Strangers help pay to send YouTube shooting hero to college

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Michael Finney, a 21-year-old Carl’s Jr. supervisor, jumped in to help a stranger who was shot at the YouTube campus in San Bruno, Calif. a week ago by tying a makeshift Bungee-cord-turned tourniquet around a woman’s leg who had been shot.

Now, strangers are pitching in to help him.

A “fundraising team” headed by Google computer engineer Amar Amte started a GoFundMe page for Finney, thanking him for “stepping up” during the shooting at YouTube on April 3 that injured three employees. Finney had been working across the street at Carl’s Jr., when a woman in her 20s ran in for help.

“She was scared of course, but not in shock,” Finney told KTVU at the time, describing how he put a Bungee cord on her left leg to stave off the massive bleeding.

The shooter, identified as Nasim Najafi Aghdam, 38, killed herself after wounding three others. Police believe she was motivated by her displeasure at the policies and procedures of so-called censorship and payment by YouTube.

In an interview with USA Today about his act of heroism, which he downplayed, Finney said he wants to go to college and make something of himself. He told the news agency he is working at Carl’s Jr. to save money and possibly learn more about car repair. 

Amte said he read that article and just wanted to show his gratitude to Finley. "He showed great presence of mind," he told KTVU. "I wanted to find something positive out of all of this."

As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe page already hit $24,000 – more than doubling its initial goal; more than $11,000, which was donated by Carl’s Jr. CEO Jason Marker. Amte said he was "amazed" at that generous donation.

A call to Finney at Carl's Jr. on Tuesday was not immediately returned.