NEWTOWN, Connecticut: Adam Lanza on Friday killed 20 students and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, his mother at home, and then himself.
But Victoria Soto lives on.
Though accounts are different how she showed great bravery in the face of death, it is a fact that she faced the killer and saved the children.
One account says that Soto had gathered the class into a large closet, and told Adam that they had gone to the gym.
Another account goes she was found huddled over the children.
Soto’s cousin, Jim Wiltsie, told ABC News: “I’m just proud that Vicki had the instincts to protect her kids from harm. It brings peace to know that Vicki was doing what she loved, protecting the children, and in our eyes she’s a hero.”
“Ms. Soto, who was Aden’s teacher, had the presence of mind to move the kids to a far distance from the door. They were on the side of the room the furthest from the door. That’s when the gunmen burst in, did not say a word, no facial expressions and proceeded to shoot their teacher,” said Robert Licata, father of two sandy hook students.
“They basically ran right next to the guy and out the door,” he said.
Soto’s younger sisters and brother say, “She didn’t call them her students she called them her kids.”
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