Jacob Russell Ryker

Jacob Russell Ryker helped to save an indeterminate number of persons from assault, Springfield, Oregon, May 21, 1998. More than 100 students were gathered in their high school’s cafeteria before the start of classes when a heavily armed 15-year-old boy entered the room and opened fire on them with a semiautomatic rifle. The boy, who also was a student at the school, had earlier shot four other persons, killing three. One of the students in the cafeteria was killed and many were wounded, including Jacob, 17, who, shot through the chest, fell to the floor. As the assailant appeared to be reloading his weapon, Jacob got up and, despite his wound, charged him, taking him to the floor and causing him to lose the rifle. Several other students joined in subduing the assailant. As they struggled against him, the assailant produced a handgun, which Jacob, moving atop him, grasped with his left hand. The gun discharged, further wounding Jacob, in a finger. Arriving police arrested the assailant. Twenty-five of the students were wounded; Jacob required four days’ hospitalization for treatment, including surgery, of his injuries.