Texas teacher tackled an armed gunman to protect a school full of families
On February 1, 2025, Juan F. Lopez, a 42-year-old career and technical education teacher from Hockley, Texas, was attending a student band competition at a Pasadena high school with his family when an 83-year-old gunman opened fire, wounding one person. Lopez immediately charged, grasped the assailant from behind, tackled him to the floor, and forced the gun from his grip — holding the man down for roughly 40 seconds until other bystanders helped restrain him and police arrived. Lopez suffered only minor knee pain. The Carnegie Hero Fund awarded him the Carnegie Medal for Heroism in 2025, citing extraordinary civilian courage.
Honored by Map of Heroes — recognized here from public reporting.
Added June 12, 2026
Tributes
Kind words left for Juan F. Lopez by people their story has touched.
No tributes yet — be the first to leave one.
Leave a tribute
Add your own thank-you to Juan F. Lopez’s page — it takes a minute and means a lot.
Know a hero in Hockley, TX?
Put them on the map next to Juan F. Lopez — a one-time $5 nomination that keeps their story here for everyone to find.
Nominate a Hero