BETHEL – A school worker in the small Southwest Alaska village of Newtok who in September disarmed an upset teenager carrying a rifle is being called a hero by his school district.
The teen had said in Yup'ik that he wanted to hunt the principal, said the school worker, Harry Nevak.
Nevak, 45, said he acted on instinct and doesn't think his actions were remarkable. He has worked about six years as a site technician at Ayaprun School, responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting computers and other equipment.
"I'm not a hero," Nevak said Friday. "I just wanted to stop him from making a big mistake."
But the Lower Kuskokwim School District said Nevak averted a possible school shooting.
Alaska State Troopers say an intoxicated teenager was on the school grounds Sept. 11 with a firearm.
The teen was charged with weapons misconduct, said Megan Peters, a troopers spokesperson. The case is being handled by juvenile authorities.
The 17-year-old from the village dropped out of school last spring, according to district superintendent Dan Walker. The teen's name is not being released by troopers or the district.
The incident didn't get public attention at the time, but the district said it wanted to put attention on a worker whose actions made a difference. Nevak is originally from Toksook Bay.
Around 10 that morning in September, he had just pulled up to the school when he spotted a teenager carrying what appeared to be a .22-caliber rifle.
"I assumed he was going to target practice down by the river," Nevak said. "When I went towards the steps, he followed me. I knew right then and there he was going inside the building. Then I grabbed him on his chest."
Nevak said he was able to get the rifle away and hold down the teen. The district, in recognizing Nevak's actions, stated that the armed person said he wanted to kill a school employee.
"In our language, it's 'hunt,'" Nevak said. The teen said "he was going to pissuq the principal."
Nevak said his wife's uncle showed up, grabbed the rifle and called for the village police officer, who took custody of the teen. But there is no jail in Newtok and the teen got away.
The village of about 350 people is eroding and public facilities there have been deteriorating for years. Nevak said he spotted the youth and helped restrain him in the tribal council building until troopers arrived.
Susan Murphy, the Lower Kuskokwim School Board president, said someone might have died "if not for the fast acting and thinking of Mr. Nevak."
At the board meeting Friday, she presented him with a proclamation recognizing him "as a hero for his selfless act of courage in averting another possible school shooting and the possible loss of life."
The district flew Nevak and his wife, Myra, into Bethel for the recognition. Myra said people in the village just help one another.
Nevak said he was anxious to return home.
Only later did Nevak think about how bad it might have been. His own children, ages 12 and 13, go to Newtok's school.
"I wish it didn't happen," he said.