Hero high school football player killed while shielding three girls from gunfire

On Thursday night, a heroic 15-year-old high school football player was killed after he shielded three girls from men who went on a shooting spree.

TheGrio Staff

Dec 19, 2015

On Thursday night, a heroic 15-year-old high school football player was killed after he shielded three girls from men who went on a shooting spree.

According to police, the shooters might have been gang-affiliated and had targeted a random group of teenagers who were “just hanging out and trying to celebrate the holidays.” Unfortunately, that group of teenagers included Zaevion Dobson, his brother and some friends, who were all sitting out on the porch.

The shootings began when rounds were fired into a Knoxville home and struck a 46-year-old resident. The woman, Lisa Perry, is expected to survive.

Her son, 23-year-old Brandon Perry, then drove off with several other men and entered Dobson’s neighborhood, where, according to police, they “randomly fired multiple times.” Perry later died on Friday after crashing a BMW into an apartment.

At the sign of danger, Dobson then rushed to shield three girls from harm. All three of the girls were unharmed.

Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said that the shootings might be gang-related but that there seemed to be no reason that Dobson should be targeted.

“These cowardly and senseless acts of violence must stop,” he said.

“We should be preparing to celebrate the Christmas holiday, but now we have two men who are dead.”