Video surveillance has just been released by the King County Prosecutor’s Office that shows the heroic actions of a former Seattle Pacific University student as he stops a murderous campus shooter. On June 4, 2014, Aaron Ybarra, 27, armed himself and shot three students, one fatally. He was stopped by then Seattle Pacific University student and campus security employee Jon Meis.
In the footage Ybarra can be seen walking into the Christian college’s Otto Miller Hall looking for more victims. He points the shotgun at two students who appear oblivious. Then a female student can be seen descending a set of stairs. Ybarra fires at her. Stunned, she flinches and remains standing for several seconds before fleeing.
Ybarra then looks down as he reloads the shotgun, bent on further murder.
Suddenly Meis emerges barefoot from a nearby room, sprays the shooter with pepper spray, drives him to the ground, and disarms him. Meis removes the shotgun from the area, at which point Ybarra begins to pulls a knife. Meis then leaps once more into the fray, disarming Ybarra, and pinning him securely until further help arrives in the form of another student, who can be seen kicking the knife away, and assisting Meis in controlling the suspect.
Ybarra later told police that he felt each victim disrespected him when he approached them with his shotgun, and said he had cased the building multiple times. He had reportedly recently ceased taking medication and seeing his psychiatrist.
Ybarra goes on trial for murder, attempted murder, and assault in September.
In an active shooter situation, experts advise to run if you can. If you can’t run, hide. If you can’t hide, fight back. Meir fought back, and undoubtedly saved many lives.
Jon Meis
