Students attending the Sparks Middle School in Nevada are still in shock over the violent display that up to 30 students witnessed. Yesterday, 8th-grade math teacher Michael Landsberry was shot dead by a lone gunman, who also injured two young classmates and then killed himself. Landsberry is being hailed as a hero for attempting to protect the students from the shooter.

Landsberry, 45, was attempting to talk the gunman into putting down the weapon or handing it to him when he was fatally shot. Landsberry, who was a former Marine and member of the Nevada Air National Guard, was said to help those in need, and to truly love his students.

Deputy Chief Robinson called Landsberry a hero, and so did many others.

"He sacrificed his life to take our kids into safety," Marisela Cazares said. "Today, I thank him for that. He's a true hero."

Washoe County School District Superintendent Pedro Martinez agreed, saying, "We have a lot of heroes today, including our children ... and our fallen hero, an amazing teacher."

The Police stated that the first shots were fired at 7:16 (9:16 ET), just before classes were to begin. First responders arrived on the scene in less than three minutes to assist. In the short minutes, the semi-automatic-wielding student shot down the teacher, wounded two-year-old boys -shooting one in the abdomen and the one in the shoulder, and then killed himself.

There has been no apparent motive provided as to why the student decided to terrorize the school. But, it has been confirmed that the student stole the gun from his parents.

"It's too early to say whether he was targeting specific people or just going on an indiscriminate shooting spree," said Tom Robinson, deputy chief of the Reno Police Department.

Strangely enough many have positive things about the assailant, stating that he was the type to go out of his way to make others smile, and that he bought people things to cheer them up; but it also said that the shooter has been bullied in the past.

Details about Michael Landsberry's funeral have not been released.