Amid the tragedy of Thursday’s shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseberg, Oregon, a story of one man’s heroics against the gunman has garnered national headlines.
The Daily Beast reported that Chris Mintz, 30, who is student at the college, charged the gunman as he committed the massacre and was shot several times.
“It’s my son’s birthday, it’s my son’s birthday,” he was heard saying after he was wounded while trying to save others.
It was his son Tyrik’s sixth birthday and unfortunately Mintz ended up spending it in the hospital, but what he did will never be forgotten by those who witnessed his heroism.
Even before Thursday, those close to Mintz already knew he was an American hero. He served in the U.S. Army after high school and was deployed to Afghanistan.
As we previously reported, Chris Harper Mercer opened fire on students at the community college Thursday morning. He killed nine people and injured several others. He later exchanged gunfire with police and was fatally shot bringing the total number of fatalities to 10.
Mintz underwent surgery and is expected to recover.
Stories have flooded social media on Friday highlighting the heroism by Mintz and many others for their brave acts during this horrific event.
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