The parents of a sixteen-year-old boy who wounded two fellow students at a Colorado high school using an antique revolver will not face any criminal charges, authorities have officially confirmed. This decision follows a thorough investigation into whether the parents could be held legally accountable for the firearm's accessibility or its storage safety.
Investigation Concludes Without Charges
Investigators from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office examined potential charges against the parents of Desmond Holly, who opened fire at Evergreen High School on September 10 before taking his own life. The focus was on whether they allowed access to the Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver or failed to store it securely. However, officials determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed with any charges.
Forensic Evidence and Family Account
After obtaining a court order, investigators collected DNA samples from the parents but did not find their DNA on the firearm. The family's legal representative, Douglas Richards, informed investigators that the weapon was a family heirloom previously owned by a grandparent. According to Richards, it was stored near the back of a large, locked gun safe, to which Holly only had brief access when his father opened it.
Richards told The Associated Press that the family believes Holly secretly took the unused gun from the safe while cleaning other firearms with his father. "Its disappearance didn't become apparent until after the tragedy," Richards stated. The parents initially spoke with authorities following the shooting and later provided written responses to questions, as their lawyer advised against further interviews without a prosecutor present.
Shooter's Background and Radicalisation Concerns
Sheriff's office spokesperson Jacki Kelley indicated that investigators believe Holly randomly targeted students at the high school, located approximately thirty miles west of Denver in the foothills. Initially, authorities suggested Holly had been radicalised by an unspecified "extremist network." However, the investigation revealed that while Holly had an obsession with other school shooters and engaged with various online groups, he was not committed to any specific form of radicalisation.
Kelley referred further inquiries about these findings to the FBI, which handled that aspect of the probe. The FBI stated that obtaining additional information would require a formal records request. A report by the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism found Holly was active on an online forum featuring violent content, mixed with white supremacist and antisemitic material. The report also noted his fascination with previous mass shootings, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, which occurred about twenty miles from Evergreen.
Community and Legal Implications
This case highlights ongoing debates about parental responsibility in firearm storage and the complex factors influencing school violence. The decision not to charge the parents underscores the challenges in establishing legal culpability when secure storage measures are reportedly in place. The investigation's findings regarding Holly's online activities further emphasise the role of digital environments in shaping behaviours, prompting continued scrutiny from law enforcement and advocacy groups.
