Hero Football Coach Who Shielded Students from Gunfire Was ‘A Great Guy,’ Loved by All

Aaron Feis was a lot of things to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School: he was a football coach, security guard, and an alum. However, far above all of those things, he’ll be remembered as the man who selflessly sacrificed his own life to save others.

Feis became the first of the 17 fatalities from Wednesday’s shooting to be identified.

A tweet from the Marjory Stoneman Twitter account read:

It is with Great sadness that our Football Family has learned about the death of Aaron Feis. He was our Assistant Football Coach and security guard. He selflessly shielded students from the shooter when he was shot. He died a hero and he will forever be in our hearts and memories pic.twitter.com/O181FvuHl3

— MS Douglas Football (@MSDEagles) February 15, 2018

When shots rang out at his alma mater on Wednesday, “Coach Feis” ran towards the sound of danger, not away. When he got there he fulfilled that act of superior love which Jesus spoke of in John 15:13, and laid down his life for his friends. And in all probability, some complete strangers.

Before any official ceremony or service, Feis has already been eulogized on Twitter. As tales of his heroic sacrifice were shared by millions:

https://twitter.com/mikeeschmidt/status/963964143169671168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fus%2F2018%2F02%2F15%2Fflorida-high-school-football-coach-who-was-seen-shielding-students-from-gunfire-dies.html

Feis responded to the sounds of what some thought were firecrackers, on the school’s walkie-talkie’s. According to Willis May, the school’s head football coach, “I heard Aaron say, ‘No, that is not firecrackers.’ That’s the last I heard of him,” May told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Gage Gaynor, a sophomore football player at MS Douglas, lamented the loss of his coach.

“He was a great guy. Everyone loved him. Shame he had to go like this. Always gave his all to making us better. Definitely learned a lot from him.”

Feis leaves behind a wife and daughter.