A stack of library books in his backpack saved one student in the vicinity of Wednesday night’s Florida State University shooting.
Student Jason Derfuss recounted on his Facebook account early Thursday what happened when he was leaving Strozier Library on campus the previous night, when attorney Myron May allegedly shot three people.
“Earlier tonight there was a shooting at FSU, right as I was leaving Strozier. I didn't know this at the time, but the Shooter targeted me first,” Derfuss wrote. “The shot I heard behind me I did not feel, nor did it hit me at all. He was about 5 feet from me, but he hit my books. Books one minute earlier I had checked out of the library, books that should not have stopped the bullet. But they did. I learned this about 3 hours after it happened, I never thought to check my bag. I assumed I wasn't a target, I assumed I was fine.”
But the reality hit Derfuss when he opened his book bag and found a bullet embedded in his books. “The truth is I was almost killed tonight and God intervened. I know conceptually He can do all things, but to physically witness the impossible and to be surrounded by such grace is indescribable,” Derfuss wrote. “To God be the glory, forever and ever, Amen.
Many people went to Derfuss’s Facebook page to offer their thanks and relief that he wasn’t injured.
“Hey Jason.....I don't know you but I know you are one blessed fella. I think GOD for intervening with your school books! Keep studying and keep being blessed! #trulyhappytohearthatyouarewell!” one person wrote.
No one was killed in the shooting except May, who was shot by police.
The Tallahassee Democrat reported that May was suffering from mental health problems and that he believed he was being watched.
May's ex-girlfriend told police that May’s mental problems "has been steadily progressing for the last several weeks and within the
last couple of days it had gotten bad," the Democrat said.
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