« I deeply care for my students and their well-being. That is why I did what I did that day. »
The teacher who was shot last week while taking down a gunman at an Indiana school said Monday that he took « the only acceptable actions » to save the students in his classroom.
Jason Seaman said he had no hesitation after the student entered his seventh-grade classroom at Noblesville West Middle School with a gun on Friday. A 13-year-old girl was also shot.
« 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. « I deeply care for my students and their well-being. That is why I did what I did that day. »
The 29-year-old Seaman, a former college football player, was shot but not seriously injured. Ella Whistler, the student who was shot, is in critical but stable condition, but is improving, according to school principal Stacey Swan.
« Her courage and strength at such a young age is nothing short of remarkable, » Seaman said. « We all should continue to keep her in our minds as she continues to recover. »
President Donald Trump praised Seaman in a tweet on Saturday, thanking him « for his heroic act in saving so many precious young lives. »
« His quick and automatic action is being talked about all over the world! » Trump wrote.
The shooter had asked to be dismissed from the class before returning with two guns. Authorities have him in custody, but didn’t release the student’s name.
Student Ethan Stonebraker told ABC News that Seaman threw a basketball at the gunman and ran at him as students tried to take cover.
« If it weren’t for him, more of us would have been injured for sure, » he told the network.
With News Wire Services
