Michael Landsberry, the Sparks Middle School math teacher shot to death Monday by a student, was a Marine veteran.
Marine spokeswoman Maj. Shawn Haney told CNN that Landsberry enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1986, and earned the rank of corporal before leaving the Corps.
Landsberry was also a member of the Nevada Air National Guard. Reggie Landsberry said his brother was deployed several times to Afghanistan as a part of the 152nd Airlift Wing.
Reuters reports Landsberry was killed by a 12-year-old student with a semi-automatic handgun. The youngster wounded two other students before he committed suicide.
Chanda Landsberry, Reggie's wife, told the Reno Gazette-Journal that her brother-in-law died a hero:
“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. He could have ducked and hid, but he didn’t. That’s not who he is.
“He was trained to help.”
"He gave other children time to run when he courageously tried to stop the shooter, thank you for being a hero RIP TO SPARKS HERO MR. LANDSBERRY"
I lived in Reno, which is right next to Sparks, for about two years. The people who live there are warm, generous, and friendly. My heart goes out to the community I called home many years ago.
