Colo. Teen Was Shot in Head, Chest by School Shooter. He Received Emotional Greeting

Matthew Silverstone was shot in the head and chest during the attack on Sept. 10 and authorities have called his recovery “nothing short of miraculous”

An 18-year-old boy who was wounded in a shooting at his Colorado high school has been released from the hospital more than a month after the attack.

Matthew Silverstone was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday, Oct. 14, and was met outside by 140 first responders and hospital staff holding balloons in his favorite color — blue, according to a statement from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Silverstone suffered gunshot wounds to the head and chest during the shooting at his high school in Evergreen, Colo., on Sept. 10, the sheriff’s office said, calling his recovery “nothing short of miraculous.”

“His heart stopped twice – once at the scene, and once in the ambulance enroute to the hospital,” the statement reads. “After emergency surgeries, the doctors prepared us for the worst. But Matthew has never given up. He can now speak. In fact, he is happy to tell you ‘I’m still alive!'”

That day, a 16-year-old student, opened fire inside the school around 12:20 p.m. and wounded Silverstone along with a 14-year-old student, whose family has decided to keep his identity private, authorities have said.

The 14-year-old student’s family said he had a “face-to-face encounter” with the shooter, per a statement shared through the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 25.

“Our child suffered traumatic gunshot injuries and has remained hospitalized and undergone multiple surgeries since the incident,” the statement reads. His family added that he was “able to run from the school to save his own life. As he and his friend ran through the school to escape, they alerted classmates about a student with a gun.”

The survivor’s family also asked the public to keep their son and Silverstone in their hearts as they continue to recover.

The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Jacki Kelley, a public information officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said Desmond Holly had been “radicalized by some extremist network,” per Denver7.

Kelley added that the shooter, who had taken a bus to school that morning, used a revolver in the attack and had “quite a bit of ammunition.”

The sheriff’s office has said they “cannot yet release information about how the shooter obtained the weapon” since the investigation remains ongoing.

In Tuesday’s statement, Paige Silverstone, the 18-year-old survivor’s mother, thanked the community for their support.

“Your generosity has reminded us that we are not alone,” she said. “Each act of kindness, each word of encouragement, each prayer, has lifted Matthew and all of us more than I can ever express. You have helped carry us through our darkest moments. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with us, for believing in miracles, and helping us hold on to hope.”

Matthew Silverstone was shot in the head and chest during the attack on Sept. 10 and authorities have called his recovery “nothing short of miraculous”

An 18-year-old boy who was wounded in a shooting at his Colorado high school has been released from the hospital more than a month after the attack.

Matthew Silverstone was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday, Oct. 14, and was met outside by 140 first responders and hospital staff holding balloons in his favorite color — blue, according to a statement from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Silverstone suffered gunshot wounds to the head and chest during the shooting at his high school in Evergreen, Colo., on Sept. 10, the sheriff’s office said, calling his recovery “nothing short of miraculous.”

“His heart stopped twice – once at the scene, and once in the ambulance enroute to the hospital,” the statement reads. “After emergency surgeries, the doctors prepared us for the worst. But Matthew has never given up. He can now speak. In fact, he is happy to tell you ‘I’m still alive!'”

That day, a 16-year-old student, opened fire inside the school around 12:20 p.m. and wounded Silverstone along with a 14-year-old student, whose family has decided to keep his identity private, authorities have said.

The 14-year-old student’s family said he had a “face-to-face encounter” with the shooter, per a statement shared through the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 25.

“Our child suffered traumatic gunshot injuries and has remained hospitalized and undergone multiple surgeries since the incident,” the statement reads. His family added that he was “able to run from the school to save his own life. As he and his friend ran through the school to escape, they alerted classmates about a student with a gun.”

The survivor’s family also asked the public to keep their son and Silverstone in their hearts as they continue to recover.

The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Jacki Kelley, a public information officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said Desmond Holly had been “radicalized by some extremist network,” per Denver7.

Kelley added that the shooter, who had taken a bus to school that morning, used a revolver in the attack and had “quite a bit of ammunition.”

The sheriff’s office has said they “cannot yet release information about how the shooter obtained the weapon” since the investigation remains ongoing.

In Tuesday’s statement, Paige Silverstone, the 18-year-old survivor’s mother, thanked the community for their support.

“Your generosity has reminded us that we are not alone,” she said. “Each act of kindness, each word of encouragement, each prayer, has lifted Matthew and all of us more than I can ever express. You have helped carry us through our darkest moments. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with us, for believing in miracles, and helping us hold on to hope.”