Keanon Lowe
Keanon Lowe
Keanon Lowe is an American athletics coach and ex-football player for the Oregon Ducks. He gained widespread media attention in May of 2019 after disarming an active school shooter and embracing him until the police arrived. On November 23, 2019, ESPN’s “College GameDay” aired the story of Lowe’s path to Parkrose, his impact on and off the field in the community, and that day he helped prevent a tragedy. [1] [21]
Education
Keanon Lowe graduated from the University of Oregon where he was a former wide receiver for the Ducks. He finished playing with a record of 68 receptions, 19 kickoff returns, 11 touchdowns, 23 tackles, a forced fumble and 1,288 all-purpose yards. [18]
Occupation
Keanon Lowe spent nearly five years as a student athlete with the Oregon Ducks. After playing as a wide receiver for half a decade, Lowe tried out for the Arizona Cardinals but didn't make it. Keanon went to work in Philadelphia as an analyst for the Philadelphia Eagles. His next gig was as an offensive analyst for the San Francisco 49ers.[18]
Keanon spent a little over a year at Jesuit High School Portland working as assistant football coach before moving to Parkrose High School where he became the head coach for both football and track and field. At that time, Parkrose was on a 23 game losing streak and Lowe chose the school because he wanted to lift up the underdogs. Within two years of coaching, Lowe pushed the team to become conference champions. They also took home their first playoff victory ever. [18] [22]
Heroic Actions
On May 17th 2019, a 19 year old student named Angel Granados-Diaz walked into a classoom at Parkrose High School with a trench coat and a shotgun. Keanon Lowe, who was working security at the time, immediately tackled the student, disarmed him and effectively prevented anyone from getting hurt. [19]
An extended clip of the video that was aired on ESPN’s “College GameDay” had alternate camera footage showing children running out of the backdoor of the classroom as soon as Angel Granados-Diaz pulled the gun. Luckily, Keanon lowe was standing right in the would-be shooter's path as he rounded the corner into the classroom. Frightened students immediately called the police and a group of officers arrived on the scene, kicking down doors and looking to apprehend a dangerous suspect. All they found was a disarmed and shaken teenager and Keanon Lowe who was in the right place at the right time. Lowe shared that the disarmed shooter told him he didn't want to hurt anybody, his only intention was to hurt himself. [22]
"Everything lined up for me to be in that room on that day and make that play.
It was like, 'All right, Keanon, you say you want to change lives.
You say you want to do all this.
You say you want to be here for the kids.
Well, prove it, right there, in that instant.'
Not only did Keanon disarm the student, but he attempted to comfort him as well.
He said: [19]
"It wasn't in me to beat him up or hold him down or hurt him, even though it was seconds after this crazy thing happened.
I felt his vibe, I felt how scared he was, I felt it all.
I'll never forget that conversation I had with him.
I told him I cared about him, that people care about him.
He was really surprised.
He said, 'You do?' I said, 'Yep, I just met you and I care about you.
It's going to be OK.'"
Personal Life
Keanon Lowe was raised by his mother Jen alongside his older sister Alisa and younger brother Trey.
Their parents separated when Keanon was only 9 years old, but he adapted by taking on more responsibilities in the household, becoming a guardian and father figure to his younger brother Trey.
Taylor's best friend was a teammate from his high school football team named Taylor Martinek. In 2017, Martinek passed away from an accidental drug overdose. [22]