'I'll Take A Bullet Before You Do': San Bernardino First Responders Share Their Stories
SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — San Bernardino first responders, including a sheriff's detective whose actions were captured on a now-viral cellphone video, spoke on Tuesday about their experiences during the attacks that killed 14 and injured 21.
San Bernardino Co. Sheriff's Det. Jorge Lozano recalled his experience ushering a group of dozens of frightened people through the Inland Regional Center to safety.
His efforts were captured on a cellphone video. As were his words.
"I'll take a bullet before you do. That's for damn sure," he said to the group. The video of that moment has gone viral online and those words have become a rallying cry for San Bernardino first responders.
Addressing the public on Tuesday, Lozano said the situation in the Inland Regional Center was intense.
"There was a female there with a small child that was just terrified -- shivering almost ... shaking life a leaf," he said. "I said what I said. I meant what I said. I said it for them to calm down and relax. We were going to get them out of that building safely."
Asked whether he feels like a hero, Lozano said he was just doing his job.
"I don't feel like a hero whatsoever," he said. "Any of the 300 people there would have said the same thing. That's our job."