Hero Who Stopped Seattle Shooter Receives Amazing Wedding Surprise

John Meis, the hero who disarmed a gunman during a deadly campus shooting at Seattle Pacific University on June 5, has had his honeymoon and wedding registry completely paid for by strangers.

Once it spread on Twitter that the 22-year-old electrical engineering student was planning a wedding with his fiancé Kaylie, the reaction was extraordinary. Dozens of strangers expressed their gratitude for his heroic actions by purchasing items on the couple's registry lists at Target and Crate and Barrel...but that's not all. Jessamyn MacIntyre, a producer at ESPN Seattle, created a crowdfunding campaign for their big day after logging on to purchase a gift and realizing that everything had already been bought. As of press time, over $50,000 has been raised for Meis and his future wife.

jon meis and fiance kaylie
Meis, pictured above with his fiancé Kaylie, had been working as a building monitor in the lobby when the shots were fired. He tackled the shooter after spraying him with pepper spray. Onlookers helped him pin down the gunman until police arrived. According to The Seattle Times, friends of Meis describe him as a "quiet, brilliant man and devout Christian."

Tragically, a 19-year-old student was shot dead and three others were wounded. Police believe many more people could have been killed if Meis had not risked his life and stepped in. Meis remained humble during the media frenzy that followed, asking for privacy and for prayers to be directed at the families of the shooting victims.

Best wishes to the future Mr. and Mrs. Meis!

— Mary Gillen