A 14-year-old boy shot and critically injured by a classmate at Evergreen High School confronted the shooter during the attack before any alarms or lockdown procedures had started, his family said in their first public statement Thursday.
The boy, whose name has not been released, is one of the two students shot by a 16-year-old classmate who attacked the school on Sept. 10 before turning his gun on himself.
The second victim, 18-year-old Matthew Silverstone, also confronted the shooter and wrestled with him outside of the school before the teen shot him, his family said last week.
Both victims remain hospitalized and are making small improvements, according to their families and statements from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Silverstone is still in critical condition.
The 14-year-old’s family said the boy and a friend confronted the shooter, allowing time for more students to flee and the school to lock down.
“Our 14-year-old son endured the unimaginable: a face-to-face encounter with a violent school shooter filled with anger and hatred,” the boy’s family said in their statement, which was released by the sheriff’s office. “Our child suffered traumatic gunshot injuries and has remained hospitalized and undergone multiple surgeries since the incident.”
Lockdown procedures prevented the shooter from reaching many students at the school, sheriff’s officials said after the attack.
Investigators previously said the boy was shot inside the school, where the attacker roamed the halls for about nine minutes and shot at several areas before leaving the building. He then shot Silverstone and himself as law enforcement closed in.
Despite being shot at close range, the 14-year-old was able to run from the school, and he and his friend alerted classmates about a student with a gun as they fled, his family said.
He made it to the nearby recreation center, where an EMT-trained firefighter on staff began providing first aid.
The boy has been able to communicate through writing after an initial round of surgeries and immediately asked about his family, friends, classmates, teachers and Silverstone.
“He also asked how this could happen,” the boy’s family said. “His mind and messages were clear: The adults responsible for protecting children must take real, meaningful action so that no child or family endures this kind of horror — in school or anywhere. Character is proven when tested, and our son showed and continues to show his loving, caring heart and principled mind.”
There is a long and complicated road ahead for the boy and his family, along with everyone who lived through the tragedy, their statement said.
“His and our wish is that real change will come from it, finally,” they wrote.
The boy’s family also called for a “lasting commitment” to support the children impacted by the shooting beyond momentary sympathy.
“Stand with them and for them for the duration. Our immediate priority is our son’s recovery. Moving forward, we are committed to working together to ensure the long-term safety and well-being of all our children,” the family said.
The family does not have a fundraiser and asked that donations be directed toward Silverstone and his family, who have set up a GoFundMe page.
Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
