Police chief: Teens have long road ahead

Two of the teenagers shot in a park across the street from their high school have serious injuries and will take a long time to recover, the Aurora police chief said Tuesday.

Six teenagers, ages 14 to 18, were hospitalized Monday after they were shot at Nome Park across from Aurora Central High School, which they attended. At least three of the teens have been released and two remain in the hospital. Police were not sure of the status of the remaining student.

“It looks as though two of these victims are going to have a long haul ahead of them,” Chief Vanessa Wilson said Tuesday. “Their injuries were significant, but thankfully they are with us and they are going to pull through.”

Aurora police have not detained or identified any suspects, though they found images of vehicles suspected to be involved in the shootings, Wilson said.

The midday shooting caused panic among students and neighbors. School resource officers were the first to respond to the shooting and used tourniquets on two of the students, possibly saving their lives.

Police have not identified any of the victims and Wilson said Tuesday the victims’ families asked for privacy. The victims included four boys — ages 14, 16, 17 and 18 — and two girls, ages 15 and 16.

Investigators on Monday spent more than six hours at the park collecting evidence. Wilson previously said evidence suggested multiple guns were fired and that shooters fired from a car and also possibly on foot. Neighbors reported hearing more than 30 gunshots. Wilson said people can report information anonymously through Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, either online at metrodenvercrimestoppers.com or at 720-913-7867.

“People know what happened and they know who did this,” Wilson said. “I need them to come forward.”

More Aurora police officers will be near the park in the coming days to create more security, Wilson said.