DENVER -- The man suspected of walking through a middle school parking lot and taking shots at students with a hunting rifle appeared via close-circuit television in court Wednesday morning.

Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood, 32, appeared for an advisement at 10 a.m. and didn't utter a word during the brief proceeding. He will likely face two charges of attempted first-degree murder, authorities said. Wednesday's hearing was only to advise Eastwood of the possible charges he is facing, to advise him of his rights and decide his bond. Eastwood was ordered held on $1 million bond. His next court date is March 2.

Jefferson County sheriffs said Eastwood opened fire on students with a 30.06-caliber rifle as they were leaving school around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Two students were hit by gunfire, Reagan Weber and Matt Thieu. Weber was treated at Littleton Adventist Hospital and released Tuesday. Thieu was transferred to The Children's Hospital, in Aurora, where he is listed in serious condition.

Thieu's mother, Patti, issued a statement Wednesday that said, "We want to thank the community, our family and friends for their outpouring of support. We appreciate everyone’s concern, but ask that our privacy be respected so that we may devote all of our time and energy toward Matthew’s recovery. Matthew is recovering from a fractured rib and a lung injury and is doing well. We appreciate the care he is receiving at The Children’s Hospital, and he is in God’s hands. "

Weber's father, Craig, said Wednesday that his daughter is a little sore, but the bullet didn't do any permanent damage. He said it left fragments in her forearm. He also said that he heard she had a hole in the side of the shirt she was wearing that might have been from the bullet.

"Sometimes when I think about what happened, I get weak in the knees," Craig Weber said. "I feel very, very lucky. I think the focus right now needs to be on the boy recovering in the hospital."

As terrified teenagers ran for their lives, seventh-grade math teacher David Benke sprung into action and said he tackled Eastwood as he was reloading his rifle. Benke pinned Eastwood to the ground with the help of a bus driver, stopping what could have been a much more violent encounter in a city all too familiar with tragic school shootings.

During a news conference on Wednesday, Benke told reporters, "You do what you have to do to protect the kids."

For many Jefferson County residents, the shooting brought up memories of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Deer Creek is located just three miles from Columbine High School and is located on West Columbine Drive. Both are located in unincorporated Jefferson County but have Littleton mailing addresses.

Classes were canceled at Deer Creek Wednesday and the area remained an active crime scene. Students; backpacks were seen still on the ground outside the school, but inside an area cordoned off with crime scene tape.

Nearby Stony Creek was also closed but counselors were available for anyone who needs them. They will be there throughout the day.

Eastwood attended Deer Creek "in the early 90s," according to Jacki Kelley, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman. "That may explain a little of why he came here."

"If there was a need to come here and die, we may never know that," Kelley said.

She said investigators have executed a search warrant at the rural home in Hudson, Colo., that Eastwood shared with his father.

The CALL7 Investigators discovered through court records that Eastwood has an arrest record in Colorado dating back to 1996 including charges of menacing, assault, DUI and domestic violence.

In 2005, Eastwood participated in a NASA-funded medical study in which he spent 10 days in a hospital bed so scientists could study muscle wasting, an affliction experienced by astronauts during long flights, according to a story in the Rocky Mountain News.

He told the newspaper that he had a lifelong dream of being an astronaut and described his occupation to the newspaper as horse trainer working at his father's Eagle's Nest Ranch in Hudson.

Investigators said Eastwood visited the school previously and was inside shortly before the shooting, even signing in at the front entrance. A car driven by him was found in the parking lot of the school.

The suspect's father, War Eagle Eastwood, said he was at a loss for words.

"There's nothing you can say about it. What can you say?" the man told The Associated Press. "Pretty dumb thing to do. I feel bad for the people involved."

Contacted in person by 7NEWS on Wednesday, Eastwood said, "I have no idea why he’d want to do something like this to anybody."

Witnesses Say Gunman Mumbled, 'I'm Fighting For Freedom'

Student Steven Seagraves said he was about 10 feet away when an adult approached students and asked them: "Do you guys go to this school?"

When the students said they did, he shot them, Seagraves said.

David Benke, a 6-foot-5-inch former college basketball player who oversees the school's track team, tackled the suspect as he was trying to reload his weapon, deputies said.

Benke told 7NEWS he was on parking lot duty, handling the crosswalk, when he heard a noise that sounded like a firecracker going off in a trash can.

"Unfortunately, he got another round off before I could grab him," Benke said.

"He had a bolt-action rifle and he was trying to rack another round, and I knew he couldn't get another round in before I got to him and so I grabbed him," Benke said, recalling that he didn't have time to fear for his life.

A parent who saw the incident told 7NEWS that the gunman kept mumbling to himself, "I'm fighting for freedom. I'm fighting for freedom," as he was being taken down.

Benke's wife said her husband called her after the shooting.

"He said there was a shooting and that he had to tackle the gunman," Sandra Benke said. She said her husband was upset that he couldn't reach the shooter before two rounds were fired. "He said, 'It was one of my students."'

Kelley said the suspect was "stopped very quickly" and she credited lessons learned from Columbine with the "outstanding" law enforcement response to the school shooting.

Shortly after the shooting, a Chatfield High School student launched a Facebook page, "Dr. Benke Is A Hero!!!!" By midday Wednesday, the page had more than 16,000 fans.

"Thank You for being at the right place at the right time and saving so many innocent lives. You are so courageous, and you did the right thing. You absolutely had no hesitation in putting your life in harm's way, in order to protect our innocent children. God Bless You," wrote one woman.

"Sometimes people are in the right place at the right time but don't have the courage and bravery to do the right thing. Thank God you did!" another woman wrote on the page.

"Thank you so much for keeping our kids safe," another woman wrote. "You saved lives today and we all love and appreciate you!!"

On Tuesday, Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink praised Benke, calling him a hero. Benke, the father of 7-year-old twins and a 13-year-old girl, fought back tears after Mink thanked him.

"I know he feels bad about not being able to intervene sooner, but believe me when I say I think he stopped what could have been a more tragic event than it was this afternoon," Mink said.