A. Spring 2016 In Memoriam

‘I GOT YOU’
Shannon Hilliard Johnson, a former Augusta State University baseball player, was killed in the Dec. 2, 2015, tragic shooting in San Bernardino, California. According to Denise Peraza, one of Johnson’s co-workers, the native Georgian died saving her life.

Peraza recalled, “I will always remember his left arm wrapped around me, holding me as close as possible next to him behind that chair,” she said. “Amidst all the chaos, I’ll always remember him saying these three words, ‘I got you.’ I believe I am still here today because of this amazing man.” Johnson, along with 13 of his co-workers, was killed by another co-worker in the San Bernardino Public Health Department.

Augusta University is raising funds to honor Johnson, and the Jaguar baseball team is wearing an honorary decal on their batting helmets for the 2016 season to remember him.

The circular decal features the American flag with Johnson’s initials and the quote “I got you.”

“Shannon Johnson is a true American hero, but he’s also part of Jaguar Nation,” Jason Eller, Augusta University baseball head coach, said. “Although his time with us was short, our memory of him should live on. We want our students, athletes and community to remember not only what he did, but who he was. Shannon is one of us. Once a Jaguar, always a Jaguar.”

Johnson joined the Augusta University Jaguars for the 1992 baseball season as a catcher. He wore No. 13 and split time behind the plate under head coach Skip Fite.

In 2004, he received a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Cal State University, San Bernardino. He had plans of pursuing his doctorate in the same area. In 2005, he went to work for San Bernardino County as an Environmental Health Specialist where he remained employed until the time of his death.[/su_note]