Shannon Johnson, brother-in-law of Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy Wes Odom, was one of the 14 people who died last week in the terrorist attack in San Bernardino. He is the Georgian that is being hailed as a hero in many news reports for giving his life to save the life of a co-worker. Survivor Denise Peraza posted on her Facebook page that in the midst of all the chaos of the attack, Johnson wrapped his arms around her and said, “I got you.”
Shannon Johnson, photo courtesy of Amanda Morita’s GoFundMe page.
Those words have become a mantra to represent the heroics of Johnson in the face of the attack. Peraza survived, but Johnson didn’t. His girlfriend is working with his family to help bring Johnson’s remains home to Georgia for a memorial service. The $35,000 money required was raised and exceeded in just one day. His girlfriend has said any money left over after his last wishes have been taken care of will go towards spreading his message of “I got you.”
“He was a selfless man who literally gave his life for another person. We want the world to know Shannon in this way and Shannon would want us to encourage the people of this world to take care of each other,” Amanda Morita, a friend of Johnson’s girlfriend, wrote in the GoFundMe message.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office wrote a message on it’s Facebook page expressing the department’s condolences to Depty Odum and his wife, Samantha, in the loss of her brother.
“The entire Walton County Sheriff’s Office family extends heartfelt sympathy to Deputy Wes Odum and Samantha Odum on the death of her brother. He was one of the fourteen killed in California earlier this week. Our hearts ache for them and for our country,” the post read.