Paul Boehlke-KTVB

University of Idaho student Pete Husmann was shot several times while trying to put an end to a gunman's shooting rampage Saturday night.

MOSCOW -- While some people desperately dialed for help as gunfire rang out in Moscow, one young man sprang into action.

For the first time, an exclusive interview with the University of Idaho student who nearly became the fourth fatality in the Moscow massacre.

Pete Husmann, like many, heard the hail of gunfire Saturday night.  Unlike most, he ventured into the night.  It is a choice that nearly killed him.

In his hospital room, surrounded by family, 20-year old Pete Husmann tells an incredible tale of how his courage led him into the line fire.

“I was in my apartment and I just heard all this shooting, stepped outside.  I waited a few more minutes and it sounded like a war zone, so I went up, put my sandals on, grabbed my 45, jumped on my bike and raced on down there," said Husmann.

"Why did you respond to this?" asked NewsChannel 7.

"I didn't want to see another Virginia Tech," said Husmann.

Armed with a handgun, adrenaline pumping, Pete rode his bike about five blocks, instead of running away from gunfire - running toward it.  Looking for anyone who might need help, but as Jason Hamilton emptied round after round Pete found himself in the crosshairs of a suicidal sniper.

"He shot me, I collapsed right where I was and as I lay there, he shot me three more times.  I took one in the leg, one in the torso, one in the neck and one into my shoulder," said Husmann.  "I said he's going to kill me here in a minute after I'd been shot all those times, I stood up and ran through cars where I collapsed.  I was blacking out from loss of blood or something and was like, well, this is how I'm going to die. I thought I was going to die right there.  I just sat there and prayed.  I just cried to the Lord at the top of my lungs praying as loud as I could."

His prayers were answered.  A bystander risked his life to help Pete and apply a tourniquet to slow the bleeding until paramedics arrived.  Risky intervention that likely saved his life.

"Knowing what you know now, would you do it all over again?" asked NewsChannel 7.

"Yeah, absolutely.  I do it a little different so I wouldn't be shot, but in that situation, yes," said Husmann.  “I don't feel like a hero.  I wish I could have shot him myself.  People need to step up more, people turn their head too often."

Husmann has been in the hospital since Sunday and will remain there for another week.  But he is expected to make a full recovery.