Jeanne Assam Killed a Rampaging Gunman Before He Could Kill More Churchgoers
Posted on 12/13/2007 11:52:02 AM PST by Screaming_Gerbil
Jeanne Assam was in the middle of a religious fast and in the middle of the church lobby when she shot a 24-year-old gunman who had already killed four people at two religious sites and was bent on killing more Christians.
Church's 'Hero' Security GuardInvestigators have announced this afternoon that Assam's bullets struck gunman Matthew Murray, identified late Monday as the man responsible for both Sunday shootings in Colorado, several times but that ultimately he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the El Paso County Coroner's Office announced today.
Regardless, officials have credited Assam for calmly and coolly stopping the massacre before more innocent bystanders were killed.
"It seemed like it was me, the gunman and God," Assam said at a Monday evening news conference in which the 42-year-old Sioux Falls, S.D., native who now bears a hero tag, introduced herself to the world.
Assam served as a cop in Minneapolis, Minn., but was fired in the late 1990s over a "truthfulness" issue, Minneapolis Police Union president John Delmonico confirmed to ABC News. Assam lost her job, Delmonico explained, after she was caught in a lie about an incident in which she cursed out a city bus driver.
Assam told "Good Morning America" in an interview that she became a Christian three years ago, a life decision that she made "when there [was] only one way to go but up."
She described the scene at the Colorado Springs, Colo., megachurch, which was crowded with an estimated 7,000 worshippers when Murray approached the building in the early afternoon and starting firing at churchgoers in the parking lot.
Despite Shots From Security Guard, 24-Year-Old Murray Killed Himself"Everyone was running and scattering and screaming. They were crouching down as they ran. They were yelling, 'Get down!'" Assam said. "I just had my gun out and said, 'Where is he?'"
A churchgoer yelled that Murray was coming in the front doors from a hallway. Murray continued unloading rounds from an assault rifle, Assam said. "It was the loudest noise ever," she said. "I will never forget that noise."
But instead of taking cover, Assam said, she offered a prayer and stepped out to confront the gunman, identifying herself to the 24-year-old. "I told him to drop the weapon. He didn't," Assam said. "I shot him several times and just kept moving towards him and made sure he was down."
Assam, who apparently did not realize that Murray had shot himself, said that as a police officer she had to pull her gun "more times than I can count" and her hands weren't shaking Sunday, a steadiness she credited to God.
She said she considers her role in curtailing Sunday's bloodshed as divine. "God put us all in our special assignments," she said, "and he gave me the assignment of a law enforcer and that was what I was called to do."
The former Minneapolis cop abruptly ended what could have been another large-scale American mass shooting less than a week after teen gunman Robert Hawkins killed eight before killing himself inside an Omaha, Neb., shopping mall.
She gave little information about herself. When asked whether she was married, Assam smiled and said, "God is going to find me the perfect man. I am saying that in front of all of you."
Jeanne Assam Killed a Rampaging Gunman Before He Could Kill More Churchgoers
Glad to have people like this out there in the world. All she said here was honest truth. God did this all for her, and put her here.
Actually she stopped him from killing more people, but he killed himself. That way she doesn’t have to live with the guilt of killing him herself. It’s a win-win.
I can't imagine I would feel guilty over something like that...maybe guilty that I kind of enjoyed it, but not that I did it.
I hope God sends her a man. She earned it.
Bet her mailbag gets full of offers from men who’d love to have a gun-toting hotty for a wife!
A good looking women who knows how to handle a gun when there “trouble”. That will make some gentlemen here very excited, and some others very nervous... :)
I say that woman will be married within the next year.
“Despite shots from (Assam) the gunman killed himsel”??
I would say it was BECAUSE of her hits.
Oh ABC — can’t let the anti American bias go, can they?
Per usual, ABC has to stir up some unrelated dirt on her to try to tarnish her heroism.
New Life’s Rev. Brady Boyd and volunteer security guard Jeanne Assam faced the media swarm Monday.
She's sweet!
When they shoot someone in front of a firing squad, some of the people load blanks. That way no one knows who is really responsible for the death.
I think very few people are really comfortable with taking a life, no matter how well deserved.
And every one would treat her like a lady. :-)
AHEM, she’s 42. You whippersnapper.
Too young for me, and I am already married to an Armed Blonde who stopped a robbery.
I know how to treat them.
Cringing and squeaking like a mouse works often but sometimes it gets them mad...haha.
Yikes, I just turned 44 yesterday. Guess that qualifies me for free coffee at Denny’s huh??
LOL - you young squirt!
Be not that far from me, for trouble is near; haste Thee to help me.
Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.
My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
- Pvt Jackson, Saving Private Ryan
Armed citizen saves hundreds of lives...Oh yeah, that will do it.
>>Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight. - Pvt Jackson, Saving Private Ryan<<
God, the Hollyweird Left Wing Lucky smokers musta gagged when they had to put that in the movie.
God bless Jeannie Assam, she is braver than most of the people in this country including me.
Did the clucks have to add the negativity to the story,
dumb clucks.
What a great Lady.
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