Denise Peraza survived Wednesday's horrific Southern California attack after colleague Shannon Johnson shielded her from gunfire with his body, she says.
A survivor of Wednesday's San Bernardino mass shooting says she has her co-worker thank for saving her life.
Denise Peraza told CNN in a statement that 45-year-old Shannon Johnson used his body to shield her from gunfire.
In the process of saving Peraza, Johnson traded his life for hers when gunmen stormed Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino and killed 14 people.
Peraza wrote:
"Wednesday morning at 10:55 a.m., we were seated next to each other at a table, joking... would have never guessed that only five minutes later, we would be huddled next to each other under that same table, using a fallen chair as a shield from over 60 rounds of bullets being fired across the room.
"I will always remember his left arm wrapped around me, holding me as close as possible next to him behind that chair.
"And amidst all the chaos, I'll always remember him saying these three words, 'I got you.'"
Peraza was shot in the back but survived the attack.
Read: San Bernardino Shooters Were a Married Couple with a 6-Month-Old Daughter
Augusto Peraza, Denise's husband since April, told CNN his wife is doing well and recovering at home.
Peraza's touching tribute came Friday just as the FBI announced that the attack, which they believe was carried out by Tashfeen Malik and husband Syed Rizwan Farook, was being investigated as a terrorist act.
Three U.S. officials say Malik even wrote a Facebook post declaring her loyalty to the leader of ISIS.
While ISIS has officially praised the couple as "supporters," the group has not taken responsibility for the attack.
Watch Below: See Inside the Home Where San Bernardino Couple Planned Deadly Massacre
