Harrah Family Calls Loved One Shot, Killed On Rose State College Campus A Hero

A 20-year-old Harrah Marine died on Monday while protecting a woman from her armed husband at Rose State College in Midwest City.

Related: Police Identify Victim In Deadly Shooting At Rose State College

Police identified the shooting victim as R.J. Long, Jr., a Rose State student.

The Long family watched in horror as Rose State College became the scene of a deadly campus shooting this week.

Related: 1 Dead In Shooting At Rose State College; Midwest City Police Investigate

“We immediately started praying for the people in the shooting,” Kelly Long, the victim’s mother said. “Not knowing we were praying for our own family.”

Kelly Long later learned from Midwest City Police that her son was fatally shot while protecting a fellow student from her armed husband. 

Related: Police: Rose State Shooter Believed Wife Was Having An Affair With Classmate

Police identified the shooter as 30-year-old Brandon Morrissette.

“We would never think we would end up being right here seeing everything going on with everyone else, those kids with the shootings, those families,” Mykell Long, the victim’s sister, said. “Never imagined what they’re going through but now we can cause we’re going through it too.”

Related: Rose State College Students Recall Deadly Shooting On Campus

The family said R.J. died a hero.

“He was my best friend,” Skylar Long, the victim's twin brother, said.

The victim’s twin brother proudly held a flag given to his brother from co-workers before he left for Marine boot camp.

“This is a flag from Braum’s,” Skylar said. “We had everybody sign it who shipped out the same summer.”

The family now holds on to those memories and shares laughs remembering RJ's personality.

“When you’re going to take a video of him or a picture, he would be so awkward,” Mykell said. “It was just the funniest thing.”

They want the accused shooter to know he took their loved one's life but not his spirit.

“He lived his life to the fullest every single day,” Mykell said. “Literally had the warmest heart.”

A candlelight memorial will be held in R.J.’s honor at 9 p.m. on Friday at the Braum’s located in Harrah.