Stories of heroism are emerging following the active shooter attack that killed 18 people Wednesday night.

Riley Dumont told ABC News her 11-year-old daughter was participating in a youth event at the alley when gunfire erupted.

Dumont said her father, a retired police officer, immediately understood the gravity of the situation and helped protect people in the bowling alley.

"My dad's been a police officer for 40 years and he literally just went into action in that moment and just kind of corralled us all and made sure we were all safe and that the scene -- he was waiting for the cops to walk through the front door and he put protection in front of us and tables and like a big bench that the kids were hiding behind," Dumont told "Nightline."

Dumont said she is convinced her father helped save lives.