Shooter, One Victim Identified in Evergreen

Authorities have identified the suspect who shot two students at Evergreen High School—injuring both before fatally shooting himself—as 16-year-old Desmond Holly.

Though no motive has been confirmed, investigators believe Holly was “radicalized by some extremist network,” the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday. Holly used a revolver, but how he obtained it is unclear.

Family members identified one of the two victims as Matthew Silverstone, 18. Both victims remain hospitalized, one in critical condition.

Several state leaders issued statements on the tragedy. “My heart goes out to the victims and their families as they grapple with this senseless act of violence,” Gov. Jared Polis said.

Evergreen High School will remain closed today and possibly into next week.

DA Calls Out Polis for Inmate Release

A social media exchange involving Elon Musk led to a dispute between Gov. Jared Polis and Weld County’s district attorney over the release of a dangerous inmate.

On Monday, Weld County authorities said state law forced them to release Debisa Ephraim, a man charged with attempted murder, because he was found incompetent to stand trial.

Replying to a post on X about the release, Musk called it “insane,” tagging Polis. In response, Polis said the situation was “unacceptable” and called on DA Michael Rourke to ensure Ephraim was not at large.

Rourke pushed back, noting Polis signed the 2024 law mandating dismissal of charges when defendants are found incompetent to stand trial, as in Ephraim’s case. According to Rourke, the civil-commitment statutes cited by Polis don’t apply.

Ephraim’s case is the latest to spark outrage over Colorado’s competency laws.

CPW Fired Ranger After Stabbing Hoax

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has fired Callum Heskett, a seasonal ranger accused of stabbing himself in an elaborate hoax on Aug. 19, the agency announced Wednesday.

Heskett faces multiple charges for the alleged hoax, which triggered a widespread manhunt, visitor evacuations, and school lockdowns while he was airlifted to a hospital and underwent surgery.

Based on Heskett’s statements and conflicting evidence, authorities believe he stabbed himself. On his phone, they found searches for “abdominal anatomy,” “arteries in abdomen map,” and “$1 mil for each time you get stabbed.”

CPW said it fired Heskett on Aug. 22. He’s next due in court on Oct. 1.

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➤ Statewide: Colorado and U.S. flags will fly at half-staff through sunset Sunday in honor of political activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot during an event in Utah on Wednesday. (See Details)

➤ Douglas County will make “once-in-a-generation investments” in parks and recreation, with millions going toward projects in Lone Tree, Parker, Castle Rock, and the Zebulon sports complex, commissioners announced Tuesday. (See Details)

➤ Loveland: Police are warning the public about a mail extortion scam involving letters containing child sexual abuse material and threats of blackmail. (More)

➤ Statewide: Sales from the Keep Colorado Wild Pass in its second year have already raised more than $41 million for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and search-and-rescue operations. (See Details)

➤ Montezuma County: Authorities are seeking the censure and removal of a county judge accused of misconduct, lying to investigators, and seeking favorable treatment for a civil infraction. (See Details)

➤ Ouray: U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper introduced a bill to transfer ownership of Crystal Lake, a federal reservoir, from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray. (See Details)

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➤ Colorado Buffaloes football faces off against the University of Houston tonight in a high-stakes Big 12 opener. (More)

➤ Mayor Mike Johnston says he wants to bring a WNBA franchise to Denver. (More)

➤ Sean Payton passed Mike Shanahan on the NFL all-time wins list with his 171st victory, moving to No. 19 after the Broncos’ Week 1 win over the Titans. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NCAAF | MLB | Soccer | WNBA | Golf

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➤ CommonSpirit Health will partner with Denver Summit FC to help fund the soccer team’s new training facility in Centennial, the organizations announced Wednesday. (See Details)

➤ Xcel Energy plans to sell 12,500 acre-feet of water—originally acquired for power generation in the 1980s—to farmers in the Lower Arkansas River Valley in a deal valued at $44 million. (See Details)

➤ The Bureau of Land Management leased nearly 8,000 acres of Colorado land to energy companies for nearly $7 million in its quarterly oil and gas lease sale. (More)

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➤ Fritzler Farm Park, a northern Colorado corn maze, has unveiled the maze design for this year’s haunted farm attraction, Scream Acres: Curse of the Blood Moon. The farm’s fall festival opens Sunday, Sept. 14. (See Photos)

➤ Pickin’ in the Rockies, a bluegrass festival on the Western Slope, will take place this Sunday in Loma, featuring a lineup of local and national bluegrass talent. (See Details)

➤ A church in Lakewood has become the preferred gathering place for a herd of deer, which graze just beyond the windows, watch the churchgoers, and sometimes sleep through sermons. The scene was captured on camera by local photojournalist Corky Scholl, who died in August. (See Video)

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Have you ever been to a haunted corn maze?

1. Yes, lots of times
2. Yes, once or twice
3. No, but it sounds fun
4. Nope, not for me

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you watch Formula 1 racing?

1. Not at all: 56%
2. Occasionally: 26%
3. Yes, regularly: 18%

How did the city of Ouray get its name?

Show me the answer