Who we should really be talking about after the Oregon college shooting
Oct 2, 2015, 10:25 AM | Updated: 12:03 pm
Community members attend a candle light vigil at Stewart Park for those killed during a shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore. on Thursday. (Michael Sullivan/The News-Review via AP)
(Michael Sullivan/The News-Review via AP)
Army veteran Chris Mintz is the Oregon shooting hero we should be talking about http://t.co/5M2nS2tkuI pic.twitter.com/AMTSTKorWk
— Mashable (@mashable) October 2, 2015
In the wake of yet another mass shooting at an American school, many are refusing to utter the gunman’s name, refusing to give him any fame he may have desired before being killed by police.
Related: Gunman kills nine, injures more at Oregon community college
Instead, many are touting the name of another man, Christopher Mintz, a student at Umpqua Community College, where the 26-year-old gunman shot and killed at least nine people, wounding many others. Mintz was shot five times during the incident, but managed to charge the shooter in an attempt to stop his killing spree.
“He was trying to block the gunman from entering the classroom,” CBS Reporter Steve Futterman said. “He was shot three times, then the gunman entered the classroom … he was shot two more times in his legs.”
News of Mintz’s injuries quickly reached his hometown in North Carolina, where his family was relieved to hear he survived.
“[He] tries to block the door to keep the gunman from coming in. Get’s shot three times. Hits the floor. Looks up at the gunman and says, ‘It’s my son’s birthday today.’ He gets shot two more times,” Aunt Wanda Mintz told CNN.
Related: A brief history of deadly shootings at American universities
Reports of the incident tell that Mintz was heard repeating that it was his son’s birthday as he lay on the ground, suffering from five bullet wounds. Mintz’s son, Tyrik, was turning 6. He survived the attack, but received two broken legs.
“His vital signs are OK,” said cousin Ariana Earnhardt. “He’s going to have to learn to walk again, but he walked away with his life. That’s more than so many other people.”
Mintz joined the Army after high school and was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington state during his 10-year military career. He is a veteran of the Iraq or Afghan wars, according to Futterman.
He decided to stay in the Northwest after leaving the Army, and eventually found himself in the Roseburg, Ore. area. He reportedly fought MMA matches over the past few years, according to The Washington Post.
He was studying to become a fitness trainer, according to Business Insider.
“He’s being described as a hero,” Futterman said. “He didn’t prevent himself from being hurt, he tried to prevent others from being hurt.”
