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Victoria Soto, Heroic Newtown Teacher, Sacrificed Own Life to Save Kids

8:04 pm, December 15th, 2012

(Facebook)

As stunned, grief-stricken Americans continue to mourn the victims of Friday’s shooting massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, at least one story of incredible courage and sacrifice has emerged.

Victoria Soto, a 27-year-old first-grade teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School, lost her life during Adam Lanza’s violent rampage — but not before saving her students from a similar fate.

According to reports, Soto rushed her young pupils into closets and cabinets when she heard gunfire, hiding them from Lanza and telling him that her class had gone to the gym.

The gunman murdered Soto as she protected the children before eventually taking his own life.

Lanza killed 27 people — including 20 kids, all aged 6 or 7 — but the death toll would surely have been higher if not for Soto’s instincts and sacrifice.

On Saturday, as Soto’s story was reported, Facebook tributes to the late teacher went viral and her name became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter.

The heroism demonstrated by Soto and the others who risked everything to save as many children as possible, even as their own lives were imperiled, serves as inspiration in these dark and deeply upsetting circumstances.

Rest in peace.

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  • http://twitter.com/xxtwilighterxx3 Mariam

    A true hero. i had shivers while reading this. may she rest in peace. we need more people like her in this world

  • femroc

    Teachers need a raise!!!!!! So proud of Miss Soto, and all the teachers who protected the children the best that they could. This is SO sad and so wrong.

  • CaribPR

    True spirit of courage. Prayers to her and the victims families.

  • mary

    It’s quite heartwarming to note that there are people who are concerned with the well being and safety of others before their own. She is truly a hero and the kids she saved would be forever indebted to her. The best payment would be to emulate her courage and selflessness throughout their life.

  • Chrisbam

    Most actually make good salaries and have good benefits. This woman is a hero

  • Jenna

    What a courageous, young woman. She is the definition of a true hero. She was able to take control and move the kids to safety during what had to be so terrifying. She gave her life for those kids. I hope they honor her by recognizing her heroic act. I’m sure the parents of the kids she saved are so grateful for what she I’d.

  • http://twitter.com/leiluspocus Laïla Atrmouh

    Prayers to her and all the victims and their families… Such a tragedy that happened that day, I still can believe it, it’s like a nightmare.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mizi.doda Mizi Doda

    sorry Chris but I am a teacher and trust me, we do not make good money. Fortunately enough, most of us do what we do because we love children.

  • Christy

    https://www.facebook.com/SeedsOfTheSoul?ref=hl
    Her tribute was made here as well. God Bless her.

  • femroc

    I’ve taught for 34 years and don’t make what most entry level computer techs make nowadays ….DON’T tell me about salaries and benefits being good for teachers……..they are not.

  • Guest

    God Bles her soul

  • Love never fails

    awwwww!

  • Cassie Fiona

    Such an amazing woman to react like that under those circumstances and she saved so many lives. You are an inspiration and my thought go out to her family as having to lose one at age 27 when you haven’t truly lived your life is heartbreaking…

  • JuJu23

    Victoria’s secret saved the children’s lives

  • Stephanie

    As a kindergarten teacher in NYC, I weep for the loss of
    those sweet children and for those adults that lost their lives that day. I
    hope the soto family and the family of the other teacher and school staff can find some solace in what I believe with my whole
    heart~ your daughters truly touched the lives of each child they taught, hugged, smiled at
    or interacted with and that those children will, in turn remember their spirit, their love
    and their gifts of service forever. They dedicated their lives to educating and
    nurturing children and even though they were taken, their gifts as a devoted
    educators will live on. May God hug your heart and help you all in this difficult
    time, and please know that for the rest of my career I will hug each of my
    students a little tighter forever in their memory

  • Grumbleweed9000

    Nobody is more loved than he or she who gives their life for others. Rest in peace, dear girl.

    RIP.

  • DontNeedAUsername

    Wut

  • DontNeedAUsername

    Very beautiful story. Is do the same if I were in her place. I went and hugged every kid in my family the other day. What’s sad is. She shouldn’t have been shot in the first damn place. Shit like this pisses me off too. If you want to kill people kill your DAMN SELF. Do go around shooting people that don’t even know your crazy ass. It sickens me knowing that lives were cut short because of one dumbass. Instead of seeing their kids open their presents this year these parents have to go pay for a funeral. IM PISSED. I’d love to have a few minutes in a room alone with this freak. I’m glad he’s dead. He doesn’t deserve life.

  • duiderenna
  • http://www.facebook.com/Ninpo666 Terry Chandler

    Many heroes fall during battle
    this fight for freedom often costs
    and often it’s the best lives that are lost

    But Victoria you will not be forgotten
    we honour your soul
    that was taken away
    and we know that you became an angel
    In heaven, on this day

    God has given you free reign
    to whisper gently to the trees
    to glide effortlessly among the clouds
    and to dry our tears with a breeze

    So as long as we are alive
    we will hold you in our hearts
    and as long as we can breathe
    our hero will never be apart

    So as we bury you with honour
    we will grieve, then heal & pray
    and even though we’ll miss you
    we’ll be reunited in heaven one day

  • Truth

    Jesus Christ, GC. Five of Soto’s students were slain. Did you know that? I assume not, since you’re sources on FACEBOOK don’t say anything about it. This post I’m writing is not about the awful demise of Soto and the students, but of the journalistic integrity Gossip Cop painfully lacks. Do you have monkeys working for you? The first article GC posted about the shooting last Friday morning said it happened last WEDNESDAY. If you can’t even get the damn day right on the day it happened I certainly couldn’t trust you reporting facts. This isn’t the first time GC made that error.
    Lastly, I would LOVE to see GC take some responsibility and retract stories they posted as false rumors and admit they were wrong after those rumors have been proved true. But once the truth comes out, GOSSIP COP runs away from the story they once declared false. You bunch are seriously the worst “journalists” I’ve ever come across.

  • guest

    Teachers are not given enough credit for what they do! All teachers should be viewed as heros but more so Ms. Soto. We need more money for school to makethem safe from monsters and teacher need to be compensated for everything they do for our children. God bless those who were affected by this horrible act. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the families.

  • johan van hecke

    We ,here in Belgium, feel so much sadness too; Don’t know good the American way of life, but isn’t it time to reconsidder “the right to carry weapons”? Here you can’t get one easily.
    And even that’s no guaranty that such things won’t happen, here it doesn’t happen so often.
    And believe me, I don’t feel less safe , without having a gun. Hopely they WILL THINK finally about this ,before the next shooting. A man has ONLY ONE !! 1 !! short life
    Thoughts are with the victims and there families . Special thoughts for the BRAVE Victoria !!!!!! Never forget you. Johan . Belgium

  • johan van hecke

    beatifull comment. It’s good to see there are still good people !!!

  • Erin

    If there were more people like Victoria this world would be so much better. She left a beautiful example of love, courage and sacrifice. I will never forget you. Rest in peace.

  • Jim

    Kristen Stewart articles get hundreds of comments. Here there are only 25. It speaks volumes about the kind of persons we are. God bless you Victoria.

  • Claire

    I salute to Miss Soto. What a hero.

  • Claire

    Surely you are speaking about the college/university level.

  • Kristy

    Greater love hath no man!

  • vanruj

    hero

  • Anna

    No, I didn’t know that. So, so sad. I did wonder how she got all the kids in the closets and cupboards. Still, what she did was heroic. It just so sad that all the kids couldn’t be hidden. But you are right. There is no reason GC got some of the facts wrong. Not if you’re a responsible journalists. Isn’t it ironic that they proclaim they set things straight when in fact they do exactly what they accuse others of doing?

  • sam

    Courageous women…my thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and families in Newtown, Connecticut.

  • Kristenfan

    Kristen Stewart is better

  • http://twitter.com/1darkeclipse darkeclipse

    That was brave of her standing in front of a killer

    takes a lot of guts to do that RIP VICTORIA

  • Grieving

    No. A Kristen fan would obviously not post this ever. How dare you use her name
    like that. Only an anonymous coward would be so insensible to the parents
    of the children who lost their precious lives. Yet here YOU are. You should use
    your own name. Shame on you for using a celebrity’s name to show us the low
    life scum you are, wish we could see your ugly face, we already know you have
    an ugly soul. On behalf of all her fans we apologize for this posters insensitivity.

  • Karen

    Her name is very hispanic, feel so proud to have one of ours be a hero. God bless
    her soul and bless all the other heros who stood up to evil on that day to protect

    our children.

  • sam

    What is wrong with you…..

  • bgc

    For shame. Anyone with integrity, and that includes Kristen Stewart, would have only the deepest admiration for Victoria Soto and heartache for her and all the other teachers and children who died.

  • justaguy

    well, truthfully its very sad, tragedy to many, the sister of vicki soto is awfull, when i saw her photoed reaction on that phone i immediately thought she lost a child, hmmmm , sad, she lost her sister, a hmmm .. bye– god bless

  • Guest

    Victoria Soto = very couragious woman. The world full of devils but I think we found our angel <3

  • Chrisbam

    The benefits are Excellent, especially the time off. I live in a mid size city and the average teacher salary is 54,000 a year. That’s what I make and I’ve been working professionally for 20 years. I didn’t make much at first either. Teachers deserve respect and a fair salary and *most* get it

  • Chrisbam

    I live in a mid size city and the average teacher salary is 54,000 a year. That’s what I make and I’ve been working professionally for 20 years. I didn’t make much at first either. Teachers deserve respect and a fair salary and *most* get it.

  • B-word

    I hope we all learn from her heroics….god bless u Victoria Soto

  • DontNeedAUsername

    I think I saw that pic too. I didn’t know it was her sister tho.

  • DontNeedAUsername

    Kristen Stewart herself would probably curse your ass out for saying that. People like you are the ones ruining the world we live in.

  • onedirection<3

    This sickens me…. why would people want to kill innocent others??!?!?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002854707684 Cheeto Sareus

    Victoria Soto should be given the highest civilian honor. She did indeed sacrifice her life for the children. Every one of those kids should grow up to honor her by being the best they can be.

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