Brian Pillman’s grandson, Lexis King’s nephew honored for thwarting school shooting

  • Ian Carey
  • By 

Jackson Swallen is a hero. 

The 15-year-old high school student, who also goes by the name Boom, is Brian Pillman’s grandson and Lexis King’s nephew. 

The Uvalde Foundation For Kids has announced Swallen will receive its National Student Hero award for helping stop a planned mass casualty event at Mariemont High School in Cincinnati recently. 

A 14-year-old student has been charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated murder in relation to the case. The student is also said to have conspired with an out-of-state adult, believed to be around 22-24 years old. 

Authorities have referred to the case as a “credible plot to harm students and staff.”

The student is said to have had access to a weapon in their home and a “kill list” of eight students and one teacher.

Upon learning of the plan, Swallen notified his father, despite having been threatened by the student not to tell anyone. His father quickly notified police.

“The kid had the firearms and had a very elaborate plan and had every intention of carrying out that plan,” said Swallen’s father, Zach Swallen. “My son, he doesn’t lie. He’s very literal, I could tell by his tone. And it was told to my son that if he disclosed anything about the plan to anybody, he would be shot and killed. But my son literally told me he didn’t care if he got killed as long as he could protect his classmates.”

King took to social media on Monday to say how proud he is of his nephew. 

King would later add that his nephew has inherited some of his family’s athletic genes as well. 

Amy Carlier has a daughter who attends the school and spoke to WCPO about how grateful she is for Swallen’s actions. 

“My daughter texted me that two people that I know and love dearly were on that list,” Carlier said.

“I feel very grateful for the swift action of our school system, of the student who told his dad, the dad taking it seriously and the police to take action,” she continued. “That’s why our kids are alive and safe today.”

Daniel Chapin, founder of the Uvalde Foundation For Kids, praised Swallen and his father’s actions. 

“This student who helped extinguish a possible threat to fellow students, represents the reality of how the climate of violence plaguing our nations schools and threatening student lives can come to an end — not through gun control or more safety planning meetings; but rather through alert, caring students such as this young man who refuse to stand by when a potential threat stands against their friends,” he said.  

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