Shooting Survivor Praises Selfless Cop

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - The memorial outside Accent Signage in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis is growing - where five people were killed during a rampage on Thursday.

The victims include Accent Signage Systems owner Reuven Rahamim, 61, UPS driver Keith Basinski, 50, Jake Beneke, 34, Ronald Edberg, 58, and Rami Cooks, 62.

Police say the gunman – 36-year-old Andrew Engeldinger - was fired Thursday before killing his victims, and then himself.

Sheryl McAdams had only been working at Accent Signage for seven weeks, but had a great feeling about her job, her co-workers and boss.

Sheryl did not want to go on camera; it's just too soon for her.

But she did talk about how she feels blessed to work with such a hardworking and passionate group of people. She feels God sent angels and a certain police officer to get her out alive.

"Where I was in the building - I was right where the shooter came in," McAdams said.

Sheryl was at her desk, near the loading dock, when gunshots rang out.

"The shooter had killed one of my co-workers right on the other side of the wall. He was ten feet from me," she said.

The only thing Sheryl could do was hide.

"I was under a desk. I was trapped. I had nowhere to go" she said.

From under that desk, Sheryl heard what was happening. When officers stormed the building, she waited until the right time to ask for help.

"The only reason he found me when he did was because I started to whisper, because I didn't know where the shooter was. And I started whispering, 'Help me, help me,' and he heard me and walked down the aisle and he found me crouched down," she said.

Sheryl says the officer helped her out and made sure she was okay.

"He never left my side until about 9:30 that night when he dropped me off at my home. He drove me all the way home. I am so grateful to him and I pray for him to stay safe on the job, and that he returns home each and every night to his family so he can tell them he loves them," Sheryl said.

Her heart and prayers go out to her co-workers who did not make it home to their families that night.

"Their lives ended in a violent manner, but I am going to remember the people that they were. I think it's going to take a long time for all of us to heal, I really do. I think it's changed all of us forever," she said.

When the first shot rang out, Sheryl says she knew who pulled the trigger. She didn't wish to elaborate.

She would love to thank the officer personally but she forgot to ask his name. For now, Sheryl says she will grieve and pray for those lost their lives.