'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)

Shrink — 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." (Read more school shooting stories.)

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WLeoB

Oct 22, 2013 5:07 AM CDT

1. That teacher was helpless. What a poster child for concealed carry: "Drop the gun..or I'll shoot!" 2. I can hear it now: "He was a kid!" People kill, guns just are merely doing their designed job. 3. Can we talk? A bullet to the torso is fatal 70-80% of the time. Two good machete hits (blood loss) or one nylon stocking (air loss) is usually 100% fatal. 4. He was in the Marines where they carry rifles which are more accurate for the expected combat and killing of other humans. Handguns are for unexpected confrontations and self-defense in close quarters. Ergo, concealed carry. Peace, WLeoB Canton, MI

samuell

Oct 22, 2013 3:54 AM CDT

if he was in the marines and had all this training against abuse he sure of could a disarmed a CHILD!no offense to anyone. i think then and yea if teachers environment is so dangerous they should be deputized and trained since they are well fit in that role as a community peacekeeper, teachers would make outstanding officers. i know you think what the hell? but, if kids are able to get ahold of these weapons more often, then this is highly heeded and needed! kids gotta wake up from their fantasy movielike trance and realize they r in reality. because they are bullied? boo hoo. kids actually need punishment, and intelligent parents that teach them valuable skills for Preparation for adulthood. nowadays parents will just say i am gonna take your video games away or your cellphone. parents now a days has got to b embarrassing. parents and children are both at fault, they need to know what VALUES are. what business do electronics have in the school anyway? children need nuturing, caring, listening, and obedient parents but today that just falls to the wayside to work, money, lying, and uncaring parents. CHILDREN MUST COME FIRST! they should hav mandatory classes for people that want kids and u cannot have kids unless u do. and take a child for a week or so to make sure the people would make outstanding smart caring parents.

sunniladi

Oct 22, 2013 2:11 AM CDT

all these comments about his being a marine, was a marine, is/isn't an ex-marine and on and on.. really? this man lost his life and this marine stuff is all you find important?? in his last hours on this earth he was a teacher. a teacher who loved and tried to protect his students. something tells me he would be a bit appalled at all the arguing and would probably be the first to say that he did what he believes any other teacher would have done. first and foremost, he was a TEACHER, not a marine, and now he is a hero. period..