Justice

Chris Mintz, Who Rushed The Oregon Shooter, Recovering in Hospital

October 2nd 2015

In the hours after the Umpqua Community College shooting, which left 10 people dead including the gunman and seven injured in Roseburg, Oregon, on Thursday, we learned the name of the shooter and, more importantly, the Army veteran who charged him—taking seven bullets as he rushed to save students from the gunfire. That man's name is Chris Mintz.

And that is the name we should be talking about, not the person who set out to kill innocent students, allegedly targeting victims based on their religion, but the person who risked his own life to save them.

RELATED: Pres. Obama's Reaction to the Oregon Shooting Is Worth Your Praise

Here's a photo of Chris Mintz at the hospital, where he is currently being treated for seven gunshot wounds and two broken legs.

Oregon heroReddit - imgur.com

Mintz's aunt, Sheila Brown, told NBC News that her nephew had served about 10 years in the Army before starting school at the Oregon community college.

"We were told he did heroic things to protect some people," Brown said. "He was on the wrestling team and and he's done cage-fighting so it does not surprise me that he would act heroically."

RELATED: Pres. Obama Asked Us to Compare Gun Deaths to Deaths From Terrorism. Here It Is.

Mintz, who is 30 years old, apparently heard the gunman and ran at him, incurring gunshot wounds to the back, abdomen, and hands. The shooter was killed during an exchange of gunfire with Douglas County sheriff's deputies, according to Sheriff John Hanlin.

On Friday, a friend of Mintz posted a message on the veteran's Facebook page, writing that "Chris asked me to thank everyone for their support," and that "he is grateful and keeping our community and all victims in his thoughts."


Many people feel that posting photos of the shooter and delving into personal histories in search of answers is a form of glorifying the perpetrator and giving them what they want: attention.

Highlighting the heroism of those who put their lives at risk to save others seems to be a much more appropriate way to honor the victims of the Umpqua Community College shooting.

RELATED: Why the U.S Has the Worst Mass Shooting Problem in the World

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