Michael Landsberry, a 45-year-old math teacher at Sparks Middle School near Reno Nevada, was shot dead on Monday morning by a 12-year-old student with a semiautomatic pistol, CNN reported. The shooter, whose identity has yet been released, also wounded two 12-year-old students before killing himself. Landsberry, a former Marine, reportedly was shielding students when he was killed.
"He proudly served his country and was proudly defending the students at his school," Sparks Mayor Geno Martini said
"In my estimation... he's a hero," said Reno's Deputy Police Chief Tom Robinson at a news conference.
"This was the kind of person that Michael was. He was the kind of person that if somebody needed help he would be there," his brother Reggie told CNN.
A student who witnessed the shooting said Landsberry tried to make the boy put his weapon down. When he refused, "he took the shot right then and there," he said.
"He was telling him to stop and put the gun down. Then the kid, he yelled out 'No!' Like, he was yelling at him, and he shot him," Jose Cazares, one of Landsberry's students, told NBC's "Today" show on Tuesday.
"So then we looked back toward where we saw the noise, and we saw the kid pull out his gun and shoot the kid in the arm, so then they started running and I froze because he was aiming his gun right at my chest. And I looked at the gun and my chest like, 'He's going to shoot me.
"I turned around and I ran. I heard a gunshot, and I thought he shot me. Then I looked back, and he shot a kid in his leg, arm and stomach," he added.
Cazares and other witnesses said Landsberry quickly stepped forward and spoke to the boy.
"(Landsberry) was telling him to stop and put the gun down, and then the kid, he yelled out 'No!' yelling at him, and he shot him," Jose said. "(Landsberry) was calm and he was holding out his hand like, 'Put the gun in my hand,' like to just stop."
Landsberry's tribute Facebook page has received about 15,000 likes' by Tuesday afternoon.
Landsberry reportedly served several tours of duty to Afghanistan as a member of the Nevada Airn National Guard, his brother said. He joined the Marine Corps in 1986, and was corporal while also serving as a field wireman, Marine Spokesman Maj. Shawn Haney said, as CNN reported.
Landsberry reportedly left behind his wife Sharon and two stepdaughters, ABC News reported.
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