Evergreen High School Shooting Investigation Complete

Evergreen High School Shooting Investigation Complete

Parents of Shooter Not Facing Charges

The investigation into the shooting at Evergreen High School has concluded, and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office remains committed to transparency regarding its findings. Investigators were unable to speak with the shooter's parents, which complicated efforts to determine how the shooter gained access to the firearm and to confirm its ownership history. This was one of the primary challenges encountered during the investigation.

An incredible team of law enforcement professionals from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Denver Field Division (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were relentless in their pursuit of evidence and information related to this case. Investigators exhausted every available avenue to establish a clear ownership history for the handgun. The weapon used in the assault and attempted murder of multiple victims-including two who sustained life-threatening injuries-was identified as a Smith & Wesson .38 Special Revolver.

Investigators were able to trace the firearm to its original purchaser, who bought the weapon in Florida in 1966. The ownership trail ended there, as the original owner is deceased. Investigators tracked down and interviewed his surviving family members in an effort to determine any subsequent ownership; those efforts, however, were unsuccessful.

A DNA profile was identified on the firearm, and investigators obtained a court order to collect DNA samples from the shooter's parents. DNA analysis excluded both parents as contributors to the DNA profile, resulting in no evidentiary link between the parents and the weapon.

New information emerged on January 23, 2026, when JCSO's lead investigator received notification from the parents' attorney acknowledging that the firearm was owned by a maternal grandparent. The handgun was described as a family heirloom that was rarely seen or used and stored out of sight near the back of a large, locked gun safe. According to the letter, the shooter did not have access to the safe, except for brief moments when it was opened by his father.

Throughout the investigation, investigators provided ongoing updates to the First Judicial District Attorney's Office as all potential charges related to the parents of the shooter were considered. The investigation ultimately focused on 18-12-114, Secure Firearm Storage Required, and 18-12-108.7 Providing a Firearm to a Juvenile. Ultimately, investigators determined there was insufficient evidence to establish probable cause or meet the legal elements required to present the case to the District Attorney for charges.

This case will be closed, pending the emergence of new evidence that would warrant the filing of charges.

The JCSO acknowledges that this was not the outcome many in our community hoped for. In the wake of this tragic event, we remained fully committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation, guided by the facts and the law. While not every investigation results in additional charges, our focus has always been on pursuing the truth and accountability wherever it could be legally established. We recognize the deep pain this tragedy continues to cause, and we share the community's sorrow. The courage and character shown by the students and staff at Evergreen High School on September 10 was remarkable-and the heroism and commitment to protecting lives demonstrated by front-range first responders was extraordinary.

Note: JCSO's Victim Services Unit remains available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide emotional support and information regarding case updates, available resources, and assistance with ongoing needs. Advocates are available to listen, help navigate services, and support individuals and families in whatever way it is most helpful to them.

The Evergreen Resiliency Center is now open and available to support the community as healing continues. The center is a welcoming space for students, faculty, family members and those most critically impacted-to gather, connect, and receive support. It is a place where individuals can feel safe, and heard - a place where peace, comfort, and healing can begin at each person's own pace.

Additional resources are available online at: https://massviolence.help/evergreen-co