In a stunning yet all-too-common act of heroism, another high school football coach has thwarted yet another would-be school shooting.
The latest incident comes from Parkrose High School, in the northeast section of Portland, Ore., when a student entered a classroom wearing a black trench coat and carrying a shotgun. The student, identified as 18-year-old Angel Granados Dias, was thwarted from carrying out his plan when he was tackled by Parkrose football coach Keanon Lowe.
“Incidents such as the one that occurred today strikes the worst fear in the hearts of students and parents,” Portland police chief Danielle Outlaw said in a statement. “The officers and school staff worked together to respond quickly and ensure the safety of all involved. I commend the school staff member who displayed quick actions and bravery when he confronted the subject.”
Lowe, a former Oregon wide receiver, works as a security guard at Parkrose, in addition to leading the football and track and field programs. A member of Oregon's 2014 Pac-12 championship and College Football Playoff runner-up team, Lowe worked as an analyst for the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers before joining the Parkrose staff.
“I’m just happy everyone was OK,” Lowe told The Oregonian. “I’m happy I was able to be there for the kids and for the community.”
Witnesses told the paper Dias brandished the gun but did not fire it. He was booked into jail early Sunday morning on charges of possession of a loaded firearm in a public place, reckless endangerment and two counts of possession of a firearm in a public building.
“At some point, a staff member at the high school confronted him,” police said in a statement. “A Portland Police School Resource Officer and other officers arrived and immediately entered the school and found the staff member detaining the subject in the hallway.”
Lowe is unfortunately not the first coach put in this position. In 2013, Chadron (Ohio) assistant coach Frank Hall
Parkrose HS seniors Preston Anderson, 17, & Sair Nunez, 19 said they were in their government class in the Fine Arts building when a male classmate came in with a gun and was subdued by Keanon Lowe, a coach at the school. pic.twitter.com/aKU4zPj8XD
— Everton Bailey Jr. (@EvertonBailey) May 17, 2019
" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stopped a gunman who had already killed three students. Last year alone, Noblesville West (Ind.) Middle School coach Jason Seaman stopped an active school shooting, while coach Aaron Feis died trying to protect students during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) High School.
“I think (Lowe) deserves a lot of credit for his bravery,” Parkrose student Elijah Reginald told The Oregonian. “If it wasn’t for him, someone could have gotten hurt or potentially lost their life.”