HONORING MR ZAEVION WILLIAM DOBSON "AMERICAN HERO" RIP

• Report rights infringement
• published: 05 Jan 2016
• views: 228

Heroic high school football player killed shielding teenage girls from gunmen (CNN)—There's a saying that the true character of a person shines in a time of crisis. There's no doubt of Zaevion William Dobson's character, according to the 15-year-old's friends and family, who are mourning his death. Thursday evening, the football player jumped on top of three girls to shield them from a spray of bullets in Knoxville, Tennessee, according to police and CNN affiliate WATE. Police said Friday that the three male suspects believed to be responsible for the shooting had gang ties, and had fired upon on a group of school kids celebrating the holidays. Zaevion was not only a football player, but a mentor to his peers, Mayor Madeline Rogero told CNN affiliate WATE. The teen's coach, Rob Black, said that the sophomore was liked by teachers and students at Fulton High School. "This is a fine, fine young man who is a success story," he said. "And I want to try to continue to celebrate the life that he had here and the impact that he made on his peers," Black said. A candlelight vigil was held Friday evening. Dozens came out to celebrate the teenager's life, some placing candles in the shape of the number 24, his jersey number. Dobson's brother Zach shared the last moments he had with his brother after the shooting. "I found him on the porch and I picked him up and he was laying in my hands dead," he told WATE. Friend Jaylin Posey said Dobson's actions were heroic. "It was good to know he was willing to protect others, but then it was sad he had to give up his own life for it," he said. The girls were not injured, according to Knoxville police. One of the suspects died from a gunshot wound late that evening, although not all the details are clear. Two others were arrested; the investigation is still ongoing. There were three overnight shootings in Knoxville the evening of Dobson's death. They may have been connected, according to police. Two girls spoke to CNN affiliate WVLT about the shooting. "If it wasn't for Zaevion, if he would have just ran off the porch, we would have probably been shot," Kiara Rucker said. Faith Gordon said by the time the shooting was over she told the teen he could get up, but he didn't. "So I just went upstairs, and by the time I came back to make sure everything was real, (I saw) he was shot in the head," Gordon said. On Sunday, President Barack Obama focused on Dobson's death, tweeting from his @POTUS account: "Zaevion Dobson died saving three friends from getting shot. He was a hero at 15. What's our excuse for not acting?" http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/19/us/zaevion-dobson-killed-shielding-girls-from-bullets/ Heroic high school football player killed shielding teenage girls from gunmen When the shooting began Thursday night in Knoxville, Tenn., Zaevion Dobson faced a split-second choice: run away and save himself, or use his body as a shield to protect those around him. Nobody would have have blamed the 15-year-old Fulton High School football player for doing the former. But Dobson, survivors would later recall, sacrificed himself, jumping on top of three teenage girls who were sitting on a porch with a few other friends when two men approached and began shooting randomly into the group, according to the Associated Press. “If it wasn’t for Zaevion, if he would have just ran off the porch, we would have probably been shot,” Kiara Rucker told CBS affiliate WVLT. Dobson was killed by a bullet that struck him in the head, police said. He was the only person among the group who was hit. “You’re my hero, I’ll never forget you,” Faith Gordon, who credited Dobson with saving her life, wrote on Twitter. “Unfortunately, they picked a random group of young men and women who were just hanging out and trying to prepare to celebrate the holiday,” said Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch, who struggled to hold back tears while discussing the teenager’s sacrifice at a news conference. President Obama hailed Dobson as a hero while repeating his call for stricter gun control legislation. Dobson’s funeral has been scheduled for Saturday, at Overcoming Believers Church, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel, which reported that the teen’s mother “asked that those who attend the funeral wear maroon, one of Fulton’s school colors.” Zach Dobson, the victim’s brother, told NBC affiliate WBIR that the shooting took those on the scene by surprise. By the time the group of young people realized that Dobson had been shot in the moments of confusion that followed, it was too late. “He was laying there, and I just pick him up and put him in my arms,” his brother said. “He was dead. Unfortunately, he wasn’t lucky, but he saved two lives.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/12/19/heroic-high-school-football-player-killed-shielding-teenage-girls-from-gunmen/