Jeanne Assam

“I have friends who are Army Rangers calling me, saying what she did is not easy to do, even for trained people. I just know that she’s a hero."
-Matt Swenson, first cousin to Jeanne Assam

In December 2007 gunshots rang out from the New Life Church Parking lot in Colorado Springs. Over one-hundred members of the church were enjoying their Sunday service when Matthew Murray entered the church with a mission. Murray entered from the parking lot where he had just executed two teenage girls. He had a vendetta against the church after being kicked out of a Youth With A Mission program and had previously shot and killed two people in Arvada, Colorado who were involved with the program.

Jeanne Assam was working as a security guard at the church that fateful day. She had been trained to use a handgun and owned a permit to carry a concealed weapon. She noticed the crowd of people who were congregating in the hallway had suddenly disappeared. When she entered the hallway she saw Murray, who was prepared to do a lot a damage to the church and it's members. Jeanne immediately held her ground and when Murray began shooting she halted his attacks. Shortly after being hit several times Murray took his own life.

Jeanne was one of the seven children of Fred and Kay Assam. Jeanne did not grow up in a religious household, but after her mother became active in the Christian community later in her life, Jeanne took to the religion. She grew more passionate toward the religion and the community in Colorado Springs, where she chose to make her home. She applied for a job at the New Life church where she worked in the call center selling CDs, videos and books. She soon volunteered as a security guard.

Ten years before the New Life shooting, Jeanne had worked for the Minneapolis police force but was fired for cursing at a bus driver and lying about it. No hard feelings from her former co-workers; Sergeant Jesse Garchttp://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.htmlia remembered her fondly. "She has all the skill; she has the desire to serve people and protect. She's trying to figure out if the right way for her to serve is working with the ministry or if the best way is by being a police officer."

Jeanne believes that God helped keep her safe that day and protected her from Murray's violent behavior. She has become a local hero and has also been recognized on a national level.

Sources:
The Denver Post
The Denver Channel