Denver East High student shot outside school has died, police said

A 16-year-old East High School student who was shot outside the Denver school 2½ weeks ago has died, the Denver Police Department confirmed Wednesday.

Luis Garcia was inside a car at East 17th Avenue and Esplanade, just north of the school, when he was shot on Feb. 13 just after 2:30 p.m., police said at the time. Two teenagers were arrested shortly thereafter but neither was charged with the shooting. The case is still under investigation and there were no updates as of Wednesday afternoon, a police spokesperson said.

The East High soccer team, of which Garcia was a member, organized a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money for his medical bills and family.

A summit on gun safety organized by East High students that was scheduled to take place Wednesday was postponed. It was to feature state lawmakers, school district and law enforcement officials, and other gun safety advocates, according to a press release.

A Friday morning walkout organized by the same students, who are part of the group East Students Demand Action, will still happen, a spokesperson said. The students plan to leave the school at 8 a.m. and walk to the First Baptist Church of Denver to join a Moms Demand Action annual advocacy day, according to a press release.

Garcia was the second East High student shot outside the school this year. In September, another boy was shot in the face outside a recreation center next to the school. East High was also the target of a hoax call about an active shooter that month.

Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero has called gun violence his top concern.

Melanie Asmar is a senior reporter for Chalkbeat Colorado, covering Denver Public Schools. Contact Melanie at masmar@chalkbeat.org.