'Hero' Teacher Killed in School Shooting Was Former Marine Math teacher Michael Landsberry, 45, IDed as victim By Ruth Brown, Newser Staff Posted Oct 21, 2013 4:59 PM CDT 56 comments Comments Law enforcement personnel gather at the scene of a shooting at Sparks Middle School in Sparks, Nev. (AP Photo/The Reno Gazette-Journal, Marilyn Newton) (Newser) – The teacher killed in today's school shooting in Nevada has been identified by his family as Michael Landsberry, 45, a math teacher at Sparks Middle School who had previously served in the Marines. A local police deputy chief described Landsberry as a "hero" for intervening in the shooting and trying to get the young gunman to put his weapon down, the Reno Gazette-Journal reports. "To hear he was trying to protect those kids, that he stepped up and tried to stop the situation, doesn’t surprise me at all," says his sister-in-law Chanda Landsberry. "He could have ducked and hid, but he didn’t. That’s not who he is." Landsberry was also a member of the Nevada Army National Guard. "He loved his school kids. He loved the Guard,” she says. “It defined him." My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results without voting | 4% Hilarious 1% Intriguing 80% Depressing 7% Brilliant 6% Scary 2% Ridiculous