'Heroic' High School Teacher Identified as Victim in Taunton Stabbing

Taunton, MA - A New Bedford high school teacher was identified Wednesday as one of two killed in a series of attacks Tuesday in Taunton, stabbed while trying to save a young woman's life.

Public safety officials identified the 56-year-old fatally stabbed inside a mall restaurant Tuesday as New Bedford high school teacher George Heath.

• Taunton Stabbings: What We Know So Far

Heath's wife, Rosemary, shared a bereaved message on Facebook in the wake of her husband's death, writing:

"My sweet, caring, adorable, funny, love of my life was stabbed at the Taunton mall last night. His wound was too extensive and he died. He LOVED his job, his STUDENTS, his LIFELONG friends and his FAMILY. I dont want to discuss guns or mental health issues. I want to focus on my husband and the great life we shared together. He made me laugh SO much. I'm heartbroken beyond belief."

Assailant Arthur DaRosa was shot to death by an off-duty law enforcement officer shortly after stabbing Heath at Bertucci's Pizza Restaurant at the Silver City Galleria Mall in Taunton Tuesday night.

According to her post, Rosemary Heath was in the restaurant with her husband when he was stabbed, as he tried to stop the incident. She thanked the officer who took action.

Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn commended Heath's bravery and selflessness during a press conference Wednesday, telling reporters the high school teacher was fatally stabbed after intervening to protect another victim.

According to Quinn, Heath approached the knife-wielding man as DaRosa attacked 26-year-old waitress Sheenah Savoy, and was fatally stabbed. Quinn attributed Savoy's survival to Heath's intervention.

"His actions of heroism should not be forgotten," Quinn said at a press conference Wednesday.

In the wake of Heath's death, tributes from students at Greater New Bedford Technical Vocational High School are pouring in:

A statement from the school reads:

"Mr. George Heath, one of our visual design instructors for the past 4 years, was a victim of a random act of senseless violence at the Galleria Mall in Taunton on Tuesday evening.

Mr. Heath was a tremendous educator with a great passion for teaching; he was influential in sparking creativity and a love of learning in all of his students.

Please keep George, his family and the Voc-Tech Family in your thoughts during this difficult time."

On her Facebook page, Rosemary Heath encouraged sharing the smiling image of her husband (above), rather than images of his killer.

Read the full account out of Taunton from Patch here.