their parents
AP

"And apparently, this is all real. And I tried to run with my life, but I'm out of breath."

Rocco DeChalk, who lives near the school, told television station KUSA that he saw so many students running past his house that at first he thought it was a gym class.

He said he went outside and saw a teenage boy who had been shot in the back being helped by a teacher and another student.

They brought the boy into his kitchen and alerted a police officer, who sent for an ambulance, he said.

Three area hospitals reported treating eight people in connection with the attack.

Two were listed in serious condition, two were listed as stable, one was in good condition and three were released.

Agencies contributed to this report

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