Noblesville Teacher Swatted Gun From Shooter's Hand

NOBLESVILLE, IN — A middle school science teacher threw himself into the line of fire Friday morning when a student walked into his Noblesville West Middle School classroom with two guns and began shooting, wounding the teacher and a 13-year-old girl before the teacher reportedly rushed the shooter, slapped the gun from his hand and tackled him. The teacher, Jason Seaman, was shot three times defending his classroom.

Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt said the shooting took place just after 9 a.m. and the investigation continues. The girl remains in critical condition as of 8 p.m. Eastern time, according to Noblesville police. IndyStar.com reports she was shot in the chest and underwent surgery.

Seaman, a seventh-grade teacher and football coach at the school, ran toward the gunman as soon as the shooting began, reports the Associated Press, quoting a seventh-grade student.

“Our science teacher immediately ran at him, swatted a gun out of his hand and tackled him to the ground. If it weren't for him, more of us would have been injured for sure," Ethan Stonebreaker said.

Seaman released a statement Friday afternoon. He suffered three gunshot wounds before subduing the gunman.

"Thank you to all the first responders from Noblesville and Fishers for their immediate action and care. I want to let everyone know I am injured but am doing great," Seaman said in a statement he issued through WTHR in Indianapolis. "To all the students, you are all wonderful and I thank you for your support. You are the reason I teach."

Seaman, an Illinois native and former Southern Illinois University football player, underwent surgery for gunshot wounds to his abdomen, hip and forearm and was in good condition, his mother said on Facebook.

Other students told reporters how Seaman once told them he would protect them if a shooter ever came into their school.

"I especially remember that he would throw himself on top of the shooter if he had to," Molly Miles, now a student at Noblesville High School, told IndyStar. "Which he proved today. ... He always said that he was willing to sacrifice himself before he was willing to let anything happen to his students."

Indiana State Police told Patch two victims, later revealed to be the teacher and the young girl, were taken to Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital.

The girl, who hasn't been publicly identified, is a popular, outgoing student who participates in show choir and makes her own music videos for YouTube, reports IndyStar, citing interviews with fellow students.

A parent told WISH-TV his ex-wife was "hysterical" when she called him to tell him about the shooting, saying their daughter called her mother while hiding under a desk. A student told the station he heard gunshots but could not tell whether they came from inside or outside the building.

Police would not name the victims or confirm parents' claims that Seaman stopped the shooter.

During a Friday afternoon press conference, Noblesville Police Lieutenant and Public Information Officer Bruce Barnes, said, "We need to get it right, we need to make sure we take care of the victims right now."

Barnes added that local, state and federal officials investigating the crime scene, which he says is limited to the classroom.

Jowitt said a male student asked to be excused from his class Friday morning and returned with two handguns. Jowitt also said the school's resource officer was in the building at the time of the shooting, but he cannot comment on the officer's involvement.

WRTV said news crews were on the scene as police officials were raiding the suspect's home. The outlet said the raid was happening at the same time as the press conference.

BREAKING: Local police, state, ATF and @FBIIndianapolis at the home of the suspect in the Noblesville Middle School Shooting. @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/gM1bET1WR6
— Paris Lewbel (@PLewbel) May 25, 2018

A parent at the school said his daughter called him, saying, "I saw my teacher get shot," according to IndyStar. "He's a hero in my mind," said another dad, who credited Seaman with intervening to stop the shooting.

Noblesville Schools Superintendent Beth Niedermeyer said she visited the wounded teacher and student, asking reporters to give the victims and their families peace in the wake of the shooting. She asked media to stay away from the hospital.

According to Jowitt, the suspect is in custody and authorities do not believe any threat remains for Noblesville students, despite a secondary threat made against Noblesville High School.

"We have multiple officers and a command post established at Noblesville High School and are diligently ensuring the safety of students and staff there," Jowitt said. "We have not received any information that this has been anything other than a communicated threat."

After the shooting, a SWAT team swept the West Middle School building and gave an all clear, police said.

Police said middle school students were transported to Noblesville High School following the shooting.

"Our hearts go out to everyone involved in this horrific tragedy," said Niedermeyer, who expressed her gratitude for the quick response by teachers and staff who worked to keep students safe, as well as police and fire crews.

"We're so grateful that everyone was so quick to respond to this tragedy," she said.

For some, including Wayne Township Fire Department Public Information Officer Mike Pruitt, a major thought and concern is now, "We have now pretty much surpassed the phrase 'If it happens' and moved on to 'When it happens.'"

Indiana State Teachers Association President Teresa Meredith issued a statement in response to the shooting, calling for measures to keep guns out of the hands of violent people.

"Our hearts go out to the students, educators, families and community members of Noblesville who this morning faced a senseless act of gun violence at Noblesville West Middle School," Meredith said. "This national crisis has landed in our backyard. We all have a responsibility to keep our kids safe from violence, and it's unconscionable that they live in fear that one day their school may be next. When is enough, enough? Thoughts and prayers aren't enough to keep our students and educators safe. We need to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people. We now know that it is up to communities, families, activists, educators and the students themselves to stand up and demand that those who are trusted with protecting them do their jobs."

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said on Twitter that he was on a plane heading back to Indiana from Europe and is monitoring the situation. "(State police) are working with local responders & will offer all assistance needed. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this horrible situation," Holcomb tweeted.

Indiana Rep. Susan Brooks, who represents Noblesville, tweeted that she is on her way back to Indiana from Philadelphia following the shooting.

I’m flying back home today to #IN05 from my nephew’s graduation in Philly to be w/&support the Noblesville community after the school shooting. During times of fear & uncertainty, it’s critically important we come together as a community. Please continue to pray for those injured
— Susan W. Brooks (@SusanWBrooks) May 25, 2018

Vice President Mike Pence, the former governor of Indiana, also tweeted about the shooting, saying he and his wife were praying for the victims.

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill also released statement in response to the shooting.

“The epidemic of violence sweeping across American schools has now come to Indiana," Hill said. "While we await additional information on the school incident in Noblesville this morning, we must brace ourselves for the reality that our schools and our children are under siege by an unspeakable wave of terror that is taking full advantage of our open and free society.

“School safety plans, resource officers, red flag laws and hardened targets are vital to the defense of our schools and our children. While we all join in prayer for the victims and their families, we must continue on the path of identifying the best and most comprehensive ways to protect our schools and prevent these tragedies.”

Congressman Andre Carson, D-Indianapolis, invoked other recent mass shootings, including Columbine, Virginia Tech, Las Vegas, Parkland and Santa Fe.

"This Memorial Day, we will remember the 2,411 service members killed since 2001 and all who have died for our country," Carson said in a statement. "We cannot forget that they died to protect us. But every day 96 of the Americans they fought for are killed with guns. That’s 13,000 gun homicides per year. And in 2018 alone, nearly 30 children have been murdered in school shootings."

The Indiana school shooting comes exactly a week after a student opened fire at Santa Fe High School near Houston, killing 10 people and wounding more than a dozen. On Valentine's Day, a former student armed with an assault-style rifle opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 and wounding many more.

Patch will update this breaking story as more information becomes available.

Watch the 11 a.m. press conference with Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt and Noblesville Schools Superintendent Beth Niedermeyer:

Top photo: A student and adult embrace outside Noblesville West Middle School after a shooting at the school on May 25, 2018 in Noblesville, Indiana. One teacher and one student were initially reported injured. Photo 2: Police assess the scene outside Noblesville High School after a shooting at Noblesville West Middle School. Middle school students were taken to the high school for reunion with their parents. (Photos by Kevin Moloney/Getty Images)