Former Solider Shot While Trying to Protect Others in Oregon Shooting
Army veteran Chris Mintz was shot multiple times trying to protect others during the shooting spree in Roseburg, Oregon. Although both his legs are broken and he will need help recovering from his injuries, Chris Mintz survived the attack and his vital signs are stable. Today, he’s heralded as a hero, and for good reason.
Mintz became a student at Umpqua Community College after moving from North Carolina to Oregon to be closer to his son. He was studying bodybuilding and nutrition. While attending Umpqua, the firestorm broke out, and many mistook the sound of gunshots as falling books. Witnesses say Mintz recognized the noise as gunshots and went to the door as the shooter crossed the hallway. While trying to protect his fellow students, he was shot as he attempted to block the door to prevent the gunman from entering.
“[He] tried to block the door to keep the gunman from coming in, gets shot three times, hits the floor, looks up at the gunman and says, ‘It’s my son’s birthday today,’ and gets shot again,” says Wanda Mintz, the victim’s aunt. Witness Hannah Miles told ABC News that he ran through the library telling people to get out and pulled the fire alarm.
It was a tragic day for the small Oregon community, and the entire nation as a whole. In an interview with ABC News, Chris Mintz said: “I just hope that everyone else is OK. I’m just worried about everyone else.”
Mintz is expected to be in a wheelchair for the foreseeable future, and will have a long road to recovery. A GoFundMe page was set up for Mintz and received over $375,000 in a matter of hours to help contribute to his medical expenses. Right now it stands at over $800,000, which demonstrates the power of community coming together to help one another in need.
Mike Gwaltney, a swim coach at the YMCA where Mintz worked, said he was not surprised to hear how Mintz reacted. “It’s something that Chris and many others are trained to do,” he said. “He’s a pretty tough cookie.”