Neva Jane Winnecoup Rogers, 62, was killed on March 21, 2005, in her classroom at Red Lake Senior High School on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota. A veteran English teacher who had returned to the school about six years earlier, she was described as kind and supportive of students and often provided personal guidance.

According to reports, a 16-year-old student, Jeff Weise, first shot and killed his grandfather and the grandfather’s companion at their home, then went to the high school armed with the grandfather’s police weapons. Students say Rogers stood openly praying for their safety after instructing them to hide; Weise’s first attempt to shoot her with a shotgun failed and he then killed her with a pistol. Weise also killed a security guard and five students, wounded others, exchanged fire with police and died by suicide at the scene.

Anyone who knew Neva Rogers or has information about her time at Red Lake Senior High School is asked to share memories or details that might help the community remember her life.