Connecticut School Renamed After Teacher, Victoria Soto, Who Died Shielding Students From Sandy Hook Shooter
Officials of the town neighboring Newtown, Connecticut, where the Sand Hook Elementary School shooting took place, have renamed a school in the honor of a teacher who died a hero on that fateful day, Victoria Soto.
Honeyspot Elementary School in Stratford will be named after 27-year-old Victoria Soto, who died while shielding her students from gunfire with her own body.
Shooter Adam Lanza killed 20 children and six staff members at the school on December 14th before committing suicide.
He also killed his mother at their Newtown home.
Victoria Soto’s mother, Donna Soto, was not one bit surprised that her daughter died trying to save the kids.
“She was truly selfless,” she said. “She would not hesitate to think to save anyone else before herself and especially children.
“She loved them more than life, and she would definitely put herself in front of them any day, any day, and for any reason.
“We heard at one point that they found some people hiding in a closet and all of us said, ‘Vicki would never be hiding in a closet, she would be out there protecting those babies.’
“So it doesn’t surprise anyone that knows Vicki that she did this,” she told CNN. “She just loved her kids and talked about them all the time with such fondness and caring. She just adored them.”
Mayor John Harkins made the recommendation which was approved Monday night, exactly one month after the shootings.
The mayor also is hoping to build a memorial to Soto, and a petition is going around to rename a street after her.
Victoria Soto grew up in the area, having graduated from Stratford High School in 2003.
James Gilbert | Elite.
