Hundreds of Evergreen students and family members gathered at Buchanan Park for a vigil on Thursday night.

An Evergreen High School student had shot two peers and himself on school property before he died from his own self-inflicted injuries later in the night, Jefferson County officials said. 

The somber mood that hung in the air as parents picked up students from the reunification point after the shooting turned into one of solace and reconciliation at Thursday’s vigil. People hugged each other; parents walked around with watery eyes.

As students and family members gathered into groups, huddling together to reflect on the horrific nature of the past 28 hours, Evergreen Fire Rescue raised a flag from the end of a locomotive’s ladder above the crowd.

On it read: “EFR ♡ EHS.”

The vigil on the baseball fields at the park complex was organized by the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce. Under the on-and-off dripping of late afternoon rain, volunteers set up circus tents and folding chairs, while putting out a variety of food donated by several businesses in the area.

There were also two food trucks and Kristin Eklund, parent of an Evergreen High School student, helped set up the truck she’s a board member for — a nonprofit called Kitchen One for One.

“It’s been horrible. My son’s really struggling. It’s the worst thing you could ever anticipate,” Eklund said. “I’ve told my kids many times that we live in Evergreen because we don’t have to worry about things like this. And then this happens.”

Other community members at the vigil echoed that sentiment. Throughout the event, several parents stood by themselves, keeping watch from afar as their children caught up with friends. Many shared the same concerned expression.

Nancy Judge, president and CEO of the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce, noted how what happened on Wednesday has deeply affected such a close community.

“There are no six degrees of separation in Evergreen,” Judge said. “Everybody here is connected in one way or another.”

Several officials gave short speeches throughout the evening, emphasizing messages of togetherness and support in the midst of a trying time.

One of those speakers was Gov. Jared Polis. 

“Know that the people of Colorado stand with each and every one of you,” Polis said. “We are better than this, and together we will show that we will triumph over evil and we are better together.”

The vigil began at 6 p.m. but people stayed at the park long past sundown, even as it became too dark to see.

Grieving for the kids

Right off of Colorado 73 and 74 in downtown Evergreen, Wilmot Elementary School teacher Linda Golden stood with a sign that read, “I grieve for the kids!”

Passersby beeped and yelled “love” to the woman.

Golden has taught at the school for 24 years. She’s currently teaching kindergarten and knows a lot of the high school students from her years of teaching.

It was picture day at her school on Wednesday.

She was putting together a book made by her students about kindness when she heard about the lock down. She had to shelter in the printer room, not allowed to be with her students. Evergreen High School sits just on the other side of the baseball field from her school.

“We heard noises up on the roof and we later find out it was the SWAT team. That was a little scary because I didn’t know,” she said.

The elementary students were moved into the library. The kindergartners knew something was going on, she said.

“I saw one girl who was so sad, just really pale,” Golden said, knowing her dad worked at the high school. She knew the father was fine because of a text and told the girl. A single tear rolled down Golden’s cheek.

“That’s something I’ll never forget. She was just broken,” she said.