Taft Union High School teacher Ryan Heber and campus supervisor Kim Fields, are being hailed as heroes.
Sheriff Donny Youngblood says the mens' actions likely saved many lives.
"The heroics of these men goes without saying. To stand there and face someone with a shotgun that has already discharged and shot a student, speaks volumes for these two young men and what they may have prevented," said Youngblood.
Youngblood says both Heber and Fields were able to distract the suspected shooter, Bryan Oliver, and allow students in the classroom to escape safely.
He adds, the men negotiated with Oliver and convinced him to put down the shotgun.
The 16-year-old was then taken into custody.
David Heber, father of Ryan Heber, says his son, who was hit by a pellet, is doing fine physically. He says Ryan isn't in any pain, but said Thursday was the worst day of his life.
"He is very shook up. Good thing that he is very emotionally stable and normal because that's for a lot of people, they asked if he needed counseling, but he said I can handle it. That's the kind of person he is, but he does handle things very well," said David Heber of his son.
David Heber adds, Ryan is a well-liked teacher and graduate of Taft Union High School.
