Football coach, geography teacher and star swimmer named among victims
Family and friends share tributes to those killed, including man who used his body to shield students
AS GUNSHOTS rang out at a Florida high school on Wednesday, a call on the school’s security radio asked if the sounds were firecrackers.
Aaron Feis, in his capacity as a school security guard, responded: “No, that is not firecrackers.” It was the last anyone heard from him.
It later emerged that as others fled from the gunman, Mr Feis had put himself in harm’s way, using his own body to shield students.
“He died the same way he lived – he put himself second,” said Denise Lehtio, a spokesman for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. “He was a very kind soul, a very nice man. He died a hero.”
Mr Feis, 37, a former student of Marjory Stoneman himself, was also an assistant football coach at the school.
In a statement, the team said: “He was our assistant football coach and security guard. He selflessly shielded students from the shooter when he was shot. He will forever be in our hearts and memories.”
Mr Feis was one of at least 17 victims in Wednesday’s massacre, along with 13 teenagers and two other staff members who were shot and killed by former student Nikolas Cruz.
Scott Beigel, a 35-year-old geography teacher, was killed as he tried to save his students’ lives. He was hit by a bullet as he ushered frightened students into his classroom.
Kelsey Friend, one of the students, told CNN: “When he opened the door, he had to re-lock it so that we could stay safe, but he didn’t get the chance.”
Addressing Mr Beigel’s family, the teenager said: “Thank you for giving him the power to be stronger than I could have ever been. He will forever be my hero. I am alive because of him.”
Chris Hixon, the school’s athletics director and a wrestling coach, was also among the dead. The 49-year-old married father was described by a colleague as the kind of person “who would give you the shirt off his back”.
Dan Jacob, the athletics director at nearby Coral Springs High School, said: “Chris is probably the nicest guy I have ever met. That is terrible that it would happen to anybody. It is so senseless. I am totally crushed,” he told local newspaper the Sun-sentinel.
Jaime Guttenberg’s family desperately searched for the 17-year-old when she did not return home before learning she had been killed. Fred Guttenberg, her father, said his heart was “broken” after he and his wife heard the news.
Nicholas Dworet, 17, who was to take up a swimming scholarship at the Uni- versity of Indianapolis, waved goodbye to a classmate shortly before he was gunned down. Alex Greenwald, his friend, said: “‘See you tomorrow’, you said as you walked out. But I won’t see you tomorrow, or next week, or next month. We walked into kindergarten together, so knowing you won’t be walking across the stage at graduation with me is devastating.”
Martin Duque, a 14-year-old student, was confirmed to be among the fatalities by Miguel, his older brother. “Words cannot describe my pain,” he wrote. “You’ll be missed buddy.”
Gina Montalto, 14, was feared dead when she stopped answering her phone. A former sports instructor described her as “kind, caring, always smiling” as she confirmed the news.
Alyssa Alhadeff, 15, was confirmed dead by her cousin yesterday. “My heart is broken. I am at a loss for words”.
Luke Hoyer, 15, was killed on the third floor, his family members said, paying tribute to their “precious” child.
Students Carmen Schentrup, 16; Meadow Pollack, 18; Cara Loughran; and 14-year-old Alaina Petty were also among the victims.
Joaquin Oliver, 17, was confirmed dead by his girlfriend. He had become a US citizen last year after moving from Venezuela at the age of three.
Fourteen-year-old Alex Schachter, a marching band student, was confirmed dead by a former instructor.
Peter Wang, 15, was last seen on Wednesday holding a door open so other people could escape, his cousin Aaron Chen said. Mr Chen later confirmed his cousin was among the fatalities. “He wasn’t supposed to die,” he told First Coast News. “He was supposed to grow old with me.”