A teacher is being hailed as a hero after suffering three gun shot wounds while successfully disarming the shooter at Noblesville West Middle School in Noblesville, Indiana, on Friday.
Jason Seaman, a 29-year-old science teacher at the school, tackled the male suspect who was asked to be excused earlier at 9 a.m. and later returned brandishing two handguns.
Seaman was immediately taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital in critical condition. According to police, Seaman is recovering well from the surgery and could be released soon.
The school district issued a statement acknowledging Seaman's risking his life for the students and that his impulse "came as no surprise."
Reports and accounts regarding the shooting indicate that Jason's actions likely saved and protected lives. His heroic actions come as no surprise to the Bulldog Nation and those who know Jason. We continue to keep Jason and his family in our thoughts and prayers as he recovers from this tragic event, as well as all of the communities impacted by school violence.
A former student tweeted that the protective teacher always told his students during emergency drills he would always "take a bullet for any one of his students."
Seaman expressed his gratitude for the first responders, but the hero was praised as being the actual first responder.
Before he became a public educator, Seaman played football at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale from 2007-2010 and left a strong impression on his former coach.
Parents were grateful that the former athlete's tackling skills served him (and his students) well, off the field.
Seaman wasn't the only one who suffered injuries.
Ella Whistle, a 13-year-old student of Noblesville West Middle School, was in critical condition from the shooting on Friday. Her parents issued an update on her condition:
We wanted to say she is doing well at Riley Hospital for Children. Her status is critical, yet we are pleased to report she is stable. We'd like to thank everyone across the country who prayed for our family today.
The male suspect had been apprehend and was taken into custody.
Noblesville Schools' Superintendent Beth Niedermeyer issued a statement saying that classes at all other districts on Tuesday will resume "as normal" while counseling will be available for students and parents at Noblesville West Middle School on Saturday and Monday.
We wish for the victims' speedy recovery and are grateful for Seaman's bravery in preventing what could've been another horrible statistic in a string of mass shootings so far this year.
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