DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS HERO OF THE MAIN LIBRARY SHOOTING IS?

It was just before noon this past Saturday that a man (later identified as 33-year-old Humberto Paz) sitting at a table in the Readers Mark Cafe in the lobby of the Brownsville Main Branch Library shot a man across the table (identified as 71-year-old Vahid Khaled) in the head and killed him with a Luger. The explosive thunder clap shattered the relative quiet of the library. Some people thought it could have been a book shelf that had collapsed and had crashed onto the floor. Others thought it might have been a file cabinet smacking the floor. Others, like the three patrons using the PCs in the computer around the corner some 25 yards away room looked at each other and asked "Could it have been a gunshot?"

Their suspicions were confirmed moments later when people started to stream into the computer room looking scared, no horrified, and being encouraged toward the far right corner where three people using the computer stations stood, and where, after passing through glass door, were right next to the emergency exit with the warning sign that an alarm would sound if the door was opened.

The rushing patrons were being evacuated by a very businesslike female library employee who was urging them to hurry, buy not to run or panic. As they approached the three computer users by the emergency door, one of them pointed to the bar running across the door of the emergency exit and asked with his eyes whether they should open it: she nodded and signaled "yes" with her eyes, and the people followed her streaming out and ran toward Central Boulevard and congregated in a bus shelter next to the street. Many were shaking with fear and using their cell phones to tell their families what happened and that they were safe.

Sirens could be heard in the distance, but the police haven't arrived. The woman librarian then went back into the building, despite knowing that there was a dead man on the floor and the gunman was still inside. She was seen again at the entrance of the emergency exit going into the building and guiding panic-streaking patrons outside who didn't know which way to run. 

She can be seen in the top photo pulling more people out wearing a red Polo shirt and jeans. Then a lone cop arrived brandishing a A-R 15 and walking toward her, as she is heading for the exit again to assist others inside seeking a way out. All this time she had been on the telephone asking other library employees whether they were safely outside and if there were any other people in the building. 

Unmindful of the fact (or perhaps fully knowing) that if the gunman had headed toward the emergency exit, she would be in his – and the policeman's – line of fire. By that time, the library parking lot was full of police units and officers soon after are seen emerging the from the library's side door facing Veterans Park with the shooter in custody.

As the police secured the building, she can still be seen on her cell phone, possibly inquiring of the safety of her fellow library employees who had been inside when the incident occurred.

We received this account and these photos from someone who had been in the first group she helped to evacuate and asked some of them if they knew her name, but no one did. She is one of those library employee who perform their job and do so efficiently and without fanfare and seem to remain in the background. Some said it might have been Head Library Manager Brenda Treviño. Others say it might have been Library Branch Manager Josephine Balboa, or another female library employee. 

We tried to contact Juan Guerra, city library director, but the library was closed Sunday and Monday and no calls were being taken. Guerra rushed to the scene after receiving a call (from her?), but was detained at the rear entrance of the parking lot by police. If one of our eight readers know her, we would appreciate letting us know so we personally thank her for her courageous and professional performance.