Man hailed as hero for protecting children from El Paso gunman during mass shooting

A military man has been hailed as a “hero” after he noticed children without parents and grabbed “as many as he could” and carried them to safety during the deadly El Paso shooting that killed at least 20 and injured dozens of others.

Glen Oakley was inside the Walmart when the El Paso shooting began. He told reporters that he saw people taking cover in a Foot Locker store and saw children running without their parents as shots rang out.

At that point, he unclipped his gun and when he saw children running away he picked up as many as he could and took them to safety.

Oakley told MSNBC:

I see a whole bunch of kids running around without their parents, I got my bag in my hand and I’m trying to pick up as many as I can and run out.

They’re so anxious, they’re dropping out of my hand.

I made my way out and when I got out, I guess one of the cops thought I was the shooter so I had to show them I have a licence to carry.

I called a friend, and I’m here now, but it was just a whole bunch of kids. I’m shaking. A whole bunch of kids.

They were without their parents and stuff. I tried to pick up as many as I could and bring them out with me.

Picture: MSNBC grab

Oakley, a "military man" had been shopping for a jersey and said when a child initially ran into the store and said there was an “active shooter in Walmart,” he nor the staff member in the store believed them. “It was just a kid,” he said.

It wasn’t until he heard a “pop-pop” that he realised the shooting was real and got his gun out.

They closed the Foot Locker, some people were in there and they were so scared they just lifted the cage and just hid so I ran with them.

But I was so worried about those kids, man. Ain’t no telling - I heard more than one shooter. I heard there was four. I'm just worried about the kids.

People online are praising his quick thinking, calling it "heroic"

And #GlennOakley began trending online

CNN reporter Muhammad Lila reached out to Oakley, who only had one thing to say: “I could’ve did better… [sic]