ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WUSA9) — The school resource officer hailed as a hero for stopping a shooting in St. Mary's County Maryland spoke publicly for the first time Thursday, saying that modern training requiring officers to confront school shooters immediately without backup saves lives.
"We're definitely trained. I know I was prepared," said St. Mary's County Maryland Sheriff's Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill. "Nobody wants it to happen but unfortunately it did so I'm glad I was there at the time."
Gaskill was given an award of valor by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.
"It's an example of exactly how it should work," Hogan said.
Gaskill confronted a 17-year old school shooter after the boy fatally wounded his ex-girlfriend and injured another boy at Great Mills High School March 20.
The boy took his own life as Gaskill also opened fire.
Maryland now requires all high schools to have School Resource officers like Gaskill on duty. An an extra $200 million dollars proposed by Hogan has been approved by the General Assembly to beef up school security statewide.
