Evergreen, Colorado. A community is breathing a bit easier this week after an 18-year-old student, Matthew Silverstone, was released from the hospital following a school shooting in which he suffered critical injuries.

On September 10, Evergreen High School was the site of a shooting involving a 16-year-old student who later died by suicide. Matthew was shot in both the head and chest; he also experienced two cardiac arrests, one at the scene and another while being transported to the hospital. Another student, aged 14, was injured in the same incident.

The medical staff described Matthew’s recovery as “miraculous,” given how severe his injuries were. He is now able to speak again and showed gratitude to the first responders and hospital personnel during his discharge. His family released a statement thanking the community for their support. Given the seriousness of his injuries, his recovery has been seen as both surprising and encouraging by many.

School and district officials have said that they are reviewing safety protocols in response to the incident, particularly how the shooter obtained the weapon. Parents, students, and staff expressed both grief and concern, demanding clearer preventive measures. Some have called for more mental health resources, tighter control of who brings what into school, and better communication when incidents happen. Local law enforcement is continuing its investigation into how the gun was obtained and whether any warning signs were missed.