Hollywood Popular Artists

Aug 22nd 2013, 20:00, by Danica Davidson

Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy, an elementary school in Georgia, might have gone down in history as the location of another terrible school shooting. Instead, the school is now in the news for the heroism of Antoinette Tuff.

+ Who is Antoinette Tuff?

Antoinette Tuff is a bookkeeper at Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy, and she was working there when an armed man with approximately 500 rounds of ammunition stepped in and gave a warning shot at the floor. But along with knowing how to keep books, she'd been trained in how to handle hostile situations.

+ How did she stop a school shooting?

Antoinette began to talk to the now identified suspect, Michael Brandon Hill, 20, humanizing herself so that he would talk back. She told him about her own struggles in life, such as a recent divorce after 33 years of marriage, and helped him communicate with police. Antoinette's 911 call with the police can be heard on CNN, and she talked with the suspect throughout. "It's going to be all right, sweetie," she's recorded saying to him. "I just want you to know I love you, though, OK? And I'm proud of you. That's a good thing that you're just giving up, and don't worry about it. We all go through something in life. No, you don't want that. You going to be OK."

+ Why is she a hero?

People all over are calling Antoinette a hero. And why wouldn't they be? In the end, she convinced and helped the suspect surrender himself. Not only was no one killed in the would-be school shooting, no one was even hurt.

+ Resources to end gun violence

Want to get involved in the work to end gun violence? You can check out MTV Act's page on gun safety, and also Demand Action from Congress about the issue. You can also check out the MTV x Caliber bracelets.

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