On the night of October 31st, 2025, two young men were fatally shot at what investigators claim was a house party in Clifton. When deputies arrived to the scene, both victims appeared to have serious injuries and were later pronounced dead in a hospital, although lifesaving efforts were made prior. Both victims were Grand Junction residents, and were the ages of eighteen and twenty years old. This information was found through Western Slope Now.
Whenever I hear of a fatal, serious event, I don’t picture my friends or family, or people that reside near me for that matter. I always tend to picture another state, another family, or another school.
I know I’m not the only one who thinks in this manner, so when a serious event, like what occurred in Clifton that Halloween night, took place, it was a reality check. I began to think about my friends who told me they went to parties the night before, and I became worried for their safety. I remembered that this tragic event took place at was once a party; where a fun night turned quickly into a crime scene. What truly was a wake up call is the fact that I was only surprised to see that these homicides had taken place in my hometown, but not surprised to see that they happened.
Gun violence, as many students in our generation are well aware of, is an ongoing issue. It is sadly becoming common for students to feel unsafe at their schools. The recent September 10th events regarding the Evergreen High School shooting and conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death hit especially close to home, considering both took place within a 250 mile span of Grand Junction.
Children and teenagers shouldn’t have to face the consequences of individuals who are somehow granted access to firearms and the lack of security that’s protecting them at schools. There is definitely a lack of careful handling and caution surrounding these deadly weapons, hence why clearly mentally unstable commit such violent acts.
My purpose in writing this article is to make a stand for the safety of Palisade High School and spread awareness to this issue. I know many parents, students, family members, Palisade faculty and alumni read our publishings, and that’s why I’m sharing my perspective in order to ensure more safety not only in our school but at social events and environments where a child could suffer due to gun violence.
Even as regular citizens, we can take the stand to ensure our young people’s lives stay safe. An article released by Sandy Hook Promise gave some insightful advice about statistics regarding gun violence, and how to take preventative measures.
The articles states, “An estimated 4.6 million American children live in a home where at least one gun is kept loaded and unlocked.” This can lead to many violent acts, perpetrated by family members. Always ensure that your weapons are stored safely and securely, away from child’s reach.
The article continues to claim that in almost every documented case of an active shooter, warning signs were shown. If you feel or see something, say something. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Discussions about gun violence and school safety can contain sensitive material. Please know that our staff at Palisade High School is always here to help you through complicated situations and complex feelings.
To learn more about events and research cited in this article, please visit https://www.westernslopenow.com/news/two-grand-junction-men-identified-in-clifton-halloween-night-double-homicide/ and
https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/resources/gun-violence-facts/ .
