Teacher of wounded girl: ‘This is worst nightmare’

BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) — A third-grade teacher praised for helping an 8-year-old girl wounded by a gunshot says she’s concerned about the little girl’s recovery — and about the little boy accused of bringing the gun into the Bremerton, Wash., classroom.

Natalie Poss tells KING-TV (http://is.gd/xcsYIl) that Wednesday’s shooting at Armin Jahr Elementary is “a teacher’s worst nightmare.”

She recalled hearing a loud bang, then seeing Amina Kocer-Bowman slump. Poss told students to go get help.

The teacher located the gunshot wound and applied pressure until medics arrived, telling the girl, “Stay with me, Amina!”

The little girl’s father, John Bowman, praised the teacher Thursday, saying had she not administered first aid “this event would have surely been tragic.” The girl is hospitalized in critical condition.

Poss says she agreed to talk because of the little boy accused of bringing a gun that accidentally discharged while in his backpack. She says, “He has a lot of good in his heart. I know he didn’t intend this to happen. And I know he’s hurting tonight.”

___

Information from: KING-TV, http://www.king5.com/