Army Vet’s Quick Wit Saved Countless Lives After Gunman Opened Fire at Kids

Enough can never be said about the incredible work that our military does for this country, and the good that comes from it.

They protect us. They protect this country. They protect our freedoms. In short, they fight the good fight so we can all pursue our own American dreams.

Unsurprisingly, even in retirement they feel compelled to protect us.

That was evident when an Army veteran protected students at a high school homecoming football game from an active shooter, according to USA Today.

Veteran Patrick Shields helped stop a 16-year-old shooter Friday night during a Haywood High School football game in Tennessee, thanks to the vet’s quick thinking and courage.

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Shields, who was in attendance to watch his son play football for Haywood, graduated from the school in 1996.   He went on to serve in the Army for 22 years, including a trio of deployments. Currently, Shields is serving in the National Guard.

Haywood beat rival Crockett County on Friday night, but the real story is what happened after the game.

“My brother and I were cleaning up, and we heard a bunch of kids hollering and yelling across the street at Walgreen’s, but we didn’t know what was going on,” Shields told USA Today. “Then we heard sounds like fireworks … like ‘pow pow pow.’”

Shields then went on to describe first seeing the gun.

“And I looked over there and saw the flame coming out of a pistol, and a bunch of the kids were running toward us.”

It didn’t take long for Shields to spring into action once he identified the shooter.

“It looked like he was aiming for one person, but I don’t know who,” Shields said. “They were all running toward us, but he wasn’t shooting in our direction.”

Shields believed that he only had a few seconds to react. Fortunately for all those in attendance, he didn’t hesitate.

“I grabbed him by the arm that was holding the gun and pulled him toward me and threw him up against the fence,” Shields said. “Then I grabbed him by the back of the shirt and got him on the ground.”

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Shields was able to subdue the shooter as local law enforcement approached the scene.

Two victims, Demetrius Harper and Cameshia Murphy, were shot. Harper was hit twice in the back and Murphy was hit in the foot. Both were treated and ultimately released from the hospital. But without Shields’ bravery, it could’ve been a lot worse.

Brownsville Police Chief Barry Diebold praised Shields for actions.

“Mr. Shields’ quick thinking saved many lives,” Diebold said.

I would expect nothing less of an Army veteran.

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