Couple says a miracle saved their son from shooting
by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor
A Rogers City couple is calling the circumstances that spared the life of their son, Petty Officer 1st Class Jaimison Brooks, 34, a miracle.
A lone gunman went to two military sites in Chattanooga, Tennessee last Thursday and killed four Marines, as well as Navy Petty Officer Randall Smith of Paulding, Ohio.
Jaimison, who is a counselor and clerk and a Navy veteran of 12 years, was instructed to go to Knoxville that morning.
Smith was sitting at Jaimison’s desk when gunman Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez fired on the facility. The gunman was killed by police.
Smith was critically wounded and later passed away early Saturday morning.
Brian and Julie Brooks, South First Street residents for two years, were watching the television news that night and learned what happened.
“My husband and I said, ‘My God, isn’t that where Jaimie works?’ My husband got on the phone right away,” said Julie.
Brian got right through and talked with his son, who was at the hospital with two of the injured Navy officers. Julie said to him, “’Jaimie, it could have been you.’
(The complete story is available in the July 23, 2015 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance)