Football coach Aaron Feis killed protecting students in Florida high school shooting

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School football coach put himself in the firing line to save others. Photo / Getty

Assistant football coach Aaron Feis was hailed a hero after he was killed shielding students during the Majority Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Feis, an alumni of Majority Stoneman Douglas High School, coached the MS Douglas football team for 16 years and served as a security monitor.

It is with Great sadness that our Football Family has learned about the death of Aaron Feis. He was our Assistant Football Coach and security guard. He selflessly shielded students from the shooter when he was shot. He died a hero and he will forever be in our hearts and memories pic.twitter.com/O181FvuHl3

— Stoneman Douglas Football (@MSDEagles) February 15, 2018

It was reported that Feis was the first of the school's security to respond to the "code red" call.

Shooting survivor and football player, Colton Haab, praised Feis as a person who "made sure everyone else's needs were met before his own".

Colton said he last saw Feis running down the school hallway "using his body to shield others," before he was shot and killed by the gunman.

"He had used himself to shield others, I believe it was three females," Colton told TIME.

"I believe he's in a better place right now ... football definitely won't be the same, we're definitely going to have to bound back together as brothers, and mourn his loss, and pick up the pieces to try to re-build our football team."

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said Aaron Feis was a hero. Photo / Getty

Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel confirmed Feis' death at a press conference on Thursday and said "the kids in the community loved him".

"He was one of the greatest people I knew. He was a phenomenal man," said Israel.

"When Aaron Feis died, when he was killed — tragically, inhumanely — he did it protecting others. You can guarantee that because that's who Aaron Feis was."

The entire football community is grieving the loss of Coach Aaron Feis and all those who tragically lost their lives yesterday. https://t.co/geIMyMQ3Ld

— Roger Goodell (@nflcommish) February 15, 2018

Feis was one of 17 people tragically killed by expelled student Nikolas Cruz.

The 19-year-old was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder on Thursday morning.