Colorado school attack: Student Devon Erickson, 18, named as suspect after one pupil shot dead and eight injured amid gunfire

An 18-year-old student has been identified as one of the two suspects in a horror school shooting that left one dead and eight wounded in Colorado.

Devon Erickson was named by Douglas County Sheriff’s office in the wake of the gun attack in the suburb of Highlands Ranch.

Officials believe Erickson and a younger student walked into the STEM School Highlands Ranch on Tuesday afternoon and opened fire on students in two classrooms.

This prompted terrified students to run screaming and others to hide out of sight as gunfire echoed through school.

As shots rang out students ran through the halls shouting "School shooter!"

Pupil Sophia Marks said: "At the moment no one really knew what was going on so I didn't know they were bullets.

"I just kind of saw like flashes and we heard bangs."

School buses arrive at the recreation centre set up for students (AP)

Chris Elledge, 15, said his teacher told the class to hide behind weight equipment in the room, where they stayed until police arrived.

He said: “They busted in the room, and they were asking if there was any suspects in the room, if we were OK, and they escorted us out to go out to the front of the building.”

Police line the street outside a recreation centre where students were reunited with their parents after the shooting (AP)

Deputies from a nearby sheriff's department substation rushed to the scene, entered the school and arrested the two suspects after a struggle.

"As officers were arriving at the school, they could still hear gunshots," Douglas County Undersheriff Holly Nicholson-Kluth said.

(AFP/Getty Images)

In the aftermath a large police presence was visible at the scene and multiple ambulances also lined nearby streets.

Three hospitals reported treating eight people in connection with the attack, including two who were listed in serious condition.

School shooting: Armed police officers approach the scene at STEM School Highlands Ranch (AP)

It has been confirmed that the victim shot dead was 18, though his identity has not been detailed.

The shooting comes nearly three weeks after neighbouring Littleton marked the 20th anniversary of the Columbine school massacre, a horrific shooting which killed 13 people.

Police and students gathered outside after the attack (Courtey Harper via AP)

The two schools are separated by about seven miles and are based in adjacent communities south of Denver.

In a statement, White House spokesman Judd Deere said: "Tragically, this community and those surrounding it know all too well these hateful and horrible acts of violence.”

US president Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting and was in touch with state and local officials.