She threw herself in front of the gunman to save her students: Astonishing story of the brave teacher who died protecting children from 'deeply disturbed' killer

Victoria Soto, 27, sacrificed herself to save her first grade students by throwing her body in front of gunman Adam Lanza
She was a highly regarded member of staff, popular with students and known for chewing gum in class
Principal Dawn Hochsprung and school psychologist Mary Sherlach were also killed execution-style after confronting Lanza
A fourth teacher has been named as Lauren Rousseau, 30

By Michael Zennie, Leslie Larson and David Mccormack

PUBLISHED: 20:48 EST, 14 December 2012 | UPDATED: 17:06 EST, 15 December 2012

A young teacher displayed astonishing bravery and sacrificed her life saving as many children in her first grade class as she could after she came face-to-face with gunman Adam Lanza.

Victoria Soto, 27, had worked at Sandy Hook Elementary for five years. Her final moments were spent ushering her students into a closet when Lanza entered her classroom and she tried her best to shield the children from the evil gunman.

Soto was a highly regarded young teacher who was popular with her pupils. One young student, Jacob Riley, told Mailonline that Soto was known for chewing gum in class - something not usually allowed for teachers. He said he had often teased her about her habit and she had playfully teased him back.

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Passion: Victoria Soto had a passion for education and always knew she wanted to teach

Selfless: Victoria Soto threw herself in front of her first grade students and was killed as a result

Selfless: Victoria Soto threw herself in front of her first grade students and was killed protecting them

'She took her kids, put them in the closet and by doing so she lost her life protecting those little ones,' Soto's cousin, Jim Wiltsie, told ABC News.

'She was found huddled over her children, her students, doing instinctively what she knew was the right thing. I'm just proud that Vicki had the instincts to protect her kids from harm,' he continued.

'It brings peace to know that Vicki was doing what she loved, protecting the children and in our eyes she's a hero,' he added.

A deeply distraught 10-year-old boy who is a former student of Miss Soto described her as 'really nice and funny.'

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Four teachers were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School trying to save their students from gunman Lanza, the son of a woman who worked at the school.

The other three teachers have been identified as principal Dawn Hochsprung, 47, school psychologist Mary Sherlach, 56, and Lauren Rousseau, 30. Devastated friends of Rousseau said she was having 'the best year of her life' after landing her first full-time teaching job only months ago.

Twenty-eight people died in the shooting rampage, including 20 young children between the ages of five and ten, alleged gunman Adam Lanza, who took his own life, and his mother, who was shot before the school massacre.

When Lanza started firing at the school in suburban Newtown, Connecticut, some teachers dove under tables - but Mrs Hochsprung and Mrs Sherlach didn't hesitate.

Hero: Vicki Soto, 27, was trying to shield her first grade students from the gunman when she was shot

VIDEO: 'Incredible acts of heroism': Superintendent praises teachers' bravery...

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VIDEO: Vicki Soto's cousin, Jim Wiltsie, tells ABC News about her courage...

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Murderer: Adam Lanza, killed himself after murdering more than two dozen others, including 20 school children

They ran into the hallway to confront the danger and were murdered execution-style as a result.

Little did she know that Adam had already killed his mother at the home they shared nearby. He took three of her guns and used her car to drive to the school.

Diane Day, a school therapist, told the Wall Street Journal that she and several other teachers were in a meeting with Mrs Hochsprung and Mrs Sherlach when the shooting began.

'We were there for about five minutes chatting and we heard, "pop pop pop,"' she said. 'I went under the table.'

The principal and the school psychologist had other ideas. They jumped out of their seats and ran toward the sound of the gunfire.

'They didn’t think twice about confronting or seeing what was going on,' Ms Day said.

Rabbi Shaul Praver told MSNBC that Mrs Hochsprung and Mrs Sherlach were killed execution-style.

Tributes for all educators poured in on Friday night. Former school superintendent John Reed told the Connecticut Post that Mrs Sherlach was warm and cared deeply for her students.

'If there ever was a person, by qualifications and personality, to work with children, to be a school psychologist, it was Mary,' he said.

She was married with two grown daughters in their 20s and enjoyed gardening, reading and the theater, according to her school biography.

Heroic: Down Hochsprung confronted the gunman

School psychologist Mary Sherlach, 56, was shot dead by Adam Lanza while trying to save her students

Murdered: Principal Dawn Hochsprung, left, and school psychologist March Sherlach, right, were killed after confronting the Connecticut school gunman

Murdered teacher Lauren Rousseau and Nancy Lanza, the mother and first victim of killer Adam Lanza

Devastation: Sandy Hook Elementary School, home to 700 students, was attacked by a crazed gunman on Friday

Friends and neighbors said it was immediately clear to everyone she knew that she loved her students and her school.

'I don’t think you could find a more positive place to bring students to every day,' she had recently told a local newspaper.

Another tale of heroism came from an eight-year-old student who said a teacher pulled him from the hallway as bullets rang out.

'I saw some of the bullets going down the hall that I was right next to and then a teacher pulled me into her classroom,' the boy told CBS News.

'It sounded like someone was kicking a door,' he said of the piercing sound of the gunfire.

His relieved mother agreed, saying that the teacher saved her son's life.

Mourning: Newtown residents turned out for memorial ceremonies on Friday night across the city - including at Lima Roman Catholic Church

Saved: This eight-year-old student said a teacher pulled him from the hallway into her classroom as bullets rang out

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To the person who wrote there is something wrong with America as a place, have you forgotten the Dunblane school massacre in the U.K.? There is something wrong. Period! - Mitzimay, billericay, United Kingdom, 15/12/2012 21:36 Yes we do remember dunblane, but we overhauled our gun laws following that tragedy, to try and prevent it happening again. That is why most British people find it hard to believe that the Americans still defend their gun laws after numerous similar tragedies. Banning guns does not change people's behaviour but does at least limit the damage one unstable individual can do. May the families of those who lost their lives find the strength to get through this senseless tragedy. - Kate , Swansea, 15/12/2012 21:59 Because the thug gangsters and drug cartels have such a tough time finding firearms, right? Get a clue

- Dontletthedoorhitya2 , Patriotville, United States, 15/12/2012 22:49

Click to rate Rating 152

Gun control laws do one thing: keep guns out if the hands of law abiding, same citizens!!! Gun laws are NOT the answer. Better mental health care, better detection technology, better security - these are the answer.

- lukacsmw , Aberdeen, 15/12/2012 22:48

Click to rate Rating 23

Every time i read these sad stories i get so angry because how on earth can a country claim that it is legal to own a firearm ? I was watching with rage a couple of nights ago on CNN when some stupid Senators of the US House of Representative were lining up defending the law saying that it was an American legacy that cannot be changed because they love hunting with guns . How ridiculous . This year alone how many people have been killed and yet you hear some idiots justifying it , its appalling and pathetic . Obama should outlaw this and make it a crime for anyone who owns a firearm , it would be a shame if Mr Obama , who appeared in front of the media wiping tears , doesn't change this because people will continue to die . Worse , killing children , imagine some idiot firing at 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 year olds ? How insane is that ?

- tavven , London, 15/12/2012 22:43

Click to rate Rating 6

Madam - you have my full respect without a doubt. Someone beautiful and considerate as you are should not have had their life taken too early. R.I.P <3

- SpongeGob , Auckland, 15/12/2012 22:38

Click to rate Rating 325

You are 42 times more likely to be shot dead in the US than the UK, based on number of gun homicides per capita. Banning guns won't reduce this sort of crime? Don't make me laugh. Of course it will! It's time Americans put aside their obsession with firearms and joined the civilised world. - PoppyPig, London, 15/12/2012 16:38 \crimes per capita much higher in UK...so save it

- Winnie , Holmdel New Jersey, United States, 15/12/2012 22:38

Click to rate Rating 156

Banning all guns is a natural overreaction but it's not possible. However, I think America needs to mirror the gun bans Canada, U.K. and other European countries have in place: ban automatic weapons; pistols, except in rare exceptions (ex. sports shooting) and many of the available semi-automatic weapons. Diagnosed mentally ill people can never be allowed any access to weapons including the homeowners of the home they live in. To purchase a gun, you would need a thorough police background check; a permit; and 5-10-days of instruction with the gun by a certified weapons expert. This scenario would be feasible and have a good chance of becoming law in the face of stiff opposition from the American gun lobby, which is extremely powerful. You'll not e that Britain also has a very strong pro-gun lobby.

- DGL45 , Kanata, Canada, 15/12/2012 22:38

Click to rate Rating 96

Makes me cry. :'( Such bravery.

- Lisa Chapman , La La Land, United Kingdom, 15/12/2012 22:35

Click to rate Rating 178

The rest of the world better pray that the U.S. doesn't ban civilian gun use. All of you people kneejerking for gun bans better be careful what you wish for. Do you really want an American federal government with nukes, drones, and weapons, and an American population completely incapable of doing ANYTHING to reign them in? You think the U.S. military has run amok now? Just wait.

- reality , NJ USA, 15/12/2012 22:31

Click to rate Rating 39

there's something very wrong with America as a place. just think of some of the idiots we've got over here and none of them resort to shooting little kids in a school. weirdos - jsd1991 , Leeds, 15/12/2012 14:22 You have obviously forgotten the massacre of school children in Dunblane. There is something wrong with the UK in many more ways than one. It's not just America, and it would be gullible to think so.

- Topsy , Felixstowe, United Kingdom, 15/12/2012 22:31

Click to rate Rating 109

So, what is the point of having so many guns? Why did his mother have them? If you need guns to protect yourself, then that society is sick! - Kineton1, Birmingham, 15/12/2012 18:22- Well said. If somebody over here (with the odd exception in dangerous circumstances of course) told you they needed a gun to protect themselves from other people you would probably consider that person a paranoid schizophrenic. The guns aren't defending you America...they are killing you. Incredibly dysfunctional, and incredibly sad.

- LC , Dublin, 15/12/2012 22:28

Click to rate Rating 87

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