Students at Indiana’s Noblesville West Middle School are hailing a science teacher as a hero for his actions Friday, when a boy opened fire on classmates at the school.
A teacher, identified by The Indianapolis Star as Jason Seaman, sprung into action after a student asked to use the bathroom Friday morning and returned to the classroom with a pair of handguns, police said.
Seventh-grader Ethan Stonebraker told The Associated Press that students were taking a test when the unidentified student walked into the classroom and opened fire.
"Our science teacher immediately ran at him, swatted a gun out of his hand and tackled him to the ground," seventh-grader Ethan Stonebraker told The Associated Press. "If it weren't for him, more of us would have been injured for sure."
President Donald Trump congratulated Seaman on his bravery in a tweet Saturday.
The Star reported that Seaman was shot three times and underwent surgery Friday. An unidentified student was also injured, according to police.
He released a written statement to media Friday evening:
"First of all, thank you to the first responders from Noblesville and Fishers for their immediate action and care. I want to let everyone know that I was injured (but) am doing great. To all the students, you are all wonderful and I thank you for your support. You are the reason I teach."
Jason Seaman's brother, Jeremy Seaman, told the Star that he was not surprised by reports of his brother's actions.
"He's not really ever been the person to run away," Jeremy Seaman told the Star. "When the safety of the kids is at hand, it's not surprising to me that he was going to do what he had to do."
Jason Seaman has been a teacher in Noblesville for four years, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has also served as head football coach for seventh-graders for two years.
Jeremy Seaman told the Star that his brother is married with two young children.
Jason Seaman played college football for Southern Illinois from 2007 to 2010, according to ESPN. The team's head coach, Nick Hill, said in a statement Friday that Jason Seaman "was a great teammate (and) one of the team's hardest workers."
"You could always trust him to do the right thing," he said.
Jason Seaman continued to recover Friday. Police continue to investigate the shooting.
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