Aaron Feis, an assistant football coach and security guard at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, was among the 17 people shot and killed by an expelled student who opened fire at the school on Valentine's Day.

Douglas football coach Willis May told the Orlando Sentinel that he had heard Feis had jumped between a female student and the shooter, pushing her through a door and out of danger. He was also a security guard at the school and was working in that capacity when the shooting began.

The Sentinal reported that Feis had responded to the original call on the school's security radio walkie-talkies. Someone asked on the radio if the loud sounds heard were firecrackers, according to May, who also carries a radio.

"I heard Aaron say, 'No, that is not firecrackers.' That's the last I heard of him," May told the newspaper.

He described Feis as a "big ol' teddy bear" and "hardcore - he coached real hard".

"Loyalty - I trusted him. He had my back. He worked hard. Just a good man. Loved his family. Loved his brother - just an excellent family man."

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said he knew Feis as he had coached with him before. 

He died "protecting others, you can guaratanee that, because that's who Aaron Feise way".

The Douglas football team announced Feis' death on Twitter early on Thursday morning via its Twitter account and said he "selflessly shielded students from the shooter".

According to a short biography on the Douglas football team's website, Feis graduated from the school in 1999 and was a cetre on the team. He returned to Douglas in 2002 and became head coach of the junior varsity team. After that, he coached the linemen for the JV and varsity teams and coordinates the players' college recruitment. He had a wife and a daughter, according to the biography.

Two faculty members are believed to be among the 17 victims. A student told MSNBC that he ran past two deal school girls, holding hands. He saw another three bodies lying in the door of a bathroom.

Douglas Athletic Director and wrestling coach Chris Hixon also was among the people shot, according to the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale, which had no details about his condition.

ESPN's Mark Jones also reported that Douglas girls' basketball player Maddy Wilford was undergoing surgery on Thursday morning after she was wounded in the attack.

Former student Nikolas Cruz, 19, has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.

He has been described by those who knew him as a troubled, aggressive teen who tortured animals, collected guns and had no parents. He legalled owned the AR-15 rifle he allegedly used in Wednesday's shooting.

Washington Post