Local News

This Marine Saved Lives During Orlando Shooting

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Tony Maples Photography

 

When senseless acts of violence happen, we turn to the stories of heroes to lift our spirits. Imran Yousuf, a 24-year-old Hindu who served as a Marine, was working as a bouncer at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on the night of the deadliest mass shooting in American history.

While standing in the back of the club, Yousuf heard the shooter’s AR-15 style assault rifle. His experiences in training and time served gave him the knowledge that he had heard actual gunshots, and not noise from speakers as many club-goers initially thought. Yousuf served in Afghanistan and had just left the Marines only two months prior to the attack.

It’s estimated that Yousuf saved over 60 lives when he saw that a crowd had packed tightly into a hallway. He was able to unlatch a door to guide people outside. He told CBS: “I wish I could have saved more to be honest… there are a lot of people dead.” He stayed after the escape to help carry victims to ambulances.

Yousuf’s story reminds us that for every evil act, there are heroes ready to respond.