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Charges in Denver school shooting US 'hero' teacher tackles gunman
(about 1 hour later)
A gunman suspected of firing on pupils at a US school, injuring two before being tackled, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder. A teacher has been hailed a hero after tackling a man accused of opening fire at a school in the US city of Denver.
A judge has placed a bail of $1m on Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood, 32. Maths teacher David Benke brought down Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood, 32, who has been charged with attempted murder.
Mr Eastwood is accused of firing a rifle at pupils in a car park outside Deer Trail Middle School in Littleton, Denver. The 6.5ft (1.96m) former college basketball player pinned Mr Eastwood to the ground after he allegedly opened fire with a rifle, injuring two pupils.
He was tackled and pinned to the ground by David Benke, a maths teacher, with the help of another teacher. Police said the actions of Mr Benke and another teacher almost certainly prevented worse bloodshed.
Mr Eastwood said nothing as he appeared at the brief court hearing via video link-up from the local jail, wearing an orange prison-issue jumpsuit. Mr Eastwood was bailed for $1m during a brief court hearing on Wednesday.
Mr Benke's intervention has been widely praised, with a fan-page on the social networking website Facebook attracting more than 20,000 followers.
'Struggling around''Struggling around'
The alleged gunman had reportedly walked into the school alone earlier in the day, reportedly leaving without drawing any suspicion. The teacher, who was on duty in the car park at Deer Trail Middle School in Littleton, said he went to investigate after he heard what sounded like a firework.
Police say he signed in at the school's reception around midday, indicating he was a former student, before leaving again sometime before the shootings at about 1500.
Mr Benke, a 6ft 5in (1.96m) former college basketball player, said he was alerted after hearing a noise that sounded like a firework.
"Unfortunately he got another round off before I could grab him," said Mr Benke of his efforts to tackle the suspect."Unfortunately he got another round off before I could grab him," said Mr Benke of his efforts to tackle the suspect.
"He figured out that he wasn't going to be able to get another round chambered before I got to him so he dropped the gun and then we were kind of struggling around trying to get him subdued.""He figured out that he wasn't going to be able to get another round chambered before I got to him so he dropped the gun and then we were kind of struggling around trying to get him subdued."
One of the injured pupils is said to be "doing well" in hospital, while the other was discharged after being treated.One of the injured pupils is said to be "doing well" in hospital, while the other was discharged after being treated.