KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – In a matter of seconds, Kaleb Stoppel’s life changed on March 4, 2022.
That Friday started with a tip from a student on a rumor that someone had been bringing a gun to Olathe East High School, where Stoppel was the assistant principal. After school leadership asked students discreetly about the tip, a nickname surfaced. It was one that Stoppel and a fellow assistant principal immediately recognized.
Stoppel walked into the student’s woodworking class, made small talk, and asked him to grab his laptop to review his grades — a routine move that wouldn’t raise suspicion. The two walked back to the office without incident.
“On the outside, I had to keep calm,” Stoppel said. “But on the inside, it’s like the duck underneath the water — the feet are moving very quickly.”
Back in his office, Stoppel told the student they needed to search him — standard procedure. The student refused. Under the table, Stoppel quietly texted the school resource officer: Get in my office now.
Moments later, the student stood up, swung his backpack to his front, and pulled out a handgun. He opened fire on the officer.
Stoppel tackled the student and wrestled the gun away. Only then did he look down and notice a small hole in his pants near his hip.
“My brain caught up to my body, and I felt the pain,” he said. “I realized I had been shot.”
Police said a suspect was shot and taken into custody after shooting an administrator and a school resource officer at Olathe East High School in Olathe, Kansas.(Source: KMBC via CNN)
Stoppel sustained a through-and-through gunshot wound to the hip, a bullet graze on his arm, a torn rotator cuff, and severe bruising across his back. The school’s resource officer was shot multiple times, but was able to leave the hospital that same day. The student, who was also shot, was hospitalized before entering the legal process.
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FILE – Students from Olathe East High School are lead to a staging area to reunite with their parents after a shooting at the school, March 4, 2022, in Olathe, Kan. A newly released affidavit says a student at a Kansas high school began shooting after two school officials asked to search his backpack because of rumors the student had a gun. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)((AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File))Coping with the mental impacts
About a week after the shooting, Stoppel knew that something was wrong: he experienced anxiety and depression.
“I tried to be a strong guy, like a lot of people try to be,” he said. “That’s one of the false narratives of mental health.”
Stoppel began journaling as part of his recovery. It was a way for him to express what was on his mind. Once he felt comfortable sharing his experience, he knew it could help others.
Kaleb Stoppel(Wichita Public Schools)
Kaleb transformed his journal entries into a book, One Step at a Time. It is available on Amazon or by visiting Kaleb’s website at this link.
Stoppel has a message for people who are fighting their own battles.
“Mental health is something that is not limited to just extreme trauma,“ said Stoppel. ”It happens every day to everyone, whether we realize it or not.”
His message is straightforward: mental health isn’t just for people in crisis. It’s for everyone.
“We all got stuff,” he said. “And it starts with letting your guard down and being okay — not ashamed — about recognizing when you’re not okay.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 — it’s free help that’s available 24/7.
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