The 6-year-old Sandy Hook hero: New report reveals Jesse Lewis saved six classmates by telling them to run when Adam Lanza's gun ran out of bullets but was shot dead for his bravery when the killer reloaded

  • Jesse Lewis, 6, courageously shouted for his classmates to run while gunman Adam Lanza was reloading
  • Six children ran out the door to safety because of Jesse's heroism
  • Eleven children from Jesse's class survived.  Only one child survived in the classroom next door
  • Mother says she is not surprised her son's last act was to save his friends

By Michael Zennie

PUBLISHED: 18:52 EST, 18 October 2013 | UPDATED: 02:05 EST, 19 October 2013

A six-year-old boy courageously gave his life during the Newtown school massacre to save six of his classmates, it was revealed today.

Adam Lanza's gun jammed after he burst into Jesse Lewis' classroom at Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed teacher Victoria Soto. Jesse saw in a moment that he had an opening.

He shouted to his classmates, who were huddled in the corner, holding hands. Six children fled the classroom and made it to safety.

'He yelled, "Run!" Adam reloaded and shot him in the head,' said his mother Scarlett Lewis, who learned details of the events inside the classroom from investigators.

Hero: Jesse Lewis, 6, was shot in the head after screaming for his classmates to run and flee gunman Adam Lanza

Hero: Jesse Lewis, 6, was shot in the head after screaming for his classmates to run and flee gunman Adam Lanza

Survivors: Eleven children from Jesse's class manages to escape Lanza - thanks to Jesse's courage and the heroism of his teacher who shielded them from the bullets

Survivors: Eleven children from Jesse's class manages to escape Lanza - thanks to Jesse's courage and the heroism of his teacher who shielded them from the bullets

In all, 11 children from Miss Soto's class survived. Five other first-graders hid in a closet.

In the classroom next door, led by teacher Lauren Rousseau, only one child was left alive - reportedly after hiding under the bodies of her dead classmates.

 

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The Hartford Courant released the new account of the events in Miss Soto's classroom on Friday. The story of Jesse's bravery comes from the young survivors, who told investigators what they witnessed on December 14.

'When I heard he used his last few seconds on Earth to try to save his friends, I was not surprised,' she said. 'I am so incredibly proud of him,' Ms Lewis told the Associated Press.

The new evidence also suggests that Lanza might have started in Soto's room. Surviving students from her class say they didn't hear any gunshots until he started shooting there.

Scarlett Lewis, Jesse's mother, says she was not surprised to learn that her son's last act was to save his classmates

Scarlett Lewis, Jesse's mother, says she was not surprised to learn that her son's last act was to save his classmates

Adam Lanza killed himself after murdering 20 children and six teachers

Adam Lanza killed himself after murdering 20 children and six teachers

It was initially thought that Lanza started with Ms Rousseau's class because he killed all but one child in the room.

Lanza, 20, shot his way into the school on December 14 and killed 20 first-grade children and six staffers at the school, in one of the worst school massacres in U.S. history.

He also killed his mother earlier in the day and committed suicide as police arrived at the school building.

A report on the Newtown shooting by investigators is due to be released soon. Investigators have not disclosed a possible motive for the massacre.

It was reported shortly after the shooting that Miss Soto, 27, hid some of her children in a closet and gave her life trying to distract Lanza.

However, little Jesse's heroism and his role in saving the lives of his classmates had not previously been publicly known.

Lewis has dedicated herself recently to the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation, which promotes ways for communities to 'choose love over anger, gratitude over entitlement, and forgiveness and compassion over bitterness.'

The foundation was inspired by a message that Jesse had left on their kitchen chalkboard with the words 'nurturing,' 'healing' and 'love.'

She told People magazine last December: 'With Jesse, I have absolutely no regrets. I loved him to pieces, he knew it, and I knew he loved me to pieces. That is a blessing. Jesse was a gift.'

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This story has reduced me to tears ! RIP to all that lost their lives that day ! X

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I almost believed this until I saw it was his mother saying it.

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Rest in Peace, Jesse Lewis. You are a true hero more than I could ever be. Well Done, laddy.

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I still can't read about this without crying. I can only imagine what their parents must be going through. RIP brave child.

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yeah. like they lost precious property? also even if your fake crying was real, why would you tell others if you were so nice?

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Absolutely heartbreaking god look after him xxxx

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I'm taken aback with so many lazy and naive people who don't bother to seek the truth yet takes it as absolute gospel truth from media that is owned by one or two people with vested conflicting interests . Take advantage of alternative news sources . Sure , there will be rogue snake oil salesmen out there , but you have a brain and radar and the ability to discern surely ......

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So many young beautiful angels in Heaven. RIP. Such a brave little boy his parents can be so proud of him.

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Very, very, sad, what a lovely young boy, a cheeky smile.

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a beautiful brave young boy rest in peace with your other little classmates.

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tired of stories of people being called heroes with no evidence

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The testimony of the other kids who were in the class with him and witnessed what happened doesn't constitute evidence then?

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Julia, kids will say whatever.

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