A courageous 14-year-old boy is being celebrated as a hero after he helped save his younger siblings during a tragic shooting at a church in Michigan that left four dead and eight injured, according to reports.
Jasper was acting as an usher during Sunday service at his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township when he briefly left his post to fetch a tissue for his nose, as reported by KSLTV.
“It came out of nowhere and happened so quickly,” his aunt, Amber Rosen, recounted. “Jasper wasn’t feeling ill, but he felt compelled to go get a tissue.”
Just moments later, gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford drove his Chevy Silverado through the same entry Jasper had just vacated.
“The shooter approached the spot Jasper had just left. If he hadn’t gone for that tissue, Jasper would have faced the shooter head-on,” Rosen added.
Rosen explained that her sister Michelle along with the children were situated at the rear of the chapel when the gunfire erupted.
In the ensuing panic, Jasper sprang into action to shield his younger brothers.
“He rushed to his 8 and 10-year-old siblings, grabbing them in the confusion,” she noted.
“During the turmoil, his sister Josie was taken away by another family endeavoring to exit the building,” she continued.
Over a hundred worshippers frantically attempted to exit through a single door, as Sanford reportedly circled to target fleeing church-goers.
“The shooter was aware of the crowded exit and waited at the doors to fire upon those fleeing the chapel,” Rosen described.
“So Jasper guided his mother and two brothers toward a back exit,” she explained. Unfortunately, the door jammed, trapping the boys against the glass.
“Without hesitation, Jasper smashed the glass with his elbow, shattering it cleanly without injuring himself,” she remarked.
They bolted into the parking area, where Jasper flagged down a passing car and secured his brothers inside to ensure their safety. “He was incredibly brave,” Rosen stated.
While police exchanged gunfire with Sanford, Jasper and his mother sought refuge behind vehicles, anxiously searching for 11-year-old Josie as the church ignited in flames.
Later, SWAT teams discovered her hiding in nearby woods, clenching a hymnal, as reported.
“This experience was utterly terrifying. The trauma runs deep. No child should ever have to endure such an event, let alone take charge in a violent crisis like this one,” Rosen lamented.
“When Jasper finally saw Josie, he sprinted to her, and it was a heartwarming reunion for the family to be together and safe once more.”
“I truly believe that angels were watching over them.”
Rosen intends to fly to Michigan to reunite with her sister and family in Grand Blanc following this traumatic event.
“We just want to huddle up with cozy blankets, watch movies, and cherish our time together. The path to healing will be lengthy and challenging. This has been more difficult than we could have imagined,” she conveyed.
Sanford, a veteran of the US Marine Corps, was killed in a confrontation with a Grand Blanc Township police officer and a Department of Natural Resources officer who swiftly responded to the shooting.
Law enforcement arrived within thirty seconds of the first calls, neutralizing the suspect in approximately eight minutes.
At around 10:25 a.m., he forcefully drove his truck, decorated with two large American flags and deer antlers, through the church’s entrance.
After discharging an assault rifle, Sanford set fire to the Mormon church, leading to the structure’s total destruction.
Several individuals tragically lost their lives, including a father and husband, a Navy veteran grandfather, a 6-year-old girl, and her parents.
