The story of a soft-spoken history teacher who stopped the gun-wielding student behind Germany's worst post-war massacre brought a measure of comfort to a stunned nation yesterday.
German media branded Rainer Heise a hero for confronting teen killer Robert Steinhaeuser with no more than a few gentle words, after the 19-year-old gunman had already killed 16 people at the Johann Gutenberg School in Erfurt, Germany on Friday.
"It was a fearless teacher who ended the massacre," said Germany's N-TV television.
But news of Heise's heroics will do little to quell the angry questions about how a disgruntled teenager could legally obtain the weapons and ammunition with which he calmly murdered teachers, students and a policeman.
Steinhaeuser, who had recently obtained a gun licence and was a gun club marksman, shot many of his victims in the head at close range, police said.
By the time Heise confronted the masked and black-clad gunman, Steinhaeuser had already killed 13 teachers, two pupils and a police officer. Ten other people were wounded in the rampage and police said the cold-blooded teen killer still had access to enough ammunition to kill hundreds more after stashing 500 rounds in a bathroom.
Heise was hailed a hero after details emerged of how the balding academic grabbed hold of the gun-toting former pupil's shirt as he stalked the halls of the school.
"He then pulled off his mask and I said: 'Robert?'," Heise told ZDF television in a brief interview that is being constantly replayed by German media.
"I said go ahead and shoot me, but look me in the face."
Steinhaeuser replied in formal language and referred to the teacher respectfully as "Herr Heise." "That's it for today, Herr Heise," Heise quoted the troubled teenager as saying.
Heise, who also teaches art, said Steinhaeuser then briefly let down his guard. The teacher said he then made a gesture inviting the disgruntled former pupil to enter the art drawing room. As Steinhaeuser stepped in, Heise seized his opportunity.
"I pushed him into the room and locked the door," Heise said. Steinhaeuser shot himself in the head shortly after.
(China Daily April 29, 2002)
