Almost two years ago, when North America was shocked by the brutality of the child-massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I wrote a column detailing the actions of many modern-day heroes that rise to the occasion during acts of terror. People like Victoria Soto of Sandy Hook Elementary School, Liviu Librescu of Virginia Tech, and young men like Alex Teves and Matt McQuinn, who used their bodies to shield their girlfriends from shots fired by the demented James Holmes in Aurora, Colorado.
Last Thursday, a man wielding a shotgun opened fire at Seattle Pacific University, wounding two people and killing one. As he stopped to reload his weapon and continue the carnage, a young man named Jon Meis blasted him with pepper spray and tackled him, locking him in a chokehold. Others leapt in to help, and the shooter was pinned to the ground until law enforcement, which credited Meis’s actions with preventing additional loss of life, arrived to detain him.
Who is Jon Meis? According to the The Seattle Times:
Friends know Meis as a private young man who carries a strong Christian faith.
“Jon is a man of actions not of words as was proved by yesterday’s events and this has rung true through our relationship,” Keimig said in an email.
He described his friend as a “quiet but brilliant engineering major whose love for Christ and others has made him the hero he is.”
Meis and Keimig went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic about two years ago during spring break to see another culture and visit Haitian refugees.
When not studying, Salgado said he and Meis have regular college pastimes: playing video games, working out, going to get bubble tea in the University District or walking to Gas Works Park.
Meis, who made the dean’s list and worked as a teaching assistant at SPU, also interned at Boeing in the 737NG program, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In high school, Meis had been an excellent student and a cross-country runner at Seattle Christian School in SeaTac.
In recent shootings—in Moncton, New Brunswick last week, and in Santa Barbara, California last month—the media and Internet have engaged in endless speculation over the shooters’ motives and personality. In the case of the tragedy at Seattle Pacifc U, the focus has been different—people are reacting to Meis’s heroism and the revelation that he is engaged by purchasing his entire wedding registry and funding his “honeymoon and future.”
According to The Blaze:
Visitors flocked to the wedding registries that Meis and his fiancee had set up at Target and Crate & Barrel, buying gifts for the couple as a show of gratitude.
ESPN Seattle producer Jessamyn MacIntyre wanted to buy something on the registry but couldn’t — all the items had been purchased.
So she launched a crowdfunding campaign for the couple and was quickly amazed by the results.
As of Saturday afternoon, the campaign — for Meis and his fiancee’s “honeymoon and future” — had shot past the initial goal of $5,000, passing $17,000 and still climbing.
Every tragedy and difficult circumstance is generally defined by loss. But when people like Jon Meis react with selflessness and courage, we can choose to define these events by focusing on those attributes rather than the evil of people bent on destruction.
UPDATE: Jon Meis has released a statement:
To my brothers and sisters at Seattle Pacific University, and my brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the nation and the world,
Words cannot come close to expressing the tragedy that occurred this past week on our campus. Like everyone else, I would hear of these horrible events on the news, but go home knowing that it could never happen to us. On Thursday, my life changed. I was thrown into a life and death situation, and through God’s grace I was able to stop the attacker and walk away unharmed. As I try to return to a normal life in the aftermath of this horrible event, I pray above all things for strength for the victims and their families. While my experience left me in physical shock, I know that many people are dealing with much greater grief than I have experienced, and in honesty I probably would not be able to handle myself right now if I had personally known the victims.
I know that I am being hailed as a hero, and as many people have suggested I find this hard to accept. I am indeed a quiet and private individual; while I have imagined what it would be like to save a life I never believed I would be put in such a situation. It touches me truly and deeply to read online that parents are telling their children about me and telling them that real heroes do exist.
However, what I find most difficult about this situation is the devastating reality that a hero cannot come without tragedy. In the midst of this attention, we cannot ignore that a life was taken from us, ruthlessly and without justification or cause. Others were badly injured, and many more will carry this event with them the rest of their lives. Nonetheless, I would encourage that hate be met with love. When I came face to face with the attacker, God gave me the eyes to see that he was not a faceless monster, but a very sad and troubled young man. While I cannot at this time find it within me to forgive his crime, I truly desire that he will find the grace of God and the forgiveness of our community.
I would like to truly thank the responders who secured the building and the medical staff who looked after myself and those who were injured. After being in this situation myself, it is even harder to imagine what it would be like to have a job where one’s life is willingly put on the line every day. To our police, emergency responders, and armed forces, you have my greatest respect.
I am overwhelmed with the incredible generosity that has been showered upon me. It has been deeply touching to read the comments online and realize that my actions have had such a strikingly widespread effect. Moving forward, I am strongly requesting that any future donations be given to the victims through Seattle Pacific University.
I am grateful for the prayers and support coming from our home city and afar. In these next few days, weeks, and months, please continue to pray for everyone in the Seattle Pacific community. We serve a truly awesome God and I firmly believe that it is through Him alone that we will find the strength to heal from this tragedy.
Jon Meis
Student, Seattle Pacific University
Reprinted with permission from Unmasking Choice