Heartbreaking: The Last Three Words of a Hero in San Bernardino as He Died Saving a Friend

06 Dec, 2015 by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

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This just breaks my heart. Shannon Johnson was one of the 14 killed in last week’s terrorist attack in California. He saw the shooters walk in and begin to shoot. Fearlessly, he put his arm around his friend Denise Peraza and shielded her with his body. Just before he died, he told her, “I got you.” How utterly selfless. Peraza was wounded, but will live and she will never forget the friend who died saving her that day. He turned his back to cover her knowing he would die and he didn’t fear it. If that’s not a hero, I don’t know what is.

From IJReview:

When 45-year-old Shannon Johnson was killed in the San Bernardino terror attack Wednesday, he died shielding his co-worker from gunfire with his own body.

Johnson was one of the 14 people killed at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California, in what the FBI is now investigating as “an act of terrorism.”

Johnson’s co-worker, Denise Peraza, was one of the 21 others who were wounded.

Through a statement given to CNN, Peraza called Johnson a friend and a hero:

“I will always remember his left arm wrapped around me, holding me as close as possible next to him behind that chair. And amidst all the chaos, I’ll always remember him saying these three words, ‘I got you.‘”

Peraza was shot in the back and is recovering at home, according to her husband.

Johnson and Peraza had worked at adjacent desks in the same office up until two months ago, when Peraza was transferred to another office, CNN reports.

The two friends were joking before two shooters, at least one of whom expressed support for ISIS, unloaded close to 70 bullets into the crowd celebrating at a holiday party.

Johnson’s girlfriend of three years said the couple had discussed what he would do if he ever was in a shooting. Mandy Pifer said Johnson thought he would rush the shooter if possible.

She told CNN:

“He was not afraid to die.”

That Peraza lives is proof of his fearlessness.

Peraza was also shot in the back by the two monsters who brought hate and death with them in the name of radical Islam and terrorism that day. They were joking and enjoying a company Christmas party just before the terrorists broke in and killed 14 people, injuring 21. They shot for 30 seconds, reloaded and shot more than 70 rounds before they fled. They died in a shootout some time later with police, but not before the wife pledged her allegiance to ISIS on Facebook. Shannon Johnson leaves behind his girlfriend, family, friends and all those who loved him. I am positive he is in a much better place than the demons who slaughtered all those people that day. Shannon laid down his life for his friend. He didn’t even hesitate and three little words said it all.