Ke’Arre Stewart, an Iraq War veteran who was killed during the Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting, ran back inside the building to try to warn others of the danger.
According to Stewart’s brother, Leyonte Chandler, Stewart had stepped outside to get better cell phone service when he was shot by gunman Robert Lewis Dear, reports NBC News. Chandler said Stewart then used what time he had left to try to get the warnings out.
“He tried to run back inside the building — well, he did — and tell the other people inside, you know, ‘Take cover, get down.’ People started taking cover, hiding in bathrooms and whatnot,” Chandler told NBC.
He added, “People were terrified, people were crying and scared, seeing other people get shot … I believe my brother put his life on the line to prevent that. That’s definitely heroic.”
Chandler said that he believes Stewart’s Army training prepared him for his heroism.
“I believe that’s his military instinct, you know: Leave no soldier behind, leave no civilian behind, just leave no one behind,” an emotional Chandler explained. “So he ran back inside, trying to help out others. I don’t know where he was at, as far as how many more breaths he had, but he knew. And before his time ran out I guess that was his main priority … to help and save other lives.”