A Noblesville West Middle School science teacher is being called a hero for tackling an armed student who opened fire inside his classroom Friday morning.
Multiple news sources have identified Jason Seaman, 29, as the teacher and school football coach who subdued the suspect. He was shot in the abdomen, hip and forearm, his mother wrote in a Facebook post.
The only other person shot was student Ella Whistler, 13, reports the Associated Press. She was reported in critical but stable condition Saturday. The suspect has not been identified due to his age.
The shooting happened at about 9 a.m. on Friday when the alleged gunman asked to be excused from class and then returned with two handguns and started shooting.
Seaman reportedly ran toward the shooter as he fired shots
One boy told CNN “Mr. Seaman started running at him. He tackled him to the ground. We were all hiding in the back of a classroom behind some desks, then (Seaman) was yelling to call 911, to get out of the building as fast as we could, so we ran [out].”
Seventh-grader Ethan Stonebraker said, “If it weren’t for him, more of us would have been injured for sure.”
Seaman spoke at a news conference Monday, showing no signs of the injuries he sustained in the shooting.
“I want to make it clear that my actions on that day, in my mind, were the only acceptable actions I could have done given the circumstances,” Seaman told a roomful of reporters. “I deeply care for my students and their well-being. That is why I did what I did that day.”
President Donald Trump tweeted his praise of Seaman on Saturday: “Thanks to very brave Teacher & Hero Jason Seaman of Noblesville, Indiana, for his heroic act in saving so many precious young lives. His quick and automatic action is being talked about all over the world!”
Vice President Mike Pence also praised the teacher.
Seaman played three sports while attending high school in Mahomet, Ill., and played football at Southern Illinois University, reports USC Today.
Counseling for all students and school district employees is being offered on Saturday and Monday.
A GoFundMe page for Seaman was started by a Noblesville student that has raised over $84,000 as of Tuesday morning.
The Noblesville shooting happened only one week after ten people were killed at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas.
