Jason Seaman is being credited as a hero after he was shot while tackling and disarming a student at an Indiana school and the teacher is finally speaking out.
During a brief press conference Monday morning, Seaman thanked the Indiana community for their support and praised a 13-year-old who was also shot and urged everyone to think of her while she is recovering.
The 29-year-old Seaman was shot by a gunman on Friday after a student entered his Noblesville West Middle School classroom holding a gun.
Describing himself as "a person who isn't looking for attention," Seaman said that in his mind, the actions he took were the only acceptable actions he could have done.
"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," said Seaman. "I deeply care for my students and their well-being. That is why I did what I did that day."
One of his students, Ella Whistler, was also shot. Whistler remains in critical, but stable condition. Seaman talked about how proud he was of Ella and that she set a great example for everyone.
"I can't say enough how proud of Ella I am and how we all should be," Seaman said. "Her courage and strength at such a young age is nothing short of remarkable, and we should all continue to keep her in our minds as she continues to recover."
According to investigators, the shooter asked Seaman to be dismissed from class, later returning holding two guns. The student was arrested "extremely quickly" after the shooting according to Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt.
Officials have not released the name of the shooter, or whether he had been in any trouble before now.
The attack came one week following another shooting in Santa Fe, Texas that left eight students dead and two teachers.
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