The INSIDER Summary:
- Jonathan Smith, a copy machine repairman, reportedly saved around 30 lives during the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival in Las Vegas.
- He was shot in the neck while trying to make sure that others were safe.
- A Washington Post reporter shared his photo on Twitter, which went viral.
When bullets began raining down on the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival in Las Vegas in the worst mass shooting in modern US history, Jonathan Smith sprang into action.
The 30-year-old copy machine repairman shouted "Active shooter, active shooter, let's go! We have to run." He led people to a handicapped parking area, where they hid behind a row of cars.
When he saw that a few girls weren't fully covered, he exposed himself to the gunfire to stand up and warn them and was shot in the neck.
An off-duty police officer helped staunch the bleeding and found him a ride to the hospital, where he was treated for a cracked rib, bruised lung, and fractured collarbone. The bullet is still in his neck — doctors think it would do more harm than good to remove.
Smith's sister-in-law started a GoFundMe page to help with his medical expenses which has already raised over $11,000, surpassing its $7,000 goal in less than a day.
Smith told The Washington Post that he "got a few people out of there." According to witnesses, he saved around 30 lives.
Post reporter Heather Long shared his photo on Twitter, garnering hundreds of thousands of retweets, likes, and comments.
Jonathan Smith, 30, saved ~30 people last night before he was shot in the neck. He might live w/the bullet for rest of his life. #vegasstrippic.twitter.com/6hLujXWe51
— Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) October 2, 2017
People hailed him as a hero.
Thank you, Jonathan Smith.
I hope your recovery is swift & lasting, you beautiful young hero💖🇺🇸💖
— Julie=EveryWoman (@TruthEqualsFact) October 3, 2017
Thank you for your bravery young man. You have a heart of gold. I for one stand and salute you. You are a man among men. God bless you.
— TERRY REED (@treed1955) October 2, 2017
That man sitting there is a HERO. No other word, phrase or term suits him any better. You Sir are a HERO 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻🇦🇺🚔
— Grant W. Ellis⚫️⚪️🔵 (@Grant_W_Ellis) October 3, 2017
Hero: https://t.co/2xTu44mdJX
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) October 2, 2017
According to the Post, he said "I would want someone to do the same for me. No one deserves to lose a life coming to a country festival."
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