Two faculty members at East High School in Denver were shot and wounded by a male student on Wednesday, leading to a citywide search for the suspect.

According to Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas, the shooting was reported at around 9:50 a.m. and police and medical responders arrived quickly to find two adult men with gunshot wounds.

“One faculty member is in stable condition while the other is in critical condition,” said Thomas. The student believed to be responsible for the shooting is under 18 and was under a school safety plan, which required him to be patted down every day.

During the search for the student, a handgun was found and several shots were fired in an office area away from other students and staff,” said Thomas. The student then fled the school, and a search is ongoing to find him. The weapon has not been recovered.

Mayor Michael Hancock described the student as an African American juvenile with an afro and wearing a hoodie with an astronaut on it. He also stated that the student should be considered “armed and dangerous and willing to use the weapon.”

In addition to the two faculty members who were shot, another student was taken to the hospital due to an allergic reaction. “Paramedics were already in the building for that incident when the shooting occurred,” said Hancock.

East High School has around 2,500 students across 9th through 12th grades and is the largest and highest-performing comprehensive high school of all Denver Public Schools, according to the school system.

“Following the shooting, the school will be out of session for the rest of the week,” said Superintendent Alex Marrero during a news conference.

Gov. Jared Polis issued a statement saying he was praying for the two victims’ recovery and added, “Our students should and must be able to attend school without fear for their safety, their parents deserve the peace of mind that their children are safe in classrooms, and teachers should be able to work safely and without harm.”

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