A school district in Bethel, Alaska, awarded a school staff member a proclamation of recognition for preventing a possible school shooting.
Harry Nevak, a 45-year-old technician for the Ayaprun School, was honored at a board meeting for the Lower Kuskokwim School District on Oct. 30, according to alaskapublic.org.
Nevak was headed to work on Sep. 11 when he saw a former student with a .22 Long Rifle. When the student attempted to follow Nevak into the school building Nevak grabbed him by his chest and ripped the rifle from the boy’s hands. Nevak then pinned the former student until the village police officer could respond.
The student reportedly told Nevak that he was planning to hunt the principal of the school. The school was briefly locked down and troopers eventually came to arrest the boy.
Nevak, who said he does not consider himself a hero, has two children who attend the school.
Ayaprun School is a K-12 institution located in Newtok, a small village where people often hunt for food before winter, making people with guns a frequent sight this time of year.
