The Coach Who Took Away a Shotgun — and Hugged the Student Holding It

When a student brought a loaded shotgun into an Oregon high school, football coach Keanon Lowe found himself facing a situation no teacher ever wants to encounter. He moved toward the student, took the weapon away and handed it to another staff member. Then, instead of backing away, he turned toward the young man and wrapped his arms around him.

What happened in that hallway at Parkrose High School in Portland on May 17, 2019, would eventually be seen by millions of people.

A Dangerous Moment at School

Lowe was a former University of Oregon football player who worked at Parkrose as a coach and security guard. He had taken the job because he wanted to help young people, especially those going through difficult times.

That morning, another student reported concerning statements made by 18-year-old Angel Granados-Diaz. Lowe was asked to find him and bring him to the school office.

When Lowe reached the fine arts building, Granados-Diaz appeared carrying a loaded shotgun. He was visibly upset, and students began moving away from the area.

Lowe had only moments to react. He approached the student and managed to take control of the weapon before anyone was injured.

Another staff member quickly carried the shotgun away, removing the immediate danger. But Lowe could see that the young man standing in front of him was in serious emotional distress. So he stayed with him.

The Hug Captured on Camera

School surveillance cameras recorded what happened next. As the other staff member carried the weapon down the hallway, Lowe turned back toward Granados-Diaz and pulled him into an embrace.

He held the student close and spoke to him while the young man stood there, visibly upset. The two remained together in the hallway as the emergency around them began to settle.

At the time, early news reports focused mainly on how Lowe had managed to disarm an armed student. He was praised for his quick thinking and for preventing anyone from getting hurt. But when authorities released the surveillance footage five months later, the public got to see the rest of the encounter.

The video spread quickly, with people across the country responding to the coach’s compassion. Lowe had faced a frightening situation, removed the immediate danger and then offered comfort to the person who had brought the weapon into the school.

What Investigators Learned

As authorities investigated the incident, they learned more about what Granados-Diaz had been experiencing. According to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, the student had been struggling with suicidal thoughts for several months. Investigators determined that he had not intended to harm other people at the school.

The shotgun contained one round of ammunition, and the situation could have ended very differently. Granados-Diaz was arrested and later faced charges related to bringing the loaded firearm into a public building. In October 2019, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm in a public building and unlawful possession of a loaded firearm in public.

The court sentenced him to 36 months of formal probation. The agreement also required mental-health and substance-use treatment, giving him access to professional help while keeping him under court supervision. Deputy District Attorney Parakram Singh explained that the arrangement was intended to hold the student accountable while helping him continue his recovery.

More Than a Football Coach

Before joining Parkrose High School, Lowe had played wide receiver at the University of Oregon and worked in football after his playing career. He eventually returned to the Portland area, where he became interested in helping students through coaching.

Parkrose appealed to him because it was a smaller school with an athletic program that had struggled. Lowe believed he could contribute something beyond helping the team win games. He wanted to build relationships with students and become someone they could trust when life became difficult.

People familiar with his work described a coach who cared about his players as individuals. He understood that some students needed encouragement and guidance just as much as they needed help on the football field. That approach became especially clear in the hallway when he encountered Granados-Diaz.

Lowe later spoke about the compassion he felt for the student during those moments. He understood that the young man was struggling, and once the shotgun was safely out of his hands, he wanted to help him through the crisis.

He said he wanted Granados-Diaz to understand something important.

His life was worth living.