Among the many people who lost their lives in Wednesday’s tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida was assistant football coach Aaron Feis, and it is being reported that he saved lives before losing his own.
A total of 17 people were killed, and accounts on social media indicated that Feis was shot while helping at least one student. Douglas football coach Willis May told David Furones of the Sun-Sentinel that one student said Feis jumped between her and the shooter so that she could safely make her way through a door.
Feis, who also worked as a school security guard, was one of the first people to respond to a call that there were sounds of fireworks going off.
“I heard Aaron say, ‘No, that is not firecrackers,’” May recalled. “That’s the last I heard of him.”
After word of Feis’ heroics got out, several members of the football community paid tribute to him on Twitter:
We select sports figures and call them "heroes” in the sports world. Coach Aaron Feis was a hero yesterday in the REAL world. He took bullets for his students and saved lives, giving up his own. A common man with uncommon valor. Prayers to his and every other family. #realheroes pic.twitter.com/gLSt7QON71
— Gene Chizik (@CoachGeneChizik) February 15, 2018
The entire football community is grieving the loss of Coach Aaron Feis and all those who tragically lost their lives yesterday. https://t.co/geIMyMQ3Ld
— Roger Goodell (@nflcommish) February 15, 2018
Our thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends of Aaron Feis, a real hero, who stood up and gave his life for his students. The football community salutes Coach Feis.
— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) February 15, 2018
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Aaron Feis, a true hero. my prayers are with his family. #AaronFeis
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) February 15, 2018
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his fiends.” John 15:13. God bless Aaron Feis and his family and all of the families of the kids he died trying to save.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) February 15, 2018
HERO. RIP Aaron Feis https://t.co/h0uvXIZAgT
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 15, 2018
As of Thursday, the death toll from the Parkland, Fla., shooting was at 17. Our thoughts are with all those who were affected.
