Students Subdue Gunman in Seattle Pacific University Shooting

A gunman entered a building at Seattle Pacific University Thursday afternoon, firing at students. One 19-year-old male was shot and killed in the attack; two more students were injured. ABC News reports that the incident would have been worse had it not been for the heroic actions of students who subdued the gunman.

“There are a number of heroes in this. The people around him (the gunman) stepped up,” said Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said.

A student building monitor charged the gunman with pepper spray when he paused to reload. Other students helped while more tended to those who had been shot.

First Free Methodist Church hosted a service for students and community member to join together in prayer. The building became so crowded that many sat outside and formed prayer groups on the lawn.

The gunman was not a student at the private Christian university; his connection to the school is unknown.

Publication date: June 6, 2014