Noblesville School Shooting: Suspect In Custody, 1 Student In Critical Condition, 1 Teacher In Good

Last Updated: May 25 at 11:30 p.m. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Authorities say a student is in critical condition and a teacher is stable after they were injured in a shooting at Noblesville West Middle School Friday morning. A male student is in custody and is the only suspect in the shooting.

Noblesville Police Chief Kevin Jowitt says teacher Jason Seaman, 29, is being treated at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Ella Whistler, 13, is being treated at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Her family released a statement at 10:38 p.m. Friday saying she is “doing well.”

Noblesville Police Lt. Bruce Barnes says the unnamed male student asked to be excused from a classroom Friday morning, then returned with two handguns and opened fire.

Jowitt says police were first alerted at 9:06 a.m. and the student was quickly taken into custody. An NPD statement says a School Resource Officer from the NPD was in the building at the time of the shooting, and “he immediately responded to the area where it was believed that the active shooter was located.”

Student: Science teacher “swatted the gun out of his hand”

Seventh-grader Ethan Stonebraker says the class was taking a test when the student started shooting. He says Jason Seaman, the injured teacher, likely prevented the shooter from harming more students.

“He took about four to six shots not aiming at anyone specifically like he was waving his hand around,” Stonebraker says. “Then we saw one girl fall to the ground and Mr. Seaman, our science teacher, immediately ran at him, swatted the gun out of his hand, knocked the gun to the ground.”

Jason Seaman’s brother Jeremy, of Arizona, says the teacher has undergone surgery after being shot three times when he intervened.

Jeremy Seaman tells The Indianapolis Star that his brother was conscious after the shooting and talked with his wife, telling her he was OK.

Jason Seaman’s mother posted on Facebook that he was out of surgery and “doing well.”

Jeremy Seaman says his brother was a defensive end for Southern Illinois University’s football team and has never been a person to run away.

Thirteen-year-old Chris Navarro, an eighth grader, says he was in an auditorium when he heard gunshots about a minute before the bell rang for the change in classes. He says a lock down was immediately announced over the school’s speaker. He rushed into a small room with three other people to hide.

Jowitt also says an unrelated threat was made against Noblesville High School, prompting a brief lock down. An investigation found no threat.

Credit Lauren Chapman / IPB News

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IPB News

Students were transported to the Noblesville High School field house to reunite with their families.

“Our hearts go out to everyone that’s been involved in this horrific tragedy,” says Superintendent Beth Niedermeyer.

Mayor John Ditslear (R-Noblesville) says his heart is breaking.

“We’ve had these shootings around the country, you just never think it can happen in Noblesville, Indiana, and it did,” he says.

What We Know About The Suspect

The alleged shooter could face charges next week in Hamilton County juvenile court. Police say they’ve obtained several search warrants as part of the ongoing investigation.

Law enforcement agents have sealed off part of an upscale neighborhood while they investigate.

A Noblesville police vehicle was parked at the entrance of a culdesac in the tree-lined neighborhood near Morse Reservoir on Friday afternoon. FBI personnel milled about at the end of a shady driveway leading to a home obscured by large trees.

Officers only allowed access of the area to landscaping crews that arrived after the street was blocked.

A member of one crew, Sandy McWilliams, says she was working outside a house three doors away when she looked up and saw six officers enter the home with assault rifles.

Noblesville Police Lt. Bruce Barnes declined to say whether the male student was targeting anyone. He said the suspected shooter wasn’t injured and wouldn’t comment on whether the student had been in trouble before..

Vice President, State Leaders Respond

Gov. Eric Holcomb was on his way back to Indiana after a trip to Europe at the time of the shooting Friday morning. He said he was monitoring the situation with state legislative leaders from the air.

“Approximately 100 state police officers have been made available to work with local responders and will offer all assistance needed,” Holcomb says in a statement. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this horrible situation.”

State Superintendent Jennifer McCormick says her office was in contact with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

“We have confidence in Noblesville Schools Superintendent Dr. Beth Niedermeyer and her team, law enforcement, and first responders,” McCormick says in a statement. “The Department stands ready to provide guidance and support and we will provide further statements as information unfolds.”

The Indiana State Teachers Association released a statement calling for action to “keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people.”

“This national crisis has landed in our backyard. We all have a responsibility to keep our kids safe from violence, and it’s unconscionable that they live in fear that one day their school may be next. When is enough, enough?” the statement says.