Student killed in Spokane school shooting was trying to save others from gunman; lost his father in tragic accident weeks ago

Stephen Strahan, 15, lost his dad in a tragic accident on Father’s Day. He was then killed trying to confront the school shooter.

The 15-year-old high school student killed after a student opened fire at a Washington state high school was trying to stop the massacre.

The Washington Post reports that Sam Strahan was killed when he confronted and attempted to disarm the suspected gunman, Caleb Sharpe, when opened fire at Freeman High School in Rockford, just outside of Spokane.

Three other students were injured before a school janitor was able to subdue Sharpe, who is also a 15-year-old student at the school. Sharpe is expected to make a court appearance on Thursday.

Strahan was a well-liked student at the high school, described by his friends and classmates as funny, positive, and generous.

“It doesn’t surprise me one bit that Sam tried to stop the shooter,” a family friend told the Washington Post.

Less than three months before his heroic self-sacrifice, Strahan lost his father in a freak accident: Scott Strahan, 49, was killed on Father’s Day of this year after he was pinned by a motor home he was working on.

Now Sam’s mother and older sister are dealing with an unthinkable second tragedy.

A family member has launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign to support the grieving family.

“[Sam] gave everything to protect those who are in harm’s way,” Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich told the Washington Post.

 

Feature photo: GoFundMe