At approximately 7:16 this morning local time, 911 calls started being received over a shooting incident at Sparks Middle School in Sparks, Nev. According to reports on Fox News, two individuals are dead – a staff member, and the shooter – the shooter apparently turned the weapon on himself. Others were injured, and transported to the hospital, according to a press conference statement by Lieutenant Chad Hawkins of the Sparks Nevada Police Department. Officers received information on the incident from both staff and students. Officers are starting a slow and methodical search of the school, going into investigative mode. The school and scene are secure. This is a developing story.
Update: Family of the teacher slain today at Sparks Middle School identified him as Michael Landsberry, a math teacher with over ten years experience as a teacher. The Reno Gazette Journal reports:
It came as no surprise to Michael Landsberry’s family that the Sparks Middle School math teacher is being called a hero for trying to get a student to put his gun down before being shot and killed.
“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,” said Chanda Landsberry, who is married to Michael’s brother younger brother, Reggie. “He could have ducked and hid, but he didn’t. That’s not who he is.”
“He was trained to help.”
A former Marine, the 45-year-old Landsberry was also a member of the Nevada Army National Guard.
Tom Robinson, deputy chief with the Reno Police Department told reporters at a news conference: “in my estimation, he is a hero. We do know he was trying to intervene.”
