Hero Teacher Brady Olson Stops High School Shooter In Washington State

A teacher in Washington state helped prevent what could have been a deadly school shooting when he tackled and restrained the suspect.

Police responded Monday morning to reports of a shooter inside North Thurston High School. When they arrived, a 16-year-old suspect had already been detained by teacher Brady Olson.

The chaos began when the unidentified student fired a single round in the ceiling shortly before classes began at around 7:30 a.m., according to Newsday.

Olson quickly tackled the teen, the Guardian reported. The teacher and a school resource officer held the suspect until police arrived, according to Q13.

"As always, students come first, and today was no different," Olson said in a statement published on the school's website. "I reacted in a way that any other teacher would react and at the sound of a gunshot had three other adults, including Tim Brown, Dean of Students, Principal Steve Rood, and Security Officer, Jim Beltico, going toward the sound of gun fire rather than away."

"I think it's heroic," Lacey Police Commander Chris Ward told King 5 News. "I think it's guttural. People rise to the occasion when they need to do something. I think, in this case, it probably prevented worse things from happening."

No one was injured during the ordeal. Students and others praised Olson on social media:

#nths All the news stations. Mr Olson is the best teacher in the school he is like a dad to me.

— Deven Weeks (@deven_weeks) April 27, 2015

Olson teaches AP government and civics at the school. He has taught at North Thurston for nine years, according to the school's website.

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