PARKLAND, Fla. — A football coach who heroically shielded students when a shooter opened fire at a Florida high school on Wednesday has tragically passed away, the school announced.
A gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School killing 17 people and sending students running for their lives, according to the Broward County Sheriff.
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Assistant Football Coach & Security Guard Aaron Feis was shot while he shielded students from the gunfire.
"When I took my headphones off the alarm was going off and I heard the shots and then I saw the shooter run after Mr. Feis and I saw Mr. Feis get shot," a student told ABC News.
Feis succumbed to his wounds, the school announced on Thursday morning.
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
Feis was a graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, class of 1999, according to his bio on the school’s website. He spent his entire career at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, as a player and as a coach. He began coaching at Douglas in 2002, where he spent 8 years as the Head Coach of Junior Varsity. He later became a lineman coach for both Junior Varsity and Varsity at the school and worked as the school's college football recruiting coordinator.
Coach Feis leaves behind his wife Melissa and their daughter Arielle, according to his bio.
The suspected gunman, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, was arrested on Wednesday following the shooting and faces 17 counts of premeditated murder. He is being held in the Broward County Jail without bond.
Mary Stringini is a Digital Reporter for WFTS. Follow her on Twitter @MaryWFTS.
