Students and parents react to shooting at Colorado high school

Waves of shock and grief after shooting at Colorado high school

Students comfort each other at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo., after a student opened fire.

By Soumya Karlamangla

Dec. 13, 2013 3:44 PM PT

Shock,  horror and grief poured out over social media Friday as an all-too-familiar scenario played out when a student opened fire inside Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo.It was just a day before the anniversary of the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., and less than 10 miles from Columbine High School, where the fatal shooting of 12 students and a teacher by a pair of fellow pupils in 1999 was the first in what became a national wave of deadly school shootings.Police said a student on Friday afternoon fired shots at Arapahoe High School, about 15 miles south of downtown Denver, then killed himself.Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper called the shooting an “unspeakable horror.”“We were horrified to hear today of a school shooting at Arapahoe High School in Colorado, just one day before the one year mark of the Sandy Hook shootings,” said Tim Makris, executive director of Sandy Hook Promise, a group formed after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown last December. “Our hearts are with all the families of Arapahoe High School today.” At a televised news conference Friday, Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said the student entered the building armed with a shotgun looking for a specific teacher. At least one student was injured, he said. Hospital officials reported one student in critical condition.A second student suffered minor injuries, but authorities were unsure if that was related to the shooting.As kids locked down in their classrooms, some took to Twitter to alert their families, while parents posted their own frantic updates.

OMG My daughters school is on lockdown due to a shooting right down the street at Arapahoe HS. Praying I can get her home safely soon!!— Leigh Viner (@LeighViner) December 13, 2013

My kids are on lockdown because of the shooting at Arapahoe High School. My heart is so saddened & I am crying for those at Arpraphoe High— Debbie Davis (@DeborahAnnDavis) December 13, 2013

I can’t believe this is happening again. Especially so close to home. Pray for Arapahoe high school and everyone involved. #COstrong— Megan McIver (@mciver_megan) December 13, 2013

We are all Arapahoe Warriors today. My thoughts are with the students, faculty and their families.— Sachin Mathur (@SachinMathur13) December 13, 2013

Damn just a few blocks away from Arapahoe High. Locked down in this building. Praying that they catch this shooter for the kids sake.— Antwon (@Coincyde) December 13, 2013

I can’t believe I work so close to the school of the shooting :(— Maritza (@chucky0620) December 13, 2013

Absolutely spine-tingling to see students walking out of Arapahoe with their hands over their head— Jackson Mulgrew (@JacksonMulgrew1) December 13, 2013

Hearing this is bad. #ArapahoeHighSchool pic.twitter.com/ft4uFgCnQS— Ryan Parker (@ryanparkerdp) December 13, 2013

#BREAKING students at Arapahoe HS tell me sounded like gunshots were in south hallway. pic.twitter.com/ig6Htf4GaT— Lindsey Sablan (@LindseySablan) December 13, 2013

Sandy Hook anniversary :( praying for Arapahoe.— Ya Girl Devin (; (@DeviiBearr) December 13, 2013

Kids are running from Arapahoe HS. My heart is in my throat— Lindsay Watts (@LindsayAWatts) December 13, 2013

Shooting at Arapahoe High School?! That’s like 4 blocks from our house.— The Smooth Father (@BiggMikeSmooth) December 13, 2013

Shooting at Arapahoe. 2 injured. Praying my sister is okay. Praying. Praying.— Kyle Zedaker (@kyle_zedaker) December 13, 2013

IM IN A LOCKDOWN IM SO SCARED IM NOT GOING TO DIE YET ITS TOO SOON— maryjane ¿¿ (@danceformeg4vin) December 13, 2013

Texts that you never want to get from your child...”Mom we are in a lockdown and something bad might happen.”— Christina Jensen (@cjensen23) December 13, 2013