Evergreen High School Hero Matthew Silverstone Released from Hospital After Surviving School Shooting
Five weeks after being critically injured in the Evergreen High School shooting, 18-year-old Matthew Silverstone has been released from the hospital in what his family calls a “miracle recovery.”
Silverstone left CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood on Tuesday to the cheers of nearly 140 first responders, medical staff, and supporters holding blue balloons. His recovery marks a powerful moment of hope following the Sept. 10 attack that left the small mountain community shaken.
Authorities said Silverstone was shot twice—once in the head and once in the chest— after bravely confronting the shooter and warning classmates to flee. Witnesses recalled seeing him physically struggle with the attacker near Buffalo Park Road before being shot and collapsing. His heart reportedly stopped once at the scene and again in the ambulance, but paramedics were able to revive him both times.
In a statement shared by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Silverstone’s family said doctors initially prepared them for the worst. “Matthew has never given up,” they said. “He can now speak—and he’s happy to tell you, ‘I’m still alive!’ He can walk with assistance, his humor is back, and he’s exceeded everyone’s expectations.”
His mother, Paige Silverstone, expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of community support. “Each act of kindness, every prayer, has lifted Matthew more than words can say. Thank you for helping us hold on to hope,” she said.
A second student, a 14-year-old who was also shot while confronting the gunman, was released from the hospital earlier this month. The shooter, who authorities say was radicalized online by violent extremist content, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Matthew Silverstone’s recovery stands as a story of courage, resilience, and community strength in the wake of tragedy.
