Teacher trapped school massacre gunman in classroom

A teacher in the Germany school massacre prevented further massacre by confronting the teenage gunman and locking him in a classroom.

History teacher Rainer Heise made his move when gunman Robert Steinhaeuser took off his mask after the two met in the hallway.

After confronting the gunman, Mr Heise pushed him into a classroom and locked the door, preventing further bloodshed before the youngster killed himself.

Mr Heise said: "I said: 'Pull the trigger. If you shoot me now, then look in my eyes'. So he looks at me, lowers the pistol and says: 'That's enough for today, Mr. Heise'."

Steinhaeuser, who had been expelled from Johann Gutenberg Gymnasium school in Erfurt, eastern Germany, killed 16, 13 of them teachers, before turning the gun on himself.

Officials and acquaintances described Steinhaeuser as quiet youth from a middle-class home who had troubles at school and a passion for guns that made him a skilled marksman.

Investigators found 500 unspent rounds of ammunition near his body and another 500 rounds at his home.

Police believe his motive was revenge.

Steinhaeuser was angry at being kicked out of the school after he faked a doctor's note in an attempt to avoid final exams, officials said.

Police spokesman Achim Kellner said: "This was an act of revenge. He was generally not a diligent student, he liked to skip classes."