Shannon Johnson True Hero of San Bernardino Attack-Truth!
Summary of eRumor:
A man named Shannon Johnson was the “true hero” of the San Bernardino terrorist attack that left 14 people dead, including Johnson.
The Truth:
Reports of Shannon Johnson’s heroism during the San Bernardino terrorist attack have come from an eyewitness who said Johnson shielded her from gunfire and saved her life.
Denise Peraza said that she huddled under a table with Shannon Johnson when gunfire erupted, and he said, “I got you,” as he shielded her body from bullets. Peraza was one of 21 people injured in the attack. Johnson was among the 14 killed. In an interview with an ABC affiliate, Peraza recalled:
He put his arm around me and said, “I got you.”
He did (save me). I don’t think he realized it at the time. He didn’t even think a second about it; he just did it instinctively. He didn’t just save me, he save our whole family.
Shannon Johnson’s was originally from Macon, Georgia, and had been living and working as an environmental scientist in Los Angeles for about 10 years, his family and friends told his hometown newspaper, The Telegraph:
Since getting word Thursday of his brother’s death, (Rob) Johnson and his wife, Beth, had been praying to gain some understanding of what happened.
“It’s unreal, the love that’s been poured out,” he said.
His brother was a great storyteller who never met a stranger and talked with his co-workers daily.
He was friendly with everyone, including Syed Farook, who along with Farook’s wife, Tashfeen Malik, carried out the deadly rampage.
Johnson was a deep thinker and loved to talk religion, his sister-in-law said.
A memorial fund set up at the crowd-funding site Go Fund Me had taken in more than $56,000 in donations, well beyond its $35,000 goal, to cover the costs of transporting Shannon Johnson’s remains to Georgia for funeral services.