‘He died a hero’: Beloved football coach among 17 dead in Florida school shooting

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — Aaron Feis, an assistant football coach and security guard at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, was among the 17 people shot and killed Wednesday at the Parkland high school.

According to Douglas football coach Willis May, Feis' family was notified around midnight Wednesday or very early Thursday morning. In a news conference late Wednesday night, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel referenced a football coach dying, but did not give a name.

Social media accounts throughout the day called Feis a hero, saying he was shot while helping a student. May said he heard directly from a student that Feis jumped between her and the shooter, to push her out through a door and out of the line of fire.

"It is with Great sadness that our Football Family has learned about the death of Aaron Feis," the Douglas football team's Twitter account posted early Thursday morning. "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."

Feis, in his capacity as a school security guard, responded to the original call on the school's security radio walkie-talkies. Someone asked on the radio if the loud sounds heard were firecrackers, according to May, who also carries a radio.

"I heard Aaron say, 'No, that is not firecrackers.' That's the last I heard of him," May said.

May was in his football office at the time of the shooting and went into a lockdown mode with four football players and two coaches from Nichols College, who were recruiting at the school when Mays heard "Code Red" over the intercom. He added they later saw the shooter outside the office window, trying to blend in with students evacuating.

As for Feis, May talked about a man he worked with and cared for deeply.

"Big ol' teddy bear," May said of Feis. "Hardcore — he coached hard. Real good line. He did a great job with the [offensive] line. He took pride with working with those guys. Loyalty — I trusted him. He had my back. He worked hard. Just a good man. Loved his family. Loved his brother — just an excellent family man."

Earlier in the day, Douglas junior lineman Charlie Rothkopf tweeted a picture of Feis with the text: "Can everyone please take a second to pray for my coach today he took serval bullets covering other students at Douglas."

It was one of many social media tributes to Feis that floated around Wednesday in the aftermath of the shooting.

"He was a great guy," said sophomore Douglas lineman Gage Gaynor. "Everyone loved him. Shame he had to go like this. Always gave his all to making us better. Definitely learned a lot from him."

In addition to coaching linemen, Feis served as the school's junior varsity football coach for eight years, according to his bio on the football team's website. He also played a role in football operations and was the team's college recruiting coordinator.

He resided in Coral Springs and leaves behind a wife, Melissa, and a daughter, according to his bio.