Judge Blasts Denver School District for 'Baffling' Decisions Before East High Shooting

Federal judge rules former dean can sue DPS over 'conscience-shocking' actions that 'opened the door' for mass shooting

Apr. 2, 2026 at 10:35am

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A federal judge has ruled that a former East High School dean who was shot by a student can sue the Denver Public Schools (DPS) district, criticizing the district's 'baffling' and 'conscience-shocking' decisions that 'opened the door' for the mass shooting. The judge found that DPS failed to properly address the known risks posed by the shooter, Austin Lyle, who had previously been suspended from another school for possessing an AR-15 and ammunition.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about school safety and the responsibility of school districts to address known threats to student and staff well-being. The judge's scathing rebuke of DPS's actions could set a precedent for future lawsuits against school districts over their handling of security risks.

The details

According to the ruling, Lyle, 17, had been suspended from an Aurora school for possessing an AR-15 and ammunition before transferring to East High in early 2023. On March 2, a classmate sent school faculty a photo of Lyle with an apparent gun in his pocket at East. Lyle ran away before he could be searched, but the school created a safety plan requiring his backpack to be checked each morning - including the morning of March 22, when the shooting occurred. When Lyle arrived that day, he shot two deans, one in the chest, abdomen and thigh, and the other twice, before fleeing and committing suicide.

  • On March 2, 2023, a classmate sent school faculty a photo of Lyle with an apparent gun in his pocket at East High.
  • On March 22, 2023, the shooting occurred at East High School.

The players

Austin Lyle

A 17-year-old student who had previously been suspended from an Aurora school for possessing an AR-15 and ammunition, and who later shot two deans at East High School before fleeing and committing suicide.

Shawne Anderson

An assistant principal at East High School who created a safety plan for Lyle requiring his backpack to be searched each morning.

Eric Sinclair

A dean at East High School who was shot by Lyle in the chest, abdomen and thigh.

Wayne Mason

Another dean at East High School who was shot twice by Lyle.

U.S. District Judge Gordon Gallagher

The federal judge who ruled that Sinclair can sue the Denver Public Schools district, criticizing the district's 'baffling' and 'conscience-shocking' decisions.

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What they’re saying

“'(DPS)' conduct, when viewed in total, is conscience shocking,'”

— U.S. District Judge Gordon Gallagher, Federal Judge

“'DPS appears to have exhibited a shocking disregard for the risk A.L. posed to an entire school full of children, faculty and staff — as well as to himself,'”

— U.S. District Judge Gordon Gallagher, Federal Judge

“'It is not hard to imagine the terror that students and the parents of other students at East High School would have felt if they had known of this chain of events,'”

— U.S. District Judge Gordon Gallagher, Federal Judge

What’s next

The judge's ruling allows the lawsuit filed by former dean Eric Sinclair to proceed against the Denver Public Schools district, though it dismissed the assistant principal and individual school board members from the case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical responsibility of school districts to proactively address known threats to student and staff safety, and the potential legal consequences they may face for failing to do so. The judge's scathing critique of DPS's 'baffling' decisions could set an important precedent for future lawsuits against school systems over security lapses.