Teen usher had to step aside to blow his nose—it may have saved him and his family from church gunfire
It takes either a miracle or smart action to help get out of unprecedented danger. A 14-year-old boy named Jasper was able to witness both during the attack on the Grand Blanc Township Church, Click on Detroit revealed. The teen, who was an usher at the church, was doing his duty at the doors, aloof from what was about to strike. A simple miracle worked out the timing to give him a shot at life. He took complete advantage of the situation and braved through the risky and chaotic gunfire to even try and save his family. The miracle, coupled with his courage, is being applauded.
The teenager’s duty was to open and close the doors of the church during the Sacrament meetings. Inside the church, in one of the back rows, was Jasper’s family — his mom, Michelle, and three of his younger siblings. Moments before the attacker could arrive in his truck and fire gunshots surrounding the church, Jasper had to step aside to blow his nose. The very act saved his life. It was within those very few seconds that the gunfire opened and the 14-year-old learned what was happening. "That small action likely saved his life. Had he stayed in place, he would have been in the direct line of fire,” Jasper’s aunt, Amber, recalled.
Because he was in the bathroom and on his way back to the chapel, he had the time to think and he used the few moments to plot a smart act, KSL Utah reported. “Jasper grabbed his 8- and 10-year-old brothers by the collars of their shirts and pulled them into the aisle, steering them toward safety,” the aunt revealed. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to find his 11-year-old sister, Josie, who was trying to escape through another exit and got caught up in the crowds. At a time when risk was right behind them, Jasper decided to practice smart and safe action. He prioritized getting his brothers and mom, whom he had with him, to a safe place before he could find Josie.
With people running for their lives, this task also became challenging. His little brothers were constantly being pinned against the glass doors, with the many people sprinting frantically. Nevertheless, Jasper shattered the glass with his elbow and managed to get them out. Michelle was terrified at the thought of Josie being alone while the gunshots were being fired. Though she tried to run in the opposite direction to find her daughter, Jasper heroically pulled her back. “Michelle, Jasper’s mother, displayed extraordinary strength and bravery. She tried to run back toward the flames to find Josie, but Jasper held her arm, refusing to let her go. He assured her they would find Josie, showing composure far beyond his years,” Amber mentioned.
They got the boys safe in a car and made their way to look for Josie. People had run helter-skelter, going wherever they could to hide or escape. Josie likely did the same, too. 20 minutes later, Jasper’s dad and the officers arrived on the scene. The attacker was killed after shooting down a cop. A few minutes later, as the officers brought people out of the woods, Josie made her way out too, safe and finally back with her family. Jasper’s aunt noted that though they are bereaved by the tragedy, they are also “grateful for the little miracles and for Jasper’s bravery. He stepped up, and for that, we couldn’t be prouder.”
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