How to Survive an Active Shooter: A Firsthand Account of Courage and Preparedness
High school memories usually drift around exams, friendships, and plans for the future. But for some, those memories are marked by a day they were forced to see their world in a different light—a day they had to face a reality of violence in the very place that should’ve been safe. One day, a teacher stood up to protect his students, embodying the courage and readiness that, as adults, we recognize more and more as critical. Mr. Seaman’s bravery during an unthinkable event at a middle school showed that in moments of terror, instinct and training combine, and simple acts become heroic.
At Krav Maga Experts, we train for reality, not theory. Readiness isn’t just a drill or a concept—it’s a mindset we commit to every time we step on the mat. We prepare to face the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. The active shooter protocol that this student once had to live through in real time aligns with the principles we hold close: awareness, decisiveness, and the courage to act when there’s no room for hesitation. It’s not just about physical skills; it’s about cultivating a steady mind, a clear response, and a willingness to protect in the face of real threats.
These days, you’ll find him right here at KME, helping everyone prepare for classes and assisting with training—channeling his experience to make sure others are ready too. For those of us who train, the mission is clear: protect what you love, because the world is unpredictable, but our resolve cannot be.
Mr. Seaman’s courage shows us the reality of facing the unthinkable—a reality that, as adults, we recognize as critical to prepare for. This is where training meets action, and preparation isn’t just theory; it’s about building the mindset and readiness to act when it matters most.
I invite you to read a firsthand account of an experience that shaped not only one student’s life but also highlights the importance of courage, readiness, and the power of decisive action when it’s needed most.
“My senior year of high school ended in a way that I never thought could’ve or would’ve happened in my hometown. On May 25th, 2018, a middle school girl named Ella was targeted and shot by a classmate of hers. She was taking a science test. The 13-year-old active shooter, whose name is still confidential due to being a juvenile perpetrator, asked to be excused from class.
He returned with two handguns and a knife and opened fire on Ella and their science teacher, Jason Seaman. At this moment, Mr. Seaman jumped into action in the face of the threat. He grabbed the basketball on his desk, threw it at the shooter, charged and tackled the shooter, wrestling him to the ground. He suffered a few gunshot wounds in the process.
He was yelling for his students to evacuate the room as he held the shooter down. The police arrested the shooter, and both Ella and Mr. Seaman spent weeks in the hospital. Mr. Seaman was shot 3 times, and Ella was shot 7. Both survived, but Ella will never regain control of her arm. The other students at the school at the time were evacuated to the high school gym to shelter until more information was available. Since any information became available about this, all other schools in the school district and other schools in the surrounding districts were advised to follow all active shooter protocols.
I was in my music theory class when we got the announcement of ALICE. ALICE was my school’s protocol when there would be an active shooter on the premises. The ALICE protocol stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. But my school only got to the “A” and the “L.” We were alerted of a potential threat to the students’ safety at my school and advised to lock down. My teacher locked and barred the door, and we sheltered in a back room so we would be out of sight of the door, awaiting the “I” for “inform.” That never came over our PA system. Was the front office attacked? Is the Principal unable to give live updates because the shooter is nearby? These types of questions ran through each student’s head as it had passed a couple of hours since the last contact.
The interesting thing about the ALICE protocol is that none of the announcements are said to be required to be followed if the students want to choose a different way to stay safe. I had driven my mom’s minivan to school that day to carry my contrabass for an end-of-semester orchestra concert. So, I decided to group up with a couple of other students who didn’t have a way away from the school to all run to my minivan if we got any information about the shooter’s location. Little did we know that the shooter had already been in custody for hours. So why were we still on lockdown? What about the “I,” “C,” and “E” of ALICE? We were still waiting to be informed and hadn’t even gotten close to “Counter” or “Evacuate.” What was the reason for the radio silence?
There was a threat at the high school after the events at the middle school. That is why we were still on lockdown. The high school had no idea if there were other shooters. They had no other new information to give; this meant we couldn’t progress to the final steps of ALICE. But that protocol kept us the safest we could’ve been in that moment.
The protocol had already happened at Noblesville West Middle School, keeping the other students as secure as possible.
Throughout middle and high school, I learned the ALICE protocol well and had monthly drills on what to do in the case of an active shooter. I thought I would share this protocol to give food for thought and inspect Mr. Seaman’s actions on keeping his students safe.
Alert – ‘Alert’ means being aware of your surroundings and is the first sense or notification of danger. Its primary objective is to recognize the signs of an emergency or to receive information about danger from others.
These initial notifications of danger are received by your senses – sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste – as well as through technology – a mobile alert, email, text message, phone call, announcement, and more.
Lockdown – ALICE’s enhanced “Lockdown” strategy is an adaptive and strategic methodology that empowers educators, students, and staff to effectively counteract emergencies in which traditional evacuation may not be effective.
The primary objective of ‘Lockdown’ is twofold: to carve out precious time in the face of danger and to fortify safety measures while awaiting the arrival of law enforcement or the emergence of more opportune avenues such as evacuation.
Inform – ‘Inform’ serves as a key communication strategy initiated when you receive an alert of danger. Its primary objective is to provide concise, real-time information, enabling individuals to make informed decisions in accordance with their emergency response training, which may involve actions like evacuation or lockdown.
Counter – While ALICE emphasizes the value of utilizing various methods to ensure safety during life-threatening scenarios, Counter is specifically designed as a strategy of last resort. It capitalizes on creating noise, movement, distance, and distraction to minimize the shooter’s ability to accurately target individuals. It is important to note that Counter is not synonymous with fighting; instead, Counter can be defined as any interruption to the intruder’s thought process.
Evacuate – The fundamental aim of Evacuate is to establish physical distance between potential victims and armed intruders. When feasible and safe, the best response is to run from danger, even utilizing non-traditional exits if necessary.
The effectiveness of Evacuate relies on situational awareness and timely evaluation of the best response option. If the available information suggests that evacuation is a safe option, individuals should move to a designated rally point as safely as possible. It’s crucial to establish and practice meeting at rally points during active shooter drills for seamless emergency response.
Active shooter training is imperative to anyone living in our current world. Whether you live in the suburbs of Indiana or the busy streets of NYC, knowing what to do in the event of an active shooter allows you to Protect What You Love. From my time learning the ALICE protocol in middle and high school to my training here at KME, I know that training in these scenarios can be scary. Still, it would be even scarier for me to live my life okay with not knowing what to do in these very real situations.
I am a purely civilian and ordinary midwesterner living here in NYC. And yet, all the training I have received is something I am fully capable of. You don’t need to be superhuman to Protect What You Love and care for; your willingness to do so makes you extraordinary. Mr. Seaman stated that his actions were “…the only acceptable actions I could have done given the circumstances.” ”
Seaman was just an ordinary middle school science teacher before he became a hero to many. His actions under pressure revealed his values and ethics—he refused to let others get hurt, and he acted with selflessness and courage. Because of his decisive response, not only were many students saved, but his own life was spared as well.
This reminds us that heroes aren’t born from extraordinary circumstances but from ordinary people who decide to act. In a world where we can’t predict every threat, we can still choose to prepare, to stand ready, and to protect what we hold dear.
Do something amazing,
Tsahi Shemesh
Founder & CEO
Krav Maga Experts