When the bloody reality of another deadly school shooting intruded on his basketball nirvana, Nuggets coach Michael Malone could no longer stick to sports. “I’m not a politician. I don’t have the answers,” Malone said. “But something must change.” We were reminded Tuesday of the real No. 1 cause of terrorism in the United States: We love our guns more than we love our children. On a warm spring day, Malone went to work to beat Portland in the NBA playoffs. But he is a father first, a coach second. Always. So as Malone tried to focus on preparations for a pivotal Game 5 in this best-of-seven series, his aching heart kept drifting 16 miles south from the Pepsi Center, to the neighborhood his wife and two daughters call home, where the illusion of safety was shattered by gunfire and sirens and tears at STEM School Highlands Ranch. “The school is literally two minutes from where I live,” said Malone, shaken and angry. Shaken because he’s the father of two young daughters that attend a school not far from where the shooting took place. Angry because Malone doesn’t understand why America allows this madness to continue. Shortly before 2 p.m., two armed intruders entered STEM School, which serves 1,800 children as young as kindergartners and as old as high-school seniors, and started mayhem that left one student dead and injured eight others before quick-responding law officers ended the violence. “These are scary times for everybody,” Malone said. Malone has dedicated his life learning the X’s and O’s of basketball strategy. But there’s no guidebook for parenting. So I asked the coach: What does a father tell a frightened child on days like these? “I’m texting my daughter, telling her she is going to be OK. I don’t even know she will be OK,” Malone replied. “This is every parent’s worst nightmare. When you see your kids go to school in the morning, it’s: ‘Have a great day’ and you just assume everything is going to be all right. As we all know, it’s not.” Sandy Hook and Parkland have become entrenched in the American lexicon. After every shooting, we’re outraged, we weep, we pray. But the bloodshed doesn’t stop. There have been more than 200 shootings on school grounds throughout the United States since April 20, 1999, when unthinkable violence at Columbine High School forever changed the way kids look at our halls of education. More than 50 percent of U.S. teenagers worry about gun violence on campus, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted last year. “It’s not just Highlands Ranch. It’s not just Colorado. This is an epidemic, and it continues to happen,” said Malone, who chose to discuss something far more important than basketball during his pre-game press conference. “That’s the frustrating thing. How do you stop it? Gun control, laws, whatever it might be. I’m not a politician. I don’t want to sit up here on a soapbox. I just want everyone back in Highlands Ranch to know we’re with you.” Prior to tipoff of Game 5, the Nuggets did the right thing, dimming the lights in the Pepsi Center, as the public-address announcer offered condolences: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families, the entire community and everyone affected by violence. We know all Colorado will stand together.” Throughout the arena, fans hoisted cell phones toward heaven in the 21st version of a candlelight vigil. It was touching, that rare moment when cell phones became a tool for community-building rather than an excuse for all of us to withdraw deeper inside our own little world. It has been 20 years since the Avalanche and Rockies postponed games in the wake of the tragedy at Columbine. We vowed never to forget the 13 people who died at Columbine. But how much have we really learned, and how much has really changed? In Colorado alone, gunfire has shattered the illusion of safety at schools in Bailey and Littleton and Centennial before the violence came to a campus down the street from Malone’s home in Highlands Ranch. “Thoughts and prayers are never enough,” Malone said. On tragic days like these, when gunfire stains a school with blood, we are all heartsick and pray for peace, while avoiding the hard truth about the root cause of a chronic, pernicious illness in this country. We love our guns more than we love our children. Something must change.<doc-sep>Tragedy struck in the Denver area yesterday when a shooter opened fire in a nearby school. One person was killed while eight people were injured and that aftermath left the residents and children in the area devastated. One of the people to speak up about the event was Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone who was visibly upset and frustrated by the sad news. "The [STEM] school is literally two minutes away from where I live, right down Broadway in Highlands Ranch," Malone said according to ESPN. "My wife and daughters know people. As a coach, I am somewhat of a recluse, but it's a close community. It's not just Highlands Ranch. It's not just Colorado. This is an epidemic. And it continues to happen. And that is the frustrating thing. How do you stop it? Again, gun control, laws, whatever it might be. I am not a politician. I don't want to sit up here on a soapbox. I just want everybody back at Highlands Ranch to know that we're with you and that is very important for them to know." Malone was fighting back tears while talking to reporters about the tragedy. The news broke just hours before the team’s playoff game against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Nuggets were able to rally behind the community and win the game 124-98.<doc-sep>Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is interviewed after a game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 7 in Denver, Colorado. (CNN) — Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone had a game Tuesday night and a team to focus on. But instead, during a pregame press conference, he took the time to address the shooting at STEM School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where he lives with his family. Before talking about the Nuggets’ Game 5 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Malone brought up the shooting, saying his prayers were with his community and thanking law enforcement for their quick response. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images North America/Getty Images A bus evacuating students arrives at the Recreation Center at Northridge after a shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch. He explained that his daughters, who do not attend the school where the shooting took place, have been on lockout at their school twice in the last month. “It’s not just Highlands Ranch. It’s not just Colorado. This is an epidemic and it continues to happen, and that’s the frustrating thing. How do you stop it? Again, gun control, laws, whatever it might be. I’m not a politician.” The coach told reporters that he found out about Tuesday’s shooting “two minutes” away from his home when his wife called him to let him know she was getting frantic messages from their daughters, scared for their lives and unsure of whether the shooter was at their school. “When kids go to school, they should be going to school to learn, to have fun, be with their friends, not worry about an active shooter,” Malone said. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images North America/Getty Images A sheriff's deputy watches as students get off buses after being evacuated following a school shooting. Malone said that it’s difficult to reassure his kids of their safety in an environment like this. “I’m texting my daughter telling her she’s going to be OK. I don’t even know if she will be OK. This is every parent’s worst nightmare, something that when you see your kids go to school in the morning, it’s ‘have a great day,’ and you just assume everything is going to be alright and as we all know, it’s not.” Malone wasn’t the only voice from professional sports to weigh in on the shooting. The Denver Broncos, the Colorado Rockies, and the Colorado Avalanche shared messages of condolence on their social media. The Rockies posted a photo of their players bowing their heads saying, “Our hearts go out to the entire community as we pull together to begin the process of recovery.” We send our thoughts and sympathies to those affected by the terrible events today at STEM School Highlands Ranch. We also commend the first responders who acted quickly. Our hearts go out to the entire community as we pull together to begin the process of recovery. pic.twitter.com/83FsbPGtPI — Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 8, 2019 Denver’s football team thanked the first responders for their efforts in the aftermath of the shooting. We’re thinking of everyone affected by this tragedy, and we are thankful for the efforts of our first responders.#STEMshooting https://t.co/UgHKOSTZud — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 8, 2019 The Colorado Avalanche hockey team said, “We know all of Colorado will stand together,” in part of their tribute to the tragedy We extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families, the entire community and everyone affected by the violence at STEM School. We know all of Colorado will stand together and provide support to those in Highlands Ranch through this difficult time. — p - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 8, 2019 CNN’s Joe Sutton contributed to this report.<doc-sep>DENVER -- A shaken Michael Malone pleaded for something to change after a school shooting that left one student dead took place at a Highlands Ranch public charter school in his suburban Denver community. The Denver Nuggets coach was upset, with his eyes welling up, while talking about the latest school shooting in America and how his two middle school-aged daughters -- who attend a different school -- experienced a lockdown for the second time in three weeks due to a shooting threat. One student was killed and eight injured in Tuesday's shooting at the STEM school in Highlands Ranch, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's office, which also said two suspects are in custody. The Nuggets had a moment of silence before their Game 5 against the Portland Trail Blazers. "The [STEM] school is literally two minutes away from where I live, right down Broadway in Highlands Ranch," Malone said. "My wife and daughters know people. As a coach, I am somewhat of a recluse, but it's a close community. "It's not just Highlands Ranch. It's not just Colorado. This is an epidemic. And it continues to happen. And that is the frustrating thing. How do you stop it? Again, gun control, laws, whatever it might be. I am not a politician. I don't want to sit up here on a soapbox. I just want everybody back at Highlands Ranch to know that we're with you and that is very important for them to know." Malone said he was at the Pepsi Center preparing for the game when his wife, Jocelyn, called to tell him about the shooting and that their daughters were safe but scared. "The thing that makes you angry is that she's telling me how scared my daughters are in their schools, texting her, because they don't know what's going on -- it's a lockout," Malone said of his conversation with his wife earlier on Tuesday. "Where's this shooter? Is it at our school? Some other school? The kids go to school, they should be going to school to learn, have fun, be with their friends. Not worry about an active shooter. ... It's just frustrating, and it gets you angry because it hits home. And that's how I felt today." Blazers center Enes Kanter shared his condolences with the Denver community on social media before Game 5. So sad to hear about the shooting in Denver. Although we play against @nuggets tonight, we are hurting now. 💔 My heart is with the kids and their families. The @trailblazers sending prayers to you and stand with the Denver community! 🙏 — Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) May 7, 2019 "For it not to be safe in a kid's school is tragic," Nuggets guard Jamal Murray said after Tuesday's game. "We all gotta be better as human beings. That's something you can't really get away from. It's unfortunate." Malone said he likely would not bring up the shooting with his team before the game. However, he was asked how he plans to address the situation with his daughters. "That's a great question, and you know, that's something I haven't even really thought about," Malone said as his eyes began to get watery. "I'm texting my daughter, telling her she's going to be OK. I don't even know if she will be OK. "This is every parent's worst nightmare, and it's something that when you see your kids go to school in the morning, it's 'Have a great day' and just assume everything is going to be all right. And as we all know, it's not. So you figure it out." This is the second time in recent weeks that schools in the area have been closed or locked down due to a shooting threat. Three weeks ago, authorities shut down Denver-area schools as they searched for a Florida woman with an apparent "infatuation" with the Columbine shooting who had traveled to Colorado and purchased a shotgun in the area. The woman was found dead April 17 of an apparent suicide, according to authorities. The STEM Highlands Ranch campus is not far from Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. On April 20, 1999, two gunmen killed 12 fellow students and a teacher in a mass shooting at Columbine. "I know thoughts and prayers are never enough," Malone said. "And from myself, our team, our organization, our thoughts and prayers are with all those families, students, school administrators, everybody that was there today. It's a tragedy. "I would like to say a thank you to the Douglas County Sheriff's Department that was there, on top of it, in matter of minutes and all the first responders that were there and allowing that to not become worse than it was," Malone added. "But it's a shame. My girls have been in a lockout twice in the last month. I'm not a politician, I don't have the answers, but something must change. So I just want to make sure that I acknowledge what happened today in my backyard and all those families are on my mind."<doc-sep>
One student was killed and seven others were injured Tuesday when two classmates began shooting inside a STEM school in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, authorities said. The events of the day at the suburban Denver school were at the top of mind for Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, who opened his pregame press conference with lengthy remarks regarding America's latest school shooting. "I know thoughts and prayers are never enough, but... From myself, our team, our organization, our thoughts and prayers for all those families, students, school administrators, everybody that was there today, it's a tragedy," Malone, a member of the Highlands Ranch community, said. Malone, who said he lives two minutes from the school, offered a thank you to all the first responders before expressing his frustration. "It's a shame. My girls (who attend another Highlands Ranch school) have been in a lockout twice in the last month. I'm not a politician, I don't have the answers, but something must change. I just wanted to make sure I acknowledged what happened today in my backyard, and all those families are on my mind. "It's not just Highlands Ranch, it's not just Colorado. This is an epidemic. And it continues to happen, and that's the frustrating thing. How do you stop it? Gun control? Laws? I'm not a politician. I don't want to sit up here on a soapbox. I just want everybody back in Highlands Ranch to know we're with you. "We're all part of it. We all have families, we all have kids. Nieces, nephews, whatever it is. It's just frustrating and it gets you angry because it hits home. And that's how I felt today." "I'm texting my daughter telling her she's going to be OK. I don't even know if she will be OK. This is every parent's worst nightmare. And it's something that when you see your kids go to school in the morning, it's 'have a great day.' You just assume everything is going to be all right. And as we all know, it's not." Malone said that while he will be coaching with a heavy heart, he owes it to the players, organization and fans to be prepared like normal. "We have a job to do. These are scary times for everybody. You have to find a way to be mentally tough and get through it," Malone said. Tuesday night's game is especially big for Malone's Nuggets. Their second-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers is tied 2-2. The Nuggets are attempting to reach the conference final for the first time in a decade.