A Colorado teen who was in the theater during the ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ shooting massacre stopped and helped a mother with her two young kids, taking a bullet to the leg and saving their lives! Read his heroic story.
Amid the terrifying shooting spree that happened in Aurora, Colorado during a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises, Jarell Brooks, 19, scrambled to get out of the packed movie theater. He stopped when he noticed a young mother who was frantically trying to save her two young kids.
Instead of running out the exits, Jarrell stopped and helped the woman, Patricia Legarreta. He then crawled on top of her and tried to push her to safety.
“At the end of the aisle, I ran into a woman. She yelled, ‘My kids!’ and I saw she had two young kids with her,” he told ABC News. “I made sure they got in the aisle and pushed behind her to make sure she got out of there.”
Then, Jarell felt a bullet strike his thigh, which forced him to the ground. Patricia also got shot.
Jarell told ABC News that the bullet that struck his leg could have hit Patricia’s 4-month-old infant if not for his body covering the family. But he refuses to be called a hero.
“I don’t want to say hero necessarily, I was just in the wrong place at the right time,” he told ABC News’ Chris Cuomo during a TV interview.
“I was in the wrong place because I had to deal with the situation, but I was there at the right time because I was there to help a family.”
After she recovered in the hospital, Patricia confirmed the story, and said she’s thankful there are young men in the world like Jarrell.
“It makes me feel glad because I felt helpless,” she said. “Everybody at that moment was going through it, and to know that someone had that mindset, it makes me feel happy to know that in times of trial, there are good people out there.”
We are happy to hear a heroic story during such a tragic incident.
What do YOU think HollyMoms?
– Christina Stiehl
More The Dark Knight Rises news:
- Alex Sullivan Killed In Colorado Shooting On 27th Birthday
- ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Shooting Victim Jessica Ghawi’s Mother Speaks
- Did ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Alleged Shooter James Holmes Plan His Attack For Weeks?
View Comment
Michelle
Posted at 3:57 AM on July 22, 2012
I hope she said NO to his proposal! A man that cant stand behind and protect his family is NOT A MAN! I could have never left my family to fend for themselves? How would he have felt if they didnt make it? Geez! As for the guy that saved them, Wow, Bravery… I would have done the same thing. As for the mom, WHat on earth were you even thinking taking a baby and a toddler to see that movie at midnight? Theres a parentng mistake there!
lissy
Posted at 10:56 PM on July 21, 2012
I CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT A COWARD OF A DAD HE IS. HIS 4 MONTH BABY COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD IF IT WASNT FOR JARELL,I TRULY HAVE ALOT OF RESPECT FOR HIM AND KNOW THAT GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WORLD EXIST. AS A MOTHER MYSELF ILL BE VERY TERRYFIED BUT STILL WOULD PUT MY KIDS FIRST AND GIVE MY LIFE FOR THEM IF I HAD TOO.I KNOW THAT THEIRS GOING TO BE JUSTICE AND EVERYTHINGS ON GODS HANDS..CRAZY GUY WANTED TO BE JOKER HAS TO BE TAKEN AWAY.
katie
Posted at 8:28 PM on July 21, 2012
Whats messed up abiut this story is that the womans boyfriend and father of the four month old put the baby on the ground and ran for his own life leaving his family to fend for theirselves this guy is a real man helping a family he didnt even no when their own father only cared about his self. good job jarell you truly are a hero ans a real man
katie
Posted at 8:30 PM on July 21, 2012
Wanda
Posted at 8:23 PM on July 21, 2012
He is a hero. The kids dad dropped the 4 month old and ran. He even drove off if you read the news story. Then drove back later to check on his gf and kids. He ended up proposing in the hospital. The women should drop the loser and the loser should take lessons in being a real man from this 19 year old. God Bless you!
sarah
Posted at 1:36 AM on July 22, 2012
What did she say to him? I hope she said no. Jarell God is and will always be with you.
chelle
Posted at 6:41 PM on July 21, 2012
Dee
Posted at 6:08 PM on July 21, 2012
Kristy
Posted at 4:58 PM on July 21, 2012
Mr Brooks is a hero in my books. Ok he doesn’t want to be called a hero. What about him being called An guardian Angel sent from God. Blessing to Mr Brooks.
Gulnoza
Posted at 4:52 PM on July 21, 2012
lisa
Posted at 4:26 PM on July 21, 2012
He is a hero. If it wasn’t for him, that monster James would of killed that baby. Thanks to him, a baby is still alive and can live. God bless him.
skipper
Posted at 3:35 PM on July 21, 2012
Good for him! That says a lot about him to help someone else when his own life was in danger.
Ava
Posted at 2:18 PM on July 22, 2012
Jarrell Brooks is the hero! I saw those idiot parents parading around media circuits, giving their “Woe is me” stories. Father is a coward and put the baby down. The mother (who I thought was innocent at first) is actually just as cowardly as the father. She didn’t really have a choice and just ducked with her kids. This kid’s actions was a true definition of a man and a good human being. He covered them, took a bullet for them, and lead them to safety. The mom NEVER acknowledged this gentleman while telling their stories nor did she ever thank him. Those stupid parents took all the credit for what this young man did.