DENVER — In the middle of the confusion outside DSST: Cole Middle School Tuesday afternoon, Mary Martinez was one of many wondering why she doesn't know what's going on.
"I didn't think I was going to drive up and see something like this," Martinez said. "I was just ready to pick them and take them out to eat, you know. And, all I see, it looks like a massacre happened here."
Martinez was there to pick up her two grandsons when she arrived on a scene with police cars and crime tape.
At 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Denver police were called to the 3200 block of South Marion Street in regards to a shooting. The victim in the shooting was a young teenage student. The victim is in critical condition at Denver Health, according to a spokesperson for the hospital.
After several hours of investigating, law enforcement held a press conference and told the public that no suspect was in custody. Just after 7 p.m., Denver Public Schools announced on Facebook that a suspect had been arrested.
Just minutes later, the Denver Police Department confirmed to 9NEWS that wasn't the case. An arrest was announced Wednesday morning.
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"They haven't really told me anything," Martinez said.
Mike Eaton is the DPS Chief of Security. He admits having no information is tough, but that's better than bad information -- especially rumors spread on social media.
"It potentially creates a panic within our parents," Eaton said.
He said the district's first job is safety and that's what his officers were doing at a large campus with three different schools in the middle of a changing situation.
"We're sorry that you know of your frustration," Eaton said. "We're very empathetic to that, however, the safety of your students is first priority."
He said information had to be confirmed and coordinated with DPD before releasing anything to parents. But he does admit things could have been done better.
"Yesterday, there was a delay in that process and we understand that and we are working on it to correct it immediately," Eaton said.
Denver police disclosed Wednesday morning that a juvenile suspect was in custody. He was brought to the police station around 6:40 Tuesday night, but according to DPD, was not considered a suspect in the shooting right away and was not arrested until later in the evening.
Denver Public Schools emailed parents early in the evening that a suspect was in custody, then sent a second email to parents saying that was not the case.
DPD said it informed the school district Wednesday morning that an arrest had been made.
