During a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College yesterday, one veteran put himself at risk so that he could prevent the gunman from entering this classroom and harming his classmates.

Army veteran Chris Mintz was starting his first week of community college when shooter Christopher Harper Mercer began to carry out a despicable plot to kill as many students as possible. According to Mintz’ family, the veteran tried to block the door to his classroom to prevent Mercer from hurting anyone.

Mercer shot Mintz three times. After Mintz hit the ground, he looked up at the gunman and said, “It’s my son’s birthday, it’s my son’s birthday!” Mercer shot Mintz two more times. Mintz was hit in the abdomen, back, left hand and once in each leg. Luckily, none of the five bullets struck any vital organs. This hero is expected to recover from all of his wounds.

“He could have very easily died,” his aunt Wanda Mintz said. “I really think that if he wasn’t such a strong, young guy, he may have died.”

Mercer killed at least nine people and wounded seven others. During his murderous rampage, the gunman ordered students to state their religion before opening fire. Witnesses postulate that Mercer was specifically targeting religious students due to his disdain for organized religion.