It happened on a Wednesday. Specifically, September 10, 2025. For most of the 900 kids at Evergreen High School in Colorado, it started as just another lunch break until the first crack of a .38 caliber revolver echoes through the halls.
When people ask who is the evergreen high school shooter, the name that comes up in police reports and headlines is Desmond Holly. He was 16. A student. Someone who sat in those same classrooms. Honestly, the details that have come out since that afternoon are enough to make anyone's skin crawl, especially considering how much of this was arguably visible online before the first shot was even fired.
What Really Happened on September 10?
The timeline is tight. It’s a nine-minute window that changed the foothills of Jefferson County forever. At roughly 12:21 p.m., Holly started shooting inside the school. He wasn't just roaming; he was actively trying to get into rooms, but the school’s security doors actually held up. They blocked him.
Because he couldn't get to more kids inside, he headed out. He crossed the football field and ended up at the intersection of South Olive Road and Buffalo Park Road. That’s where things got even more violent. He didn't just fire from a distance; he got into a physical struggle with another student, 18-year-old Matthew Silverstone.
A witness in a work van, Delmar Martinez, actually saw the two of them "wrestling" or "entangled" at the intersection. He thought they were just kids fighting until he saw the gun. Holly shot Silverstone at close range before eventually turning the weapon on himself as deputies closed in.
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By 12:33 p.m., it was over. One shooter dead. Two students critically injured.
The Digital Trail: How Desmond Holly Was Radicalized
This is the part that really bothers people. It wasn't like he just snapped out of nowhere. After the shooting, investigators found a massive digital footprint that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) had actually been tracking for months.
Basically, Holly was deep into some dark corners of the internet. We're talking:
- TikTok: He had multiple accounts filled with neo-Nazi imagery and white supremacist symbols.
- Gore Forums: He was active on "Watch People Die," a site known for extremely violent content.
- Obsessions: He reportedly idolized previous shooters, specifically from the 2024 Abundant Life Christian School shooting and the 1999 Columbine massacre.
He even posted a photo on X (formerly Twitter) less than an hour before the shooting. It was just a picture of a hand holding that snub-nosed revolver over a box of bullets. No caption. Just the image.
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The FBI actually had an open "assessment" on his online activity starting in July 2025. They knew someone was posting these things, but they couldn't tie the accounts to Holly's real identity in time. It’s one of those "what if" scenarios that keeps parents in the district up at night.
The Victims and the Heroes
Matthew Silverstone took the brunt of the attack outside. He was shot in the head and chest. For a long time, he was in critical condition at St. Anthony Hospital, and the community really rallied around him.
Then there’s the other victim—a 14-year-old whose family kept his name private for a while. This kid is a hero, plain and simple. He came face-to-face with Holly inside the school and actually confronted him. That confrontation gave other students the seconds they needed to bolt for the exits or lock themselves in. He was shot at close range but still managed to run out and alert others.
You've also got to look at the school staff. The librarian pointed kids toward emergency exits while bullets were flying. Teachers used the lockdown protocols they'd practiced a thousand times. Even though the school's regular Resource Officer (SRO) was off-campus responding to a traffic accident at the time, the deputies who did arrive were on-site within two and a half minutes of the 911 call.
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Why This Hit Colorado So Hard
It’s hard to ignore the geography. Evergreen is only about 30 minutes away from Columbine. For a community that has lived in the shadow of 1999 for decades, this felt like a wound being ripped wide open.
There's a lot of talk now about the "new wave" of extremism. Experts like those from the ADL point out that Holly wasn't just a "loner"—he was part of an "extremist network" online. These groups basically gamify violence and encourage kids to become "heroes" by committing these acts. One user even told Holly to get a "Black Sun" patch, a neo-Nazi symbol, just days before he went to the school with a gun.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
If you're following this story or live in the Jefferson County area, the investigation is still technically ongoing regarding how a 16-year-old got a revolver he wasn't legal to buy. Here is how you can stay informed and proactive:
- Monitor Digital Footprints: The Holly case proves that extremist radicalization happens in plain sight on platforms like TikTok, not just the "dark web." If you see specific threats or neo-Nazi iconography tied to local schools, report them to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center.
- Support the Survivors: Matthew Silverstone's recovery is long. Local community funds often coordinate through the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office or verified GoFundMe pages to help with medical bills.
- Advocate for SRO Coverage: One of the biggest points of contention in Evergreen was the lack of a full-time SRO on campus the day of the shooting due to medical leave. Community members are currently pushing for "roving" backups to ensure no school is left without a dedicated officer during school hours.
- Mental Health Resources: For students struggling with the trauma of the September 10 event, the Colorado Crisis Services offers 24/7 support.
The story of Desmond Holly is a grim reminder that the warning signs are often blinking red in the digital world long before they manifest in the real one.