David A. Benke saved an indeterminate number of people from assault, Littleton, Colorado, February 23, 2010. A 32-year-old man armed with a hunting rifle entered the grounds of a middle school just after classes were dismissed for the day. Approaching the building, he fired a shot at a group of students, one of whom was injured in the arm by fragments. A teacher at the school, Benke, 57, was on bus duty at a point about 60 feet away and heard the shot. Starting toward the school to investigate, Benke saw the assailant and immediately ran to him as the assailant managed to get off another shot. That shot struck a male student in the back and severely injured him. The assailant dropped the rifle as Benke reached him. Benke grasped the assailant and took him to the pavement. Others responded immediately and secured the rifle and helped to restrain the assailant, and police arrived shortly and arrested him. The injured students required hospital treatment, and they recovered.
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