Zaevion Dobson
© Fulton FootbalZaevion William Dobson, 15, died as he shielded three girls from gunfire in Knoxville, Tennessee. The girls were not hurt.
The three Tennessee teens spared from a barrage of bullets by a heroic high school football star's death dive never had a chance to say thank you.

Zaevion Dobson, 15, was dead barely an instant after jumping atop the girls, acting as a human shield after running off a Knoxville porch to surrender his young life for theirs.

Survivor Faith Gordon recounted how Dobson appeared from nowhere Thursday night, and how his body laid lifelessly on top of her when the shooting stopped.

"I kinda like pulled on him and I was like 'You can get up now' ... He didn't get up, so I just went upstairs, and I came back to make sure everything was real and I looked at him and he was shot in the head," Gordon told WVLT-TV.

She later sent a Twitter tribute to Dobson: "You're my hero, I'll never forget you."

Her pal Kiara Rucker, speaking to WVLT, echoed Gordon's praise of the heroic 10th-grade student.

"If it wasn't for Zaevion, if he would have just ran off the porch, we would have probably been shot," Rucker said.

Dobson jumped on top of three girls and another boy to protect them from the gunfire, according to Gordon. He was the only person hit by any bullets during the shooting.

Hundreds of people turned out for a candlelight vigil on Friday to honor Zaevion's life and heroism.

Dobson's older brother, Zack, said his brother was an awesome kid and brother.

"He was laying there, and I just pick him up and put him in my arms. He was dead," Zack said. "Why would you shoot at random bystanders for nothing?"

The senseless spree began after 46-year-old Lisa Perry was shot and killed inside her apartment miles away from Zaevion's home.

Perry's 23-year-old son, Brandon Perry, and several other men drove to the Dobson's neighborhood and fired multiple times, killing the high school football star.

Perry was later found to be shot after he crashed his car into a nearby apartment. He died on Friday morning from his injuries.

Christopher Bassett, 20, was arrested after he fled from the scene and was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a weapon and probation violation, according to officials.

Bassett (below) is being held without bond and additional charges may be added later, cops said.

A third man who fled was questioned and later released.

Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch said the shootings are apparently gang related, but it doesn't appear that the doomed Dobson was the target.

"Unfortunately, they picked a random group of young men and women who were just hanging out and trying to prepare to celebrate the holiday," Rausch said.

The slain youth was a sophomore at Fulton High School in northern Knoxville.

He was called "a fine, fine young man" by Fulton football coach Rob Black.

"Only a sophomore, but a very contagious young man who was very liked by his peers and his teachers," Black said.

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero said Zaevion was one of their success stories.

"Involved in sports, a mentee of one of our organizations in town," she said. "But still he falls victim to this."