Another Ignored Hero

Deputy James "Jimmy" Long is a sheriff’s deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala, Florida, widely recognized for his heroic actions in stopping a school shooting at Forest High School on Friday, April 20, 2018. Long, a native of Ocala and a graduate of Forest High School, served as the school resource officer at the time of the incident. He is a long-time resident of Ocala, where he lives with his wife, Julie Dill Long, and holds a degree in Wildlife Biology from North Dakota State University. On the morning of the shooting, at approximately 8:39 a.m., Long heard a loud bang, later identified as a gunshot from a sawed-off shotgun fired by 19-year-old Sky Bouche, a former Forest High School student. Bouche had entered the school with the weapon concealed in a guitar case, donned a tactical vest, and fired through a locked classroom door, injuring a 17-year-old student in the ankle. Long immediately rushed to the scene, and within three minutes, by 8:42 a.m., he had apprehended Bouche without resistance, preventing further harm. Sheriff Billy Woods praised Long’s swift response, stating, “He did not hesitate. He went right in,” and described him as a hero. A teacher, Kelly McManis-Panasuk, also played a role by engaging Bouche in conversation until Long arrived, though Sheriff Woods later criticized her decision to let Bouche into her classroom, as he still carried a knife. The incident occurred on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre and coincided with a planned national student walkout to protest gun violence. Bouche, who claimed he acted to draw attention to his mental health issues, was charged with multiple offenses, including terrorism, aggravated assault with a firearm, and possession of a short-barreled shotgun. The injured student sustained a non-life-threatening wound and expressed relief that no one else was harmed. Long’s actions were widely covered by major news outlets, including CNN, CBS News, Fox News, and The Washington Post, despite some later claims on platforms like X that the media ignored the story. These claims are inaccurate, as the event received significant attention at the time. Long’s quick response, alongside the school’s active shooter protocols, was credited with saving lives, and he was hailed as a national hero. Source https://x.com/827js/status/1927930707671675224