SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A teacher credited with disarming a 12-year-old gunman in a Roswell middle school shooting says he acted solely on instinct.
John Masterson, an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Berrendo Middle School, was introduced to legislators yesterday during Gov. Susana Martinez's State of the State speech.
Authorities say Masterson talked the shooter into dropping his weapon after the boy wounded two students.
After the governor's speech, Masterson told reporters he wasn't advocating any legislation in response to the shooting last week. He said he acted on instinct and because he was closest to the shooter. He likened his actions to breaking up a fight on the school campus.
The governor also introduced security guard Kevin Hayes, who helped an injured student despite being hurt himself.