Aaron Ybarra identified as Seattle Pacific University shooter, disarmed by Jon Meis
A student used pepper spray to attack a gunman while he was reloading during a tragic shooting spree at Seattle Pacific University Thursday. Police have now identified the suspect, who was tackled and held by students until police arrived.
Jon Meis, the student credited with pepper spraying a gunman, therefore saving lives, during an attack on a college campus
One student was killed, three injured as authorities said Friday that Aaron Ybarra, 26, is being held as the shooter without bail in the King County Jail on homicide charges.
The hero is a student building monitor, Jon Meis, who disarmed a gunman after using the pepper spray, but the police added “There are a number of heroes in this,” Assistant Police Chief Paul McDonagh said at a press conference. “The people around him (the gunman) stepped up.” More on Meis Below.
“It appears the suspect acted alone,” McDonagh said. Initially, “there was a report of another person with a weapon, but (investigators) have not confirmed that” and later noted that likely was just a reference to the student using the pepper spray.
The university locked down its campus for several hours, and it alerted students and staff to stay inside. Some students were taking finals in the same building that the shooter entered.
Multiple shots were fired, and the gunman had additional rounds, McDonagh said. Authorities said they still aren’t sure of the gunman’s motive or intended target.
“But for the great response by the people of Seattle Pacific, this incident might have been much more tragic,” he said.
None of the victims names have been released, but here’s the latest update: The man who died was age 19 after being taken to Harborview Medical Center; three others were also transported to Harborview; one of the victims, female, age 20 was still in ICU late Thursday evening; a man, age 24, has been kept for observation but is doing well after enduring wounds to his nect and chest; the other victim, make, age 22, was treated and released.
Here’s a post on Jon Meis from 2010 article, sounds like a great young man:
Jon Meis is a senior at Seattle Christian Schools.
Jon maintains a 3.98 grade point average. He has taken five years of math, three years of science, three years of Spanish and this year is enrolled in AP Calculus, AP Physics, Language Arts 12, Civics/Current World Scene, Yearbook and Religion. He has received myriad academic awards–the most prestigious being selected a National Merit Program Finalist.
He is the 2010 Yearbook Editor. He is co-founder of S.K.A.R. Airsoft Team and has twice attended the Worldview Academy Leadership Camp. He also was a Washington Senate Page in 2008.
Jon enjoys helping the less fortunate and participated in the Mississippi Katrina Relief Team helping reconstruct housing and distributing clothing/supplies for the survivors of that devastating hurricane.
He supported the troops in Iraq by sending Christmas stockings for the 2007 and 2008 holiday seasons.
