Teacher who stopped Indiana school shooting says he had to save students
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — A suburban Indianapolis teacher who was shot while tackling and disarming a student inside his classroom said Monday that his swift decisions “were the only acceptable actions” to save his seventhgrade students.
Jason Seaman, speaking publicly for the first time since the shooting Friday, thanked the Noblesville community for its support and stressed that he wanted the focus to be on the other person shot during the incident: 13- year- old student Ella Whistler, who was seriously wounded.
“Her courage and strength at such a young age is nothing short of remarkable,” Seaman said during a news conference at the school district’s administrative building. “We all should continue to keep her in our minds as she continues to recover.”
School officials said Monday that Ella was improving and making progress while recovering at an Indianapolis hospital.
Seaman is credited with stopping an armed student who entered his classroom at Noblesville West Middle School. Witnesses said the 29- year- old ran toward bullets as he tackled the student. Seaman was shot three times, according to his brother.
“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 said Monday. “I deeply care for my students and their well- being. That is why I did what I did that day.”
According to Southern Illinois University’s athletics website, Seaman is a native of downstate Mahomet who lettered in football at SIU from 2007- 10.