The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting resulted in a heartbreaking tally of 17 dead, and 15 injured, according to CNN. That number could've been much higher if not for the brave staff, teachers, coaches and janitors who risked their own lives to assist the students during the chaos.
The Cut profiled some of the high school heroes, some of whom sacrificed their lives so that the students were safe.
Assistant football coach and security guard Aaron Feiss flung himself onto the oncoming bullets to protect students. The 37-year-old was shot and later died during surgery.
It is with Great sadness that our Football Family has learned about the death of Aaron Feis. He was our Assistant Football Coach and security guard. He selflessly shielded students from the shooter when he was shot. He died a hero and he will forever be in our hearts and memories pic.twitter.com/O181FvuHl3— MS Douglas Football (@MSDEagles) February 15, 2018
Geography teacher Scott Beigel, 35, tried to let a group of students into his classroom and when he opened the door, he was shot dead.
This is 35 year old, Scott Beigel, he was a Geography teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Beigel was murdered after letting students take shelter in his classroom & got in the way of the shooter as he tried to enter the class. Beigel saved many lives.
#GunReformNow pic.twitter.com/94q39TGZTW— Simar (@sahluwal) February 15, 2018
An unnamed janitor ushered students into a culinary classroom as a safe escape, essentially saving 40 lives. Teacher Melissa Falkowski hid 19 students in a closet, while 34-year-old culinary teacher Ashley Kurth hid about 65 students in the storage area of her office.
This student said he was unknowingly running toward the gunman — until a janitor told him and his classmates to go the other way https://t.co/TsHNaTFwC0— Meg Wagner (@megwagner) February 15, 2018
We salute these brave heroes!
