Two students have been shot at the Deer Creek Middle School this afternoon and the suspected shooter – an adult male – is in custody, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s department.

Mark Techmeyer, spokesman for the sheriff’s department, said the two juveniles have been transported to a hospital where they are in stable condition.

He said both victims were outside the school.

The shooting was reported at 3:14 p.m., according to Techmeyer. The students were identified as Reagan Weber and Matt Thieu. Both 8th graders were initially treated at Littleton Adventist Hospital, but Matt was transferred to Children’s Hospital where he was listed in critical condition tonight. Reagan was treated in the emergency room at Adventist, then released.

Techmeyer said earlier Tuesday that the children’s wounds are not thought to be life-threatening although the 32-year-old man, identified tonight as Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood, was using a “high-powered rifle.”

Eastwood has prior arrests for menacing and domestic violence, according to computerized court records.

Jared Nelson, 13, was on a bus when he saw the gunman round a corner on the north side of the school, pull a rifle off his shoulder, fire a round into the air and then shoot a student.

“It was kind of shocking when I saw it happening,” he said.

Several people said that math teacher David Benke then charged and tackled the gunman as he got off a second shot.

Sean Ahearn, 13, saw the same scene unfold, dropped his cello, and jumped in a stranger’s car. Then he called his mother, Colleen, with chilling words: “Don’t come and get me. Somebody’s shooting in the school. I’m in a lady’s car.”

Luke Myrant, 14, says an older guy came in the front door and fired one shot into the air and then reloaded.

“He didn’t look happy at all,” Luke said.

The kids scattered.

“I was scared to death for my life,” Luke said. “My body was shaking and my lip was quivering like I was cold.”

“I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

Teachers were telling kids to get down and not make any noise. The kids were scattered and began texting one another.

Techmeyer said the gun used was a high-powered rifle.

Techmeyer said the man launched his attack as the kids were leaving school and boarding school buses.

Outside, monitoring the school bus boarding, were several staff, said the sheriff’s spokesman.

He said that two staff members saw the shooter and simultaneously tackled him. He said a third staff member rushed to their aid and all three were able to disarm the man.

“There were some true heroes here today,” said the Techmeyer.

By the time deputies arrived the man was being held by school staff and had been disarmed, he added.

Techmeyer said he did not know the relationship, if any, between the shooter and the two children.

Peyton Pritekel, 13, said one of the victims, a girl was brought into the school after the shooting and was bleeding. The girl told them that this guy walked up and asked if they went to Deer Creek. They said yes and he fired twice.

“He was just some random guy,” Pritekel said, describing him as in his late teens or twenties. “God was looking down on us. I mean amen.”

Bruco Strongeagle Eastwood heard voices and had bills he couldn’t pay, his father said minutes after the shooting suspect’s name was released by Jefferson County authorities this evening.

His son is a drifter “who has always had problems,” Bruco War Eagle Eastwood said.

“He’s been troubled,” he said. “He hasn’t had a job in five years and he’s got all these bills he can’t pay.

“He’s tried to get help, but he doesn’t have any money and can’t pay the cost.”

When he worked, he did odd jobs, and sometime recently broke up with a girlfrield.

The elder Eastwood said his son lived in Littleton for a few years, but nowhere near the school, and he has no connections there.

“I don’t know why he did this, but he’s always had problems. I don’t know why, though,” his father said. “He’s different, just different.”

The rifle authorities said was used by Eastwood, a .30-06 rifle, belonged to his father, the elder Eastwood said.

Although Eastwood is believed to have acted alone, at 5:45 p.m. officers were still carefully checking the school “to make sure we have this under control,” said Techmeyer.

Deer Creek Middle School, 9201 W. Columbine Drive, is in the Jefferson County School District.

Students from the school were taken from Deer Creek Middle to nearby Stony Creek Elementary school. Parents were asked to go to Stony Creek to pick up their children.

Both schools will be closed on Wednesday. Counselors will be at Stony Creek Elementary at 7:30 a.m. to talk with any students who would like their services.

Techmeyer said that he “expects a long, long investigation” and that interviews with students and staff will be “non-stop” beginning today and lasting several weeks.

He said that as far as he knows Eastwood was armed with only the rifle. He said the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department will attempt to trace the origins of the rifle but may ask for the assistance of the ATF.

Techmeyer said that authorities are hoping to let students and staff back into the school early this evening to collect their belongings.

Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com