SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Fund set up for Seattle Pacific University hero Jon Meis and his fiance

Jun 6, 2014, 10:29 PM | Updated: Jun 9, 2014, 7:49 am

Jon Meis was sitting at his monitor’s desk in Seattle Pacific University’s Otto Miller ...

Jon Meis was sitting at his monitor's desk in Seattle Pacific University's Otto Miller Hall Thursday afternoon when a gunman opened fire. (AP Photo)

(AP Photo)

By now you’ve probably heard the story of Jon Meis. He was sitting at his monitor’s desk in Seattle Pacific University’s Otto Miller Hall Thursday afternoon when a gunman opened fire.

Meis grabbed the pepper spray that friends say he always carried, and sprayed the shooter before tackling him.

Hailed as a hero, the dean’s list electrical engineering student is expected to graduate next Saturday and get married on June 21.

Many people who wished to help the young couple, found their registry and bought wedding gifts, but 710 ESPN Seattle’s own Jessamyn McIntyre started a gofundme page to raise money for a honeymoon and beyond.

This page is here simply for those in the community who wish to show gratitude toward this local hero.”

The donations exceeded the goal of $5,000 in the first day and fans of the page want to keep it going. The fund kept climbing all weekend to reach the $40,000 mark.

“Keep this open even though the goal is met,” wrote Tamara Flaherty. “Let more people give and share in the joy of the lives saved through Jon’s heroic actions. Use the extra for your future! God bless you!”

Seattle Pacific University has created a “Rise Above” Fund to “remember and rise above the tragedy of June 5 by supporting those directly affected and meeting special needs from across our community.”

A fundraising page to cover the costs of Paul Lee’s funeral and Sarah Williams’ medical care is nearing $13,000. Another page started by Williams’ friends had raised over $5,000. More donations are expected.

Williams was upgraded to stable condition Sunday evening at Harborview Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said. The other injured student has been released from the hospital.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Seattle News Archives & Features

rain seafair aug. 1...

Tom Brock

Blue Angels cancel Saturday Seafair performance due to high winds

The U.S. Navy's precision flight team, the Blue Angels, had to cancel its Saturday performance at Seafair, due to high winds.

3 hours ago

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide wildfire emergency. (Photo: WA. Dept. of Natu...

Tom Brock

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declares statewide wildfire emergency

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency Saturday, which includes a prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning.

6 hours ago

Associated Press

Seattle police say 15-year-old arrested in connection with festival shooting had a ghost gun

SEATTLE (AP) — The 15-year-old arrested after a shootout at food festival near Seattle’s Space Needle over the weekend was armed with an untraceable ghost gun with an extended magazine, police said Tuesday. Police Chief Shon Barnes told a news conference that the weapon was a 9 mm gun from Polymer80 — a now-defunct company […]

4 days ago

Associated Press

Police search for second suspect following Seattle food festival shooting that killed 3

SEATTLE (AP) — Police searched for a second suspect Monday after gunfire erupted at a crowded food festival beneath Seattle’s Space Needle, leaving three people dead and four others wounded, including a toddler. Another suspect was earlier arrested. Investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other Sunday and, although one remained on the […]

6 days ago

Associated Press

Multiple people have been shot after gunfire erupts near Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, police say

SEATTLE (AP) — Multiple people were injured in a shooting Sunday night at an events complex close to the Space Needle in Seattle, police said in a statement. Authorities did not immediately release more information.

6 days ago

The Modrite Fire, in northeast Washington state, has grown to more than 9,000 acres. (Photo Courtes...

Tom Brock

Washington state wildfires growing in size, forcing evacuations

Dry conditions across the state have prompted Red Flag Watches and Warnings, as a series of wildfires continues to grow across Washington.

6 days ago

Fund set up for Seattle Pacific University hero Jon Meis and his fiance